RUSSIA AND JAPAN

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 305, 23 December 1903, Page 5

RUSSIA AND JAPAN

WAR DRAWING NEARER. BRITISH ADMIRALTY PREPARED. FOREIGN MARKET DEPRESSED. (By —Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDO-n, December 22. The British Admiralty is prepared for every eventuality. A cruiser squadron has left, presumably to go to the West Indies, but doubtless it will be found in the right place if required.

There are no British warships at present en route direct for the Far East, but it is understood that the commanders on the China and East India station, and possibly the Australian, are in possession of secret orders. The Russians at Port Arthur sorely feel the absence of docks for warships in the vicinity, as their warships soon foul their bottoms, thereby impeding their speed and rendering them unable, in the event of war., to venture far from the base.

Baron Jutaro Komura, the Japanese Foreign Minister, has handed to the Russian Minister a reply requesting reconsideration of certain essential points. It is reported in London that the Japanese demand the prompt recognition of treaty provisions with regard to Corea and Manchuria.

The foreign market in London is depressed. Japanese and Russian bonds are i to LV lower. The rate for war risks on a three months' policy at Lloyds' is 40 guineas per cent. It is thought in some quarters that Japan is only awaiting the freezing of Vladivostok Harbour in January for the commencement of hostilities.

The "Daily Mail's" Shanghai correspondent states that the cruiser Siriua, which intended to winter there, has been ordered to Wei-hei-wai. Russia's normal consumption of Welsh steam coal and patent fuel is 70,000 tons. Ninety thousand additional tons have been ordered during the past two months, all to be shipped by the end of December. TOKIO, December 22. Sixty Japanese military engineers have been sent to Corea to replace the civil experts along the Japanese telegraph lines. It is officially declared that the movement has no military significance. Owing to rumours of the assembling of military transports at Hiroshima, a sharp fall has occurred at Tokio in Japanese stocks. I INSURANCE RATES.-

Demand for Speculative Insurances. Received 7.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 22. The "limes" says that there has been some demand for speculative insurances against the risk of war being declared Within a month. Forty guineas per cent, were paid this morning. The underwriters pay the total loss if war breaks out within a month. Thirty guineas per cent, were accepted during the afternoon.

JAPAN'S NAVAL PREPARATIONS. (Received 8.54 a.m.) LONDON, December 22. Mr. Bennett Burleigh, the war correspondent, states that Japan has notified shipping that her fleet requires all the dry docks available. A number of her vessels are already docked for the cleaning of their bottoms. The Russian squadron at Chemulpho has returned to Port Arthur with the exception of one cruiser.