THE WAR CLOUD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7683, 5 February 1904, Page 5

THE WAR CLOUD.

Rumoured That Russia has Decided on War.

{Received To-day, at 12.6 a.m.)

London, February 4.

The statement that Japan demanded compensation for her preparations for war is baseless. The Czar is earnestly considering the reply to Japan, audits delivery'tb Tokio has been postponed for several "days. " * Beuter's St. Petersburg correspondent, states that on Tuesday the General Staff authorised Admiral Alexieff to declare war and open hostilities on his own responsibility if the circumstances appeared to him to render that course necessary. An early issue is expected of an Imperial manifesto declaring war if Japan does not accept the terms embodied in the reply, which is Bussia's last word. An unofficial despatch has reached Tokio to the effect that Bussia has decided on war. No corroboration of Eeuter's despatch has been received in official circles in London, and the scepticism as to its accuracy is most pronounced. It is interpreted as a blind threat after ineffectual bluff. There is marked depression on the St. Petersburg Bourse, and internal rentes and other Bussian funds are falling. The Censorship has stopped most of the Far Eastern news. Seven battleships at Port Arthur, in pursuance of St. Petersburg instructions, will join three battleships and sis cruisers outside simultaneously with the carrying out of a naval and military " observation " movement. Nine thousand troops have gone to Liao-yang, others replacing them at Port Arthur. A cruiser from Chemulpho has brought to Port Arthur complete Japanese charts of the Korean coast. A total of 70,000 tons of Kaiping coal has been ordered at Port Arthur. The Bussian delay, and the idea that Japan has been treated with contumely, has carried the tension in Japanese feeling to a climax. The limes' St. Petersburg correspondent says that the military party profess the belief that the argument, emphasising as the trump card the loss of Bussian prestige by backing down before Japan will ultimately overcome the Czar's irresolution. The Council have carefully discussed measures to preserve internal order in the event of war. The situation in the Caucasus is especially dangerous.