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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1904)
The Omaha Daily Bee. COREA-THL QATTLE GROUND By A. B. Hurlbort ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS IN NEXT SUNDAY'S BEE The Bee will have the news first The Bee will have It RIGHT. KSTAIILISIIKI) .TI7NI-: ID, 1S71. rillDAY MOKNIXO, I-'KHKUAKY 21. 1904 TEN PAGES. sinci.k corv tiikki: ci:xts. rnnif IVP VfW PIP .-.v M'Uiuiu run null '2 si Colombia Anions to Intade the Eepubl - 01 renama. RATIFICATION OF TREATY LAST STRAW Troop on the Border Determined to Cross the Frcntier. SUN BLAS CHIEF HAS CANOES READY Warned by American Officers. They Will Be Sank if Used. SHIPS CAN HEAD OFF COLOMBIAN FORCES II Colombian Carry Out Threat Attack They Cannot Hrirh Rail road Section Fast aa Onnboat. to NEW YORK, Feb. 25. Ratification of the Panama treaty resulted In the Immediate recall of the United warships and about one-half of the marines from the Isthmus, aya a Herald dispatch from Panama. The Marblehead, Petrel, Wyoming; and two torpedo boats will remain on the Pacific Ide. The New York. Boston and Ben nington will proceed to Callao. On tha Atluntla side all the warships except two will proceed north for maneu vers. Four hundred and fifty marines under Major Colo will leave on Tuesday for Quantanamo. The belief Is that they will proceed later to Ban Domingo. Despite Colombia's Internal disturbances, letters Just received from there declare that the Colombians are ready to fight s soon aa news arrives that the treaty has been ratified. On reneral at Carta ten a Is quoted as saying that if the gov ernment does not deolare war the troops on the border will Invade Panama anyhow. The Information from the coast Is that another regiment has been sent from Car tagena to the frontier. Half of the 1000 soldiers sent out to Tltumatl have been moved up the Darlen coast toward Panama. Indiana Visit Colombians. It la known now that Inanqualna, the Ban Bias chief, has visited Tltumatl three or four times. American officers haves given him notice that the big canoes he has collected near the frontier, if used to transport Colombian troops, will be sunk. He promised to remain neutrm. and said he wished peace. On account of tha feeling of the Indians the Panama government has displaced In anqualna aa principal chief and has named Henry Clay, whose headquarters are at the mouth of the Rio Diablo, to be gov ernor general with a commission in the army. The San Bias are very friendly to the Americans. If the Colombians carry out the threat to attack they cannot reach the rail road aoctlon as fast aa vessels can be sent from the United States after news of the advance arrives. The presidential election In Colombia la still undecided, according to a Herald dis patch from Bogota. General Reyes still has ft" am I'll "rnajoriiy and It Is generally believed the electoral college will declare Mm president on Juiy E, with General Uonsales Valencia vice president. ANSWERS BRYAN'S DEMURRER Another Step In the Litigation to Seen re ftO,MH of the Dennett Riches. NEW HAVEN. Conn., Feb. 25. William J. Bryan came here today from Washington on business connected with the will of the Isle P. 6. Bennett, of which he Is executor. He waa In consultation this afternoon with Judge Cleaveland of the probate court. A new demurrer wns filed In the supreme court today by counsel for Mrs. Bennett, widow of P. 8. Bennett The demurrer was to the answer recently entered by Mr. Bryan to the suit for the construction of the Bennett memorial. Mr. Bryan said he had Informed Judge Cleaveland that all parties Interested In the will have agreed upon a plan for the dis posal of the personal estate, which, how aver, has nothing to do with the matters w In litigation. AGAINST THE INJUNCTION BILL Representative of Three Associations of Employee Addresses House Committee on Judiciary. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Danlel Daven port of Bridgeport, Conn., representing as n attorney the American Antl-hnycott as sociation, the Chicago Building Trades council and the National Building Trade association, made an extended argument befnr the house committee on Judiciary t day against the Gror.venor hill to limit the meaning of the word "conspiracy" and the use of restraining orders and Injunc tlons. Mr. Davenport stated that he was as oclated with James M. Beck, who pre vented an argument to the committee yes terday along the same line. Mr. Iaven port Is to be questioned by the representa tive of labor, who favor the bill, at the conclusion of general argument. SKELETONS GOOD AS EVER Special Commission at Baltimore Re. porta that steel Work of sky. scrapers Are iot Impaired. BALTIMORK, Feb. IB. In the house of do leg ate at Annapolis today a bill was In troduced authorizing a contingent fund of 1250,000 for the relief of eases of destitution caused by the fire In Baltimore. The loney is placed at the disposal of Gov ernor WartWld with authority to employ puch persons and agencies as h may think tx-at for reliving those In need. The special commission appointed to con- alder the condition of the burned sky scrapers reported today that the ContW rental Trust and Union Trust buildings, the two tallest structure in the city, were riot seriously Impaired so far aa their steel framework at concerned. MANY WITNESSES IN THE CASE Than On Hundred Called Trial of Allege Mlssoarl Murderer. la BT. IH'IB. Feb. S6.