The Far East.

Manawatu Herald, 6 February 1904, Page 2

The Far East.

WAR LIKELY TO 0000)1 Ilf A FEW DAYS. *

RUSSIAN WARSHIPS READY

FOR SERVICE.

Dr Morrison says the best opiniott of the Legations is that an outbreak of war is likely to occur in a few days. He says it is known that Russia’s reply is unfavourable, rejecting the demand that Russia should enter into an engagement to recognise the sovereignty of China in Manchuria. It cannot be accepted, and Japan never meant that it should be accepted. The Standard’s Tokio correspondent says that doubts are beginning to be expressed whether Russia intends to send any reply. It is believed Russia has decided to fight rather than accede to the demands.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the same paper says that the draft of the reply is silent as to Manchuria, inasmuch as Russia’s views on the subject are already known. General Kuropatkin’s staff is being selected in readiness for any emergency. The Nisshin and Kasuga have arrived at Singapore. All the Russian warships at Vladivostok are equipped for service and ready to S' art. RUSSIA’S MILITARY FORCE. JAPANESE OCCUPY A RAILWAY. Russia claims that she has already there and proceeding to the Far East 390,000 troops, and that she is able to transport 110,000 per month. A Vladivostok telegram states that Japanese troops have occupied the Seoul-Fusan railway and taken a number of guns to Seoul. The Paris correspondents are unanimous in agreeing that the French people do not exhibit any interest in the Far East and are anxious not to disturb the reviving trade. Germany is sending a large flotilla of flat bottomed gun boats to patrol the Yangtze from the mouth to Chunking. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. Speaking in the House of Lords, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in replying to Lord Spencer’s criticisms, denied that Britain bad in any way actively intervened in the grave quarrel in the Par East. She was intimately concerned in the preservation of peace, but her good offices had not been invited. 4* AUTHORITY GIVEN TO DECLARE WAR.

Reuter’s St. Petersburg oorrespcmdent states that on Tuesday Admiral Alexieff, Russian Viceroy in the Far East, was authorised to declare war and open hostilities on his own responsibility if circumstances appear to him to render that course necessary. The early issue is expected of an Imperial manifesto declaring war if Japan does not accept the terms embodied in the reply, which ia Russia’s last word.

An unofficial despatch has reached Tokio that Russia has decided on war.

No corroboration of Reuter’s despatch has been received in official circles in London, and scepticism as to its accuracy is most pronounced. It is interpreted as a blind threat after ineffectual bluff. EXCITEMENT IN JAPAN.

The delay on the part of Russia in replying to Japan, and the idea that Japan is being treated with contumely, have carried the tension of Japanese feeling to a climax.

HU SIAN WARSHIPS LEAVE PORT ARTHUR.

Japan is aware that all the Russian warships at Port Arthur, except one which is being repaired, left on Wednesday for an unknown destination, probably to try and effect a junction with the Vladivoatock squadron, Russia has informed the Japanese residents at Vladirostock to be prepared for a sudden proclamation, and states that in the event of seizure, if the residents remained, they must remove to Khabarovsk.