The Far East.

Manawatu Herald, 4 February 1904, Page 3

The Far East.

'WAR PREPARATIONS.

The concensus t>{ messages from St. Petersburg, Tokio and Port Arthur ig that the Russian reply will ba unsatisfactory to Japan. The newspapers at St. Petersburg 'are defiant and contentious, and seek to throw the responsibility of the ultimate upshot on Japan. Marquis Ito and Barons Katoura and Komura, and others, held an eight hours’ conference on Saturday. Russia purchased twenty thousand tons of Taiping coal on Saturday, and is Negotiating for thirty thousand tons additional, with immediate delivery at Port Arthur, Yuanshikai’s Chinese troops, on the border of Manchuria in the event of war, number forty thousand. WAR SUPPLIES. Altogether Japan has ordered seven millions pounds weight of American mess corned beef, and Russia six millions. Russian newspapers declare that Japan demands seventy-two million roubles as compensation for war expenses., fend ridicule the childish simplicity of a savage nation. Japan pressing foe a REPLY. Fifty thousand reinforcements are expected at Yladivoatock. The Daily Mail says Japan has pressed Russia for a prompt reply, intimating that other action would he taken in a very few days if delay Continued. The Times says a reply is expected at Tokio on the sth.

The Japanese do not anticipate solid concessions. Prince Alexieff’s influence still prepoderates. He energetically opposes concessions on essential points, and recommends that war would be preferable. High military officers hold the opinion that war is inevitable.