*
142
Haiping at Dalny for 4 days, not heeding the captain's repeated protests.
LONDON, 18th February. The Russians are detaining British and American ships at Newchwang.
230 convicts have been enrolled by the Russians in Sakhalin.
SINGAPORE, 19th February, 10.40 a.m. The Russian threat with reference to Tibet has been treated in India with amused
It has created contempt.
no sensation among the natives, who recognise the Rus- sian collapse and are in sympathy with Japan.
The Tibet Mission is pressing forward.
A proclamation of neutrality was issued in a Government Gazette Extraordinary on the 12th inst.
Mr. Masaichi Noma, Consul for Japan, re- quests us to publish the following translation of HLM. the Emperor's Declaration of War:- "We all alike, by Grace of Heaven the Em- peror of Japan seated on the Throne occupied by the All-saving Lynasty from time immemo- rial, do hereby make proclamation to all our loyal and brave subjects.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
"We hereby declare war against Russia and we command our army and navy to carry on hostilities against that Empire with all their strength, and we also command all our com- petent authorities to make every effort in pursuance of their duties and in accordance with their powers to attain the national aim with all the means within the limits of the law of nations. We have always deemed it essential to international relations and made it Our constant aim to promote the pacific progress of Our Empire in civilisation, to strengthen Our friendly tie with other states, and to establish a state of things which will maintain enduring peace in the Extreme East and assure the future security of Our Dominion without injury to the rights and items of other powers. competent authorities have also performed their duties in obedience to Our will, so that Our relations with the powers have been steadily growing in cordiality.
Our
'It was thus entirely against Our expectation that We have unhappily come to open hostilities against Russia. The integrity of Corea is a matter of constant concern to this Empire; not only because of Our traditiona relations with that country, but because the separate existance of Corea is essential to the safety of Our Realm. Nevertheless, Russia, in disregard of her solemn treaty pledges to China, and her repeated assurances to other Powers is still in occupation of Mauchuria, and already has consolidated and strengthened her hold upon these provinces, and is bent upon their final annexation. And since absorption of Manchuria by Russia would render it im- possible to maintain the integrity of China and would in addition to that compel abandenment of all hope for peace in the Extreme East; We determined in those circumstances to settle the questions by negotiation and to secure thereby permanent peace. With that object in view our competent authorities by Our order made proposals to Russia, and frequent conferences were held during the last six months. Russia, however, never met such proposals in a spirit of conciliation but by her wanton delays put off the settlement of the question and by ostensibly advocating peace on the one hand while she was on the other extending her naval and military preparations sought to accomplish her own selfish designs.
"We can not in the least admit that Russia had from the first any serious or genuine desire for peace. She has rejected the proposals of Our Government, the safety of Corea is in danger, the cherished interests of Our Empire The guarantees for the future are menaced. which we have failed to secure by peaceful negotiations, we can now only seek by a brave appeal to arms. It is our earnest wish that by the loyalty and valour of our faithful subjects peace may soon be permanently restored and the Glory of Our Empire preserved."
The Japanese Consul, Mr. Masaichi Noma, sends us the following official telegram received by him from Japan on the 13th inst.:-
"Tokyo, 12th February, 5.30 p.m.-On the 11th inst. two of our merchant ve sels, the Nakonoura Maru and Zensho Maru, when on
their way from Sakala to Otaru, were attacked and surrounded by four Russian cruisers near Henashik (Aomori prefecture). The Nakonoura Maru was sunk, but the Zensho Maru esca ed to Fukuyama. These four Russian cruisers are still craising round the northern coast of Japan."
With reference to these cruisers the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha received on the same day the following telegram:
|
[February 22, 1904.
A Chemulpo despatch of the 1st inst. stated that the Russian warships Varyag and Roreets took in 1,500 tons of coal from the Russian coal
shed in Roz Island on the previous night. They were to take in some more from a coaling ship lying outside the port. The Russian oruiser Sungari, from Port Arthur, arrived at Che- mulpo on the 1st inst. All three vessels have since been sunk or destroyed.
A Chemulpo telegram of the 4th says that 6,000 Russians who had left Liaoyang for the Yalu were gradually coming to Corean territory across the river. It was believed that the Rus-
mulpo immediately war broke out!
"Shanghai, 12th February, 8.30 p.m.-Asian warships would blockade Seoul and Che- telegram received from our Head Offion at Tokyo communicates that three Russiae cruisers have been destroyed by Japanese torpedo boats at Aomori.”
The Japanese Consul sent us a copy of the report of Admiral Togo, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Japanese Squadron, on the 10th inst, which was substantially as follows:-
"At midnight on the 8th inst., our torpedo | flotillas attacked with success the Russian Fleet in the outer roads of Port Arthur, and on the following day, the 9th, at 10 a.m we made an attack for forty minutes, when the Russians fled into the harbour. At 1 p.m. we ceased fir- ing and retired. Our ships were but slightly damaged, nono being lost. Our losses were four killed and fifty-four wounded. Imperial Princes are all in safety. Our torpedo atillas rejoined the main squadron after the battle. Officers and men are in high spirits, and be- haved with great calmness during the fight, as if at ordinary manoeuvres."
