THE FAR EAST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXI, Issue 13326, 4 January 1904, Page 5

THE FAR EAST.

RUSSIA AND JAPAN. RUSSIAN REINFORCEMENTS. TROOPS FOR PORT ARTHUR. GLOOMY PROSPECTS. WARLIKE PREPARATIONS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. ST PETERSBURG, January 1. The Russian cruiser Alma has sailed from Libau, in the Baltic Sea, for Port- Arthur. The reported ’.recall of the cruiser Kazan hag been contradicted. She passed tho Suez Canal, with 2000 picked troops' on hoard, for Port Arthur. (Received January 3, 9.7 p.m.) LONDON, January 2. Five Russian destroyers which are in the dry dock at Malta have been unexpectedly ordered to proceed to sea, leaving import-' ant repair® unfinished. There is a gloomy outlook for peace. The censorship of telegrams has apparently commenced. There are rumours in diplomatic circles that the Russian, reply has been sent. A circumstantial account is published in Berlin of the Czar’s hurried meeting with the Ministerial Council to' consider a long telegram from Prince Alexieff. As a result of the deliberations, Russia is said to have adhered to her previous note. TOKIO, January 2.. Japan bo® acquired two vessels of, the Nippon line as hospital ships. f OMINOUS INDICATIONS. THE DISPOSITION OF FLEETS. A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. (Received January 4, 12.54 a.m.) LONDON, January 3. Reuter’s Tokio correspondent reports that six armoured cruisers and battleships, under Admiral Karoemura, are expected to leave Sasabo on Sunday for Masampo, where the Russian cruiser Rasboymik is stationed 1 .

It is surmised that Japan intends to prevent the Russian cruisers Gromohoi, Rossia, Rurik and Bogatyr, which are at Vladivostock, from junctioning with. the Port Arthur squadron. • , Japan is transferring much of 'her mercantile shipping to neutral Powers, principally to Britain. AMERICAN REPORTS. (Received January 4, 12.54 a.m.) LONDON, January 3. Reports received at Washington from American representatives abroad, are to the effect that official opinion;in the European capitals still clings to the belief that war will be averted. On the other hand, the host informed diplomatists at, Pekin are convinced that war is inevitable, possibly within; a few days. THE KAIPING COAL-MINES. - The Kaiping coal-mines t which China was recently reported to have seized on the ground that the company owning them claimed the right to sell Ching-wang-tao, a winter port, to Russia, axe situated about fifty miles from the city of Tientsin. Ii; 1889 Mry Hayes,; the present inspecting engineer of the New Zealand Mines Department, who was then in charge of four large collieries in Cumberland, was' offered the management of the Kaiping .mines, but for private reasons (says the Wellington “Post”) he declined the position.-and in the following year came out to New Zealand. In 1889 the property was being worked by the Coal-mining and Engineering Company of China, principally with Chinese capital, but after, the Boxer troubles’it was taken, over by an English company with a capital of a million sterling. When Mr Hayes was offered the management about 2000 men were employed, hut as the company subsequently opened up another property some miles away Mr Hayes is inclined to think that when the .ecent seizure was made' the company must have been employing between 4000 and 5000 hands.