THE WAR CLOUD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 5, 7 January 1904, Page 3

THE WAR CLOUD.

RUSSIA'S POLICY OF MASTERLY INACTIVITY. LONDON, .lain. ."">. The Korean Clvaige d'Affaires in London states that Korea will never olgree to lier northern frontier living converted into a neutral zoive. '1 he tlapuAe.le proposals were much more favourable than the Kiissiam. He believed that Wi/u and Yoiigamplni w.ould shortly Ik- uponod to foreign trade. Lloyds' Quotations agsiinst war .within a month is nominally lii'iy guineas per cent. Tlvo insurance on cargo to Japan in Japanese steamers is alvwut twenty-live or thirty guineas. It is generally believ«l dlnat Russia's reply is designedly dilatory, to enable further reinforceiiH'nits. The Daily Express says King 1-iil-wand is using strong influence on the Czar to secure peace. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. ',. The Novoe Vi-emya, in a pessimistic article, says that tlespite the efforts of the Kussran ami Japanese Governments to avert war, the former desiring peuce ai»d the latter wishing to aiwrt bankruptcy, war is (approaching nearer and nearer. It holds that the Japanese newspopers and pecvi)le ai-e responsible lor the situation. COLONIAL WAH COIUiESI'IIXHE\T. MELBOURNE, Jan. G. Commander Cotqirhoun, of the Victorian Xaval Eoroe, has been appointed London Tiines' conesponden.t in the evxnt of w-ur between Japan and Russia. Lieutenant ComjubcAmi will also act as Ad.stialian naMal ivpreseivtative at the frinivi. AMERICAN PRECAUTIONS 3UGCIESTKI). Received 6, 9.48 p.m. SKW YORK, Jan. (J. The Army and Xavy Board at Washington urges the immediate fortiheotion of Suing and .Manila Bays in tbo Philippines. RUSSIAN WARSHIPS "ORDERED EAST." . ST. PETERSDURG, Jan. G. \The Russian cruiser DomitPe Donskoi ajid two destroyers have sailed from Bizei-ta, lxiund eastward. WARSHIPS' MOVEMENTS HIDDEN Received 6, 10.5 p.ia. LONDON, Jan. 6. All news regarding the movement of warehips is prohiljjttd at Tokio. Tho American Minister at Seoul considers the situation very grave. Rioting Was feared ampng the Korean soldiers, and American marines wero sent opportunely to Seoul. A RUSSIAN REPORT OF CONFLICTS. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 0. Advices received in St. Peters-burg from Mukden and Vladivoslock state that owing to conflicts between Chinese an Koreans a second rifle regiment, of full strength, iias been sent to Korea to protect Russian interests. SUPPOSED NAVAL ACTIVITY'. TOKIO, Jan. G. Trustworthy reports received at Tokio state that the Russian iquadron is preparing for action. Tho cruiser Port Arthur hus sailed with a small landing force, her destination being, it is bplieved, Cheiuulpho. PROSPECTS OF PEACE YET. LONDON, Jan. G, Latest advices received from St. T|*orslauTg state that •, some of the Japanese proposals were accepted and others are the subject of extended cJu(9ervations and counter Tlhe concessions niado .are regarded as very considerable, .and rt is hoped tjhoy will be satisfactory to Japan, and that peace \will be announced at the Russian iChristjinas. (Tuesday, January 7th, is the Christmas day of the 8 reek calen-, idar.) The Latest. WAR REGARDED AS A MATTER L OF COURSE. A BREACH OF AGREEMENT. VBB TIMES ON THE SITUATION. Rewired 7, 0.49 a.m. BERLIN, Jan. (J. The Vosuißche Zeitung says that Russia is vainly seeking to showthat her reply afforded a basis lor peace, and thus to throw the blame ou Japan if war occurs. LONDON, Jan. 6. Renter's Tokio correspondent gays that Ruesia's reply haa not been rewived yet. Tha Standard's Tokio correspondent says tho semi-ollicial new.spajjers regard an op«i rupture with Russia tt« a matter of course-, Mi' Bennett Burleigh, oi Pflily Telegraph, states that Van Rosen's absence from the recent functions is commented upon. - JThe Times declares there is little room■•'or doubt teat Russia means to precipitate a conflict. The seavd■fog ol a second regiment to Korea is a violation of tho spirit of -tl.e Russo-Japanese agreements, calcula-' tod to exercise a disastrous influence. The move will possibly prove the most decisive and far-reaching in its consequences of any yet taken bv eithcr side.