JAPAN PREPARED FOR WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 37

JAPAN PREPARED FOR WAR.

Captain Dabbelle, who is in command of the s.s. Guthrie, which arrived at Brisbane Jast week from the East, in the course of an interview sta f ed that the Japanese were quite prepared for war with Russia, and leaving no stone unturned which would be likely to secure them victory in the case of hostilities. It was the opinion in

Japanese circles that they would beat Russia upon the sea. The Japanese were fu 1 ! of sentiment, and this element, it must be understood, had played no small part in the wars of the past. As an example of the precautions taken by Japan, it was learned from officers on board the Guthrie that two Japanese steamers, which had loaded rice, etc., for Port Arthur and other Russian ports, were made to discharge their cargoes at Kobe, for fear they shouVl fall

Powder Creek on the left-ha,nd side, and on the right the intake,

into the hands of the Russians. On January 8 the O&aka Asaki re-CFived a despatch from its Tokio coi respondent, who had had an interview with a high responsible Japanese officia 7 This official is reported to have said: — "The situation iq now more than critical. The forces of the two countries are practically waiting the opportunity to open fire. Under these circumstances the Government is now in a position to give information in regard to

past events leading up to the picsont position as soon as inquiries are made by responsible leaders of the political parties. Journalists may now inform their readers that rhe country is on the tve of war, even if they must not state anything of the actual movements, though this prohibition will probably be removed in a, few days. Journalists should urge bankers and wealfhy men to contribute to the war fund, and patriots should be urged to send such

articles as will be appreciated by the soldiers and sailors. This action will encourage the troops, and let the enemy know the feeling of Japan." Investigations made Sy the Japanese authorities give the strength of the Russian squadron in the Far East as totalling about 208, 8£6 tons, exclusive of 32 torpedo boatdestroyers of 9630 tons, 10 coast defence gunboats with an aggregate tonnage of 12,183, and 14- torpedo boats. The squadron

consists of nine battleships, aggregating 110,242 tons, five armoured cruisers, 49,016 tons, cruisers of less than 20 knots, totalling 45,553 tons, 1 cruiser above 16 knots, 32"5 tons, and two gunboats of 20 knots. The Russian land force in the Fax East is estimated in Tokio at about 150,000 troops, which are chiefly mustered at Ukolsk Harbour and Mukden. Doubt has been cast upon the reputed strength of the forts at Port Arthur by the report of the captain of

a steamer recently returned to Japan, who says the guns mounted on the forts at Port Arthur are mostly of old style, there being very few new ones. It is also reported that some vessels which were icebound at Vladivostock have been freed by the ice-breakers, and sailed for Port Arthur. These are the armoured cruisers Rossia and Kurik. If any reliance can be placed on a Peking despatch of the vernacular papers, China seems to be preparing for emergencies. It

is stated that the Government has ordered 5,000.000 rounds of rifle cartridges to be sent from Nanking and Mucheong to General Wah Ta Kung, in North China. The General, it is declared, is prepared to proceed to Shanhaikwan at a moment's notice for the purpose of guarding the frontier of Shanhaikwan, which is now regarded by the Chinese Government as the frontier. China would seem to have abandoned her claims to Manchuria.

Besides the American and British marines, who are reported to have arrived at Seoul, it is now stated that on January 6 22 marines from a Russian warship, with an interpreter and five coolie=, landed at Chemulpho, en route to Seoul.

At Port Arthur vessels entering and leaving the harbour are conducted by a pilot boat. It is supposed to avoid the danger of running on torpedoes, which are believed to be laid.

According to a Peking despatch to Asahi, the Chinese Minister at Kulong, or Urga, an important centre in outer Mongolia, telegraphed to Peking stating that guns had been mounted on forts in the neighbourhood of thy Russian settlement there, and that the garrison of Cossacks, numbering 3500, had been reinforoed by 3000 Mongols recruited from among the populace. Troope had been patrolling the place and examining' all th© Chinese who left or entered the cityJ