51
The Japanese Consul further informed us on the 14th inst. that he had received the follow- ing official message:-
Request made through British Consul to our Consul at Chemulpo for placing 34 of the wounded Russians under the care of some charitable Japanese was willingly acced d to. They will be placed in the Japanes Nursing Hospital at Chemulpo and treated by Japanese
doctors.
11
By kind permission of the Naval Authorities graphic news on the 19th inst.: we were enabled to publish the following tele-
"Whereas it was reported by wire that H.M.S. Talbot had 150 Russians on board from the
Russian warships Varyag and Koreetz, it is now
learnt that the Talbot has 295 men from the
aryag and Koreetz on board. In the encounter between the Russian gunboat Koreetz and cruiser Varyay and a Japanese escorting squadron 41 Russians were killed and 68
wounded'
With reference to an official message to the Japanese Consul to the effect that request had been made through the British Consul to the Japanese Consul at Chemulpo for placing 34
wounded Russians nuder the care of some charitable Japanese it is probable that these 34 men are amongst those who took refuge on the Talbot. The Japanese Consul at Chemulpo, it will be remembered willingly acceded to the request; the men are to be treated by Japanese doctors at the Japanese Nursing Hospital at Chemulpe.
On the 15th inst. we received the following from the Japanese Consul :-
"Our Consul at Gensan telegraphed ou the 14th inst. as follows: According to the cap- tain of the American steamer Pleiades, just arrived here from Port Arthur, the Russian cruiser Askold, which was damaged by our ships and was lying in the inner harbour, sank on the forenoon of the 12th inst. The Russian casualties so far (in Port Arthur) are reported to be 29 killed and 6) wounded and carried ashore.
Two men were killed in the Golden Hill Fortress and several wounded there,"
The Golden Hill fortress mentioned is behind Port Arthur.
Just before the outbreak of war news reached Tokyo from Vladivostock that the oruisers Gromboi, Bogatyr, Rurik, and Rossia and an ice-breaker were fully equipped for action and ready to put out to sea from Vladivostook. It is apparently these cruisers which have been operating off the Northern Japanese coast, and have sunk the Nakanoura Maru. The question remains, what has become of them since?
It is learnt at Peking on the 9th inst. by telegram from Kinchon that the Russian tele graphic communication between Kaiping and Haichêng, Yinkon and Tashibchiao was totally destroyed on the 5th inst. by mounted bandits. On the morning of the 9th inst. a J panese squadron of 16 large warships was sighted 18: miles out from Chefoo, steaming toward Port Arthur. This is according to a telegram from Chefoo, but as is known part of the Ja anese feet reached Port Arthur on the night of the 8th.
The Japanese Consul informed us on the 17th morning that he had received the following official telegram dated Tokyo, 16th February, 8.50 p.m. :-
According to certain foreign officers who were in Port Arthur from the 8th to the 11th instant, the Russian battleship Retvizan is aground outside the harbour, the Tsarevitch has been taken into the port, and the Pallada is lying aground at the entrance. All three are hors de combat by the bombardment of the Japanese fleet. Next morning the Novik was damaged seriously, while the Askold, Diana and Poltava were only slightly damaged."
·
Next morning" evidently means the morn- ing of the 9th instant, the first attack having been made on the night of the 8th.
The
the
Japanese official account of Chemulpo action is thus given in the N.-C. News :-Our squadron escorting Daily transports was entering the port of Chemulpo towards the evening of the 8th, when they met near Hachibi Island the Russian gunboat Koreetz coming out of the port. The latter at once assumed an offensive attitude towards the
Japanese transports and then fired, on the torpedo-boats, which replied thereto with two torpedoes but without effect, whereupon the Koreetz returned to ner anchorage in the port. Admiral Urin, commanding the convoying squadron, made a formal demand on the 9th on the senior Russian naval officer (the captain of the Varyag) to retire from the port before noon that day, adding that in the event of refusal he would be compelled to attack them in the harbour. The Japanese squadron then left the port, and the two Russian men-of-war also left the harbour a little after 1.30 a.m., whereupon a fight ensued well outside of the Polynesian Islands. engagement, the Russian vessels took refuge in the Polynesian Islands, and at 4 Koreetz sank, have apparently blown herself up. The Varyag was entirely disabled and sank the same evening. The officers and men of the Russian vessels took refuge on board the French cruiser Pascal. There was no loss of life and no damage whatever on the Japanese vessels. The Japanese troops landed at Che- mulpo on the 8th. Perfect tranquillity reigned at Chemulpo and Seoul.
After about an hour's
p.m.
the
The following is the latest informatiou regarding the distribution of Russian troops in Manchuria:-
At Port Arthur, 20,350 men, consisting of Infantry, Third Brigade, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th regiments East Siberian Sharp- shooters comprising 2,000 men in each regiment; Seventh Brigade (one half) or 25th and 26th regiments, East Siberian Sharpshooters, 2,000 men each. The other half of the Brigade being the 27th regiment at Haicheng, and the 28th regiment of the same Corps (East Siberian Sharpshooters) at Liaoyang. Note:- All of the third Brigade, except the 11th regiment, have since proceeded to the coast of the Liaotung Peninsula and the Yalu. Cavalry: one company Baikal Cossacks, 150
1,
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