-Th taking of testl rnony la th ca of Frederick Seymour Harrington, charged with killing James P. MoCann. a well known horseman, began th circuit court at Clayton today, after a Jury had been selected. In all, 111 wltnee have been summoned. ffty-vfcn by th stat and fifty-four by h defen. It la thought th trial will fa ha nuiaUcd bsiara uvX Wadautdajfj BALFOUR RECOVERS HEALTH Comri from Brighton to Preside t British Cabinet Meeting Today at London. J..ONDON. Feb. 25.-Premier Balfour had snoicntiy recovered mm nennu to come urigmon in wns cn iouuj o i cabinet meeting t noon. Prior to the n ng the French ambassador. M. Cam bf. -ailed st the Foreign office and had an hour's talk with Foreign Secretary Lansdowne. The ambassador returned here from Paris yesterday, and apart from an exchange of -lews In regard to the most recent de velopments of the wrir, on which subject the two cah'nets nre keeping In the closest touch one wUh each other, there Is good reason to believe that a settlement of all matters In dispute between France and Great Brltlan Is on the eve of being nr ranged. Such questions ns Egypt, Morocco, Newfoundland, have been fully discussed by the two governments for some months, and the differences are being gradually eliminated, until practically nothing remains to prevent nn early signature of a treaty removing all outstanding obstacles to a complete accord between the two powers. Premier Balfour, who nn his first ap pearance today In the House of Commons since his Illness was greeted with warm cheers, replying to a question, confirmed the statement made In these dispatches February 20, that there was no truth In the reports that Great Britain Intended to seise certain points on the Spanish coast In the event of a continental war. Replying to a question in the House of Commons today the Foreign under-See-retary, Karl Percy, said the govenment was not aware of any negotiations between Germany and Russia, whereby, as an nounced In some newspapers, In return for Germany affording Russia certain ad vantages during the war Russia would sup port Germany In regard to the Bagdad railroad question and a general extension of German predominance In Asia Minor. SETTLERS SUFFER BY DECISION Many May Have to Pny Railroad for Homes After Getting; Patent. VANCOUVER, Wash., Feb. 25. The re cent decision of the supreme court of the United States In awarding the "overlap lands" to the Northern Pacific railway will affect almost 2,000 persons In this country. The contested grants comprise all the odd sections In the northern and western por tion of Clark county, most of It being fine timber, grating and farm lands. On this land the government has Issued 1896 patents and many of the patentees have made their homes there for years, be sides Improving the property. The suit has been bitterly fought through the courts for the last ten years and thousands of dollars had been expended to defray the costs, Should It be Impossible to make the rail road company select other lands under the lieu land act the settlers must suffer the hardship of buying their land over again from the company or forfeit their farms and the Improvements. JAPANESE PAY THE REBATE fettle American Trading Casnpavary Claim Growing Oat of Tariff Lnv. TOKIO, Feb. 25. The Japanese govern ment today passed the famous White whisky claim by handing to United States Minister Grlscom the draft for $115,000 In favor of the American Trading company. The c'alm arose from a customs decision rendered In lifciO, holding an Importation of 8,000 barrels of whisky to be alcohol and increasing the duty from 40 'to 250 per cent. Japan at flrst rejected the claim for re payment of the amount alleged to hare been overcharged by the customs depart ment, but Mr. Grlscom on arriving at Toklo renewed It and pressed the ca.se with firm ness. His success In securing payment Is very gratifying to American commercial men, and a settlement of the rr after Is re garded as another mark of the friend 'Iness of Japan for America. MAY JOIN THE FEDERATION Labor 1 nlons of Porto Jtlco Vote on Question of Affiliation Next Month. SAN JUAN. Torto "Rico. Feb. 25.-At a conference yesterday between Samuel Gompers, president of the American Fed eration of Labor, and delegates of the two Porto Rtcan labor unions, representing all the organized labor of the Island, Mr. Compear urged their amalgamation under the American Federation of Labor. A resolution to this effect was adopted by the delegates and will be .voted upon by the unions March 12. COI.OMHIt WAT PART OK CASH. French f'onrti Not Kspected to Obstacles In Way of Hale. Pnt PARIS. Feb. 2.".-Conversations which have occurred between M. Ho., president of the Panama Canal company, and Ambassa dor Porter, show that In the op'nlon of the former no obstacles will be p'aced by the company In the way of the transfer of the concession to the United States. At the Colombian legation the hope la expressed that the United. State will delay the purchase of the concession until the French court pass upon the two applica tion submitted to them first, an order pro hibiting the company from concluding the sale; second, