THE COMING WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 9, 12 January 1904, Page 3

THE COMING WAR.

FRANCO-BRITISH MEDIATION. MOKE I'KUISEUS FOR JAPAN. LONDON. Jan. IU. Foreign Consuls in Manchuria have protentcd against the Russian Administrator re-naming tile streets in Russian. Japan has invited, in Manila, tenders for enormous quantities of subsistence s-loies.

At King Edward's instance. Oreat Britain and France are striving to the uitmovyt to seeniv pvacc. Both are in perfect accord. Cnrditl in u week shippud 4(i,H00 tons of coal to Japan. :iu.mxi to Hong Kong, and 40,000 to l'ort Aithtir.

PARIS, Jon. 10. The ne\vspa]».T Patrie announces Uial Japan ha.s purelmsud tl.v Argentine armoured cruisers Ga.iiiAihli, Pnieyrivdorn, Sun Martin, ami General Belgiano, of simitar type lo thbse previously purchased. NEGOTIATION AMI PREPARATION. LONDON. Jam. 10. Router's agency reports that diplomatic infonuatiikn from Pekin points to the fact that the Russian l-eply was conciliatory rn tone, but unsatisfactory in substance. Japan, desiring delay in older to complete preparations, will continue negotiations. Tlw message adds that the prospects of war before to spring are very strong. Mr Dennett Burleigh, Daily Telegraph correupomleiil, states tliat tore are one tvurtJrcid thousand Russians >n Manchuria. RUSSIAN CRUISERS RETURN. WOMEN AND CHILDREN FLEEING FROM PORT ARTHUR. THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE TO REMAIN neutral: Received 11, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 12. A telegram from Tokio states that the Russian cruisers which recently left "have relumed to \ laJivostock. The Russians declare that the armoured cruiser Gromoboi alone put to sea, the rest remaining at anchor. Military' posts exist every five versts £3} miles) along the Siberian railway. Women and children are preparing to leave Port Arthur and Niuchwang. Japanese reservists in North China are hurrying to Japan. Chinese railway ofllciah b.>Uver>n Niuchwong and Stan Hai Kv.an have deserted their posts fearing the district would be the scene of ifetltoig. Jteutcr's agency announces that it has received a trustworthy assurance that the Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria and Italy) will remain neutral in the event of war. CHINESE TREATY PORTS OPENED. KOREAN TROOPS DESERTING FROM SEOUL. " EVERYTHING POINTS TO WAR." Received 11, 10.15 p.m. LONDON, Jan. li The Emperor of China has ratified treaties with the United States and Japan, opening Mukden', Autung and Aitungkou to foreign trade. Two thousand Imperial guards at Seoul have deserted. Many of the Korean nobility have fled. Japan recently purchased two thousand Whitehead torpedoes. The Times Tokio correspondent, telegraphing on Sunday evening, says the situation has slightly improved, though the indication? are not conclusive. The Japanese press admits tfiat Japan owes England her profound gratitude for many evidences of sympathy. Mr Bennett Burleigh, Daily Telegraph correspondent, reported from Tokio late on Sunday evening as follpjws :—" Everything points Jio war, though hostilities may possibly bo delayed for a week. ' THE MYSTERIOUS IRONCLADS. REPORTED ATTEMPT TO EXPLODE A MAGAZINE. >• JAPAN HAS NO ALTERNATIVE BUT WAR." Received 11, 11.18 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. One of the Japanese cruisers which recently left Genoa has been renamed the Nassh-in. An attempt made to explode the magazine, by tampering with the electric apparatus, fhiled-

The Tokio newspaper Jiji Shimpo states that Ochida Yosnnya, Japanese Minister at Pekin, told Prince Ching that Russia's it-ply was unsatisfactory and indefinite. In view o> Russia's duplicity Japan has no alternative but war. The Latest. RUSSIA IN THE HANDS OP PRINCE ALEXIEFP. AN ARMY CORPS ORDERED EAST THE CHINO-.IAPANESE-AMERI-CAN TREATIES. Received 11, 11.31 p.m. LONDON. .lan. 11. Japan highly appreciated Australia's recent offers of volun , "e, s and nurses, though the military i;gulations preclude their acceptame. A Grand Duke has informed tie New York Herald's cooresponrkfit that the Czar, after much hesitation, had deckled to leave the is.'i:o to Prince Alexieff. wiio is empowered to take hostile action wh»n l.e sees (it.

The Tenth Army Corps, stationed nt K'hnrkofl. has been or.lcn-d to the Far East.

Two Kussian battleships and seven torpedo destroyers are weath-er-bound at Suda Bay in Civic. The Times says ' that Russia seeks to exclude Japan from urnvoice in Manchurian affairs, and adds that tho Korean qn. .siion was never a source of serious dillicilty.

The New York correspond.nt of the Times says that Americans an- de:l il,iitc<|«.with the action of the Kmperor of China in having ratified the United States and Japanese treaties, despite Russia's strongest efforts to prevent it.