-THE PAR EAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7923, 30 January 1904, Page 5

-THE PAR EAST.

OMINOUS SIGNS. RUSSIAN ACTIVITY IN KOREA JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN STOCKS DECLINING. United Press Association — By Electrio Telegraph — Copyright. (Received January 30, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, January 29. Japanese mercantile bouses in London have been instructed not to negotiate commercial bills at present. A Russian military party bas crossed the Korean frontier near Yalu. The Russians are extending their telegraph line from the mouth of the Yalu to Port Arthur. The concentration of Cossacks on the Korean frontier continues. Reports from two sources allege that Russia has refused to guarantee China's sovereignty. Russian and Japanese stocks have fallen in London. NOTES .ON THE SITUATION. The .views of Mr O. K. Davis, who was war correspondent for the "New York Sun " in China and the Philippines, are of especial interest just now. This writer i-s | inclined to the belief that Japan will give Russia ai hot/ time in the event of a naval . i war. He, however, treats the subject almost entirely from the standpoint of Russia and Japan fighting the business out by themselves. Probably he has reserved for a further article the probable outcome of Great Britain and other Powers becoming involved — a truly imminent danger, > But even assuming Japan's success in the early stages, Mr Davis finds himself forced to the conclusion that Russia will eventually prove irresistible in the East. In a sentence, this American wan* correspondent considers that Japan's lightning swoops may at first , throw about her the glamour of victory, but the future is not only 1904, and destiny is j destiny, and Russia is Russia, and she " will overthrow the enemy at last and crush him." Admiral Togo, the new fighting admiral of the Japanese Navy, is, like so many other Japanese officers, British trained. He was educated for the sea life in the Naiutical Training College, H.M.S. Worcester. t When in command of the Naniwa, Japanese cruiser, in 1894, he opened the war with China by sinking the transport Kowshing, which was also commaiaded by an old "Worcester." There are also many Japa_ese officers of distinction who have been temporarily attached to the British Navy, and at the present time some of them are going through a course of naval strategy at Greenwich College. The Chinese Navy is not a very serious factor afc present. It comprises eleven cruisers, several of which are credited with good speed, but none are armoured, and all are lightly armed. A couple of vessels, described as torpedo cruisers, have also, been added' to the fleet, and there are N - several torpedo gunboats- of small fighting power. China's four torpedo boat destroyers were seized by the allies at Taku in 1900, and added, one each, to ibe navies of Great Britain, France, Germany and 1 Russia. There are also forty- four torpedo boats, but only about twenty of them are said to be serviceable.