THE COMING WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 8, 11 January 1904, Page 3

THE COMING WAR.

COALS FOH JAPAN. REPORTED RUSSIAN INTHKIUES LONDON", Jan. 8. The Japanese Government, in order to induce ship-owners to carry coals fuom England to Japan, has agreed to pay the insured value of ships tf captuixxJ. Laftm's Agency in New York states that live transports, capable of carrying T'ooo American troops, are preparing for sea. It is s'urmisoi Uk-ir destination is tlw Far East. Japanese authorities declare tnat M. liezabrnzoff,, Secretary of Slate, who enjoys the C'/jjr's special confidence, and Admiral Prince Alexietf (the Russian Viceroy) have fomented the war feeling m order to safeguard vast i>ersonal interests in Mancwuria. Al. liezaiOravoll is ill and is proceeding to Cannes, and it ■is 1 toped his absence will enable Count Lamsdorfl, Minister of Foreign Allaire, to regain ascendancy w.ith the Czar. THE MYSTERIOUS IRONCLADS. ABDUL HAMII) ANI) THE DAKDAN ELLES. LONDON, Jan. 8. Several warship; have left Port Arthur to reinforce Russian cruisers. The combined forces will then proceed to meet four J upane.se ironclads, which are approaching Korea. Reuter's Hong* Kong agent states that 250 British regulars, with a transport aro IJ'ing held in readiness to p'iKujJ to ajn unknown dj-stina-tion, supposed to be Pekin or Seoul. Russia is trying to secure a general permit for waTshius to pass the Dardanelles. The Sultan is reluctant unless ;liie is conwdod a free ■ hand 'in Bulgaria. RUSSIA'S REPLY TO JAPAN UNSATISFACTORY. PUBLIC APPREHENSION ACUTE. SLENDER HOPES OF PEACE, Received 10, 9.81 a.m. LONDON", Jan. 9. Japan is tlsseatisrtiod with the terms suqpvsfced by Russia ; but is renewing her efforts to secure a tion of them. Mr lieiuiett Burleigh, Daily Telelgrap|h war correspondent at Tokio, says it would ta; iMprudent to asttnno tbat delay implies peace. Russia. s reply fails altogether to meet Jblppn's views with regard to Manchuria, which is the core of the situation. Obina, he declares, will certainly help Japan. The Stamciaiti's ToTcio cori'espomlent reports that the uneasiness anvong the public is increasing hourly. The paper urges friendly mediation as the alternative of a, struggle uJwcb will exhaust even the Motors. The Times says the tenor' of ieply hits reduced almost to a v.mi.vliimg quantity the slender hojws of peace being maintained. MORE RUSSIAN TROOPS FOR THE EAST. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 9 A report is current at Kwtfl that the commanders of the southern araJ south-western provinces 1/ave each been instructed to hold fliirtv battalions of infantry, in readiness to entram to the Par East. R,UMOURS CONCERNING THE REPLY. THE SITUATION "NOT ENTIRELY HOPELESS." LONDON, Jam. 9. Official circles in Paris have been informed that a protracted correspondence between the Ministers in St. Petersfeui-g and Prince Alexivll stowed a great •divergence of opiniow. Had blue Viceroy's vicjws prevailed Japan's demands would have been rejected. Rumours that these haid been rejected bad caused a dangerous tension of feelmg>-civly dispelled by the receipt of the actual reply. This, it is understood, is conciliatory in tone. 'Hie Japanese Minister in Loudon, viscount Hayashi, however, in course of an- interview last night said the period of suspense was over So far as Japan was concerned. It was now Russia's tui-n to wait. The situation was undoubtedly grave Wuough lie could not say it was entirely hopeless. THE TERMS OF THE REPLY. CONCESSIONS IN KOREA. • BUT NOT IN MANCHURIA.' Received 10, 9.43 a.m Th« t- LONDON, Jan. 9. Times Paris correspondent says that Ruga's reply fclh. restoration of the concessions made by Baron Van Rose*, recognisrolv" MU ! ; ' a f USa l-,' 0n 0f the K »°ean