Untitled

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.] THE WAR CLOUD IN THE FAR EAST.

♦ REPORTED PURCHASE OF STEAMERS. ACTIVE MEASURES IN KOREA. RUSSIAN ARDOUR SAID TO BE COOLING. [PBESS ASSOCIATION.! LONDON, 23rd December. The Daily Mail states that Japan haa taken over Butterlield and Swire's twenty -fivo steamers. Japanoso warships are roportcd to bo concentrating off Port Arthur. It is understood Mint Japan is assorting her position in Korea and taking over tho construction, of the Scoul-Fiusau railway. Count Hayashi, Japanese Minister in England, in the course of an interview, said peace and war were entirely dependent, on the nature of Russia's reply to Japan. The Paris correspondent of The Times says Russia is disposed to reconsider her Note to Japan. The Times's Berlin correspondent states that Russia is really feeling her way in order to discovor how muoh she may demand from Jaapn with any prospect of success. Advices irom St. Petersburg nro hopeful of a pacific issue. It is stated at Odessa that the condition of tho arsenals and stores at Port Arthur, Dalny, and Vhuiivostock would suffice to conduct war for a year. The British cruiser King Alfred is convoying to China a new crew for the battleship Glory, the flagship on the station. GERMAN MILITARY OPINION. GOOD OFFICES OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE. RUSSIA'S DESIGNS ON KOREA. LONDON, 23rd December. The Daily Chroniclo says: —"German military opinion is that iv the event of war- it would bo useless for allies to assist Japan. She will bo defeated, inasmuch a» tho struggle must ultimately become a land win; to be decisive." Much anxiety is felt at Pokin. Chinese officials are discussing with the foreign Legations China's best means of preserving neutrality. Count Hayashi, Japaiieso Minister in England, has been uniformly optimist, and hia 'pessimism ia now tiigniflcant. Tho Standard states that tho Japanese Minister at Romo declares that the situation is not dcaperato. Japan has sent counter proposals to Russia, in the hope of averting a rupture. Other advices received stato that Britain and France havomsed good offices at Tokio and St. Potersburg on behalf of peace. NEW YORK, 23rd December. Tho. Now York Sun states that Ruosia has since August steadily increased tho exigenoy of her demands, trying to force Japan to go to war, and now rofusos to discuss with America the integrity of China or tho equality of commercial opportunity. Sho urges the subdivision of Korea into apheres of influence. THE KAIPING MINES. SEIZED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. PEKIN, 23rd December. China hn* sotted as Government property the Kaiping mines, in the province of-Pcchili, on the ground that the company claimed (he right to soil Chingwangtao, a wintor port between Tientsin and Pekin, to Ruma. LONDON, 23ra December. Tho company claimed to soil Chingwangtao to others, not to Russia. According to the Standard, a secret edict has beon hutted ordering Yuan-shin-kai to tako possession of Chingwangtao. Tho Standard says: —-"Tho port was opened voluntarily by China, aud does not belong to an engineering or mining company. A Customs officer has . been ordered to tako over Chingwangtao. This is no empty bluff. The order was Undoubtedly inspired by Ruosia. The- Chinese arc prepared to countenance any illegality, and Russia is already in possession. A survey of the port has been takon and a census of neighbouring villages compiled." STATEMENTS BY JAPANESE OFFICIALS. THE SINEWS" OF WAR. (Received December 24, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, 23rd December. A Reutor message asserta that the ofll. eials at Tokio state that Russia rejects a mutual guarantee for the preservation ot Chinese and Korean sovereignty while socuring individual- interests. War preparations continue apace, though Messrs. Butterfield deny tho salo of their steamers. Japan claims to possess a specie reserve of a hundred and flfty-threo million yon (about £15,682,000), besides Treasury funds amounting to fifty million yen (about £5,125,000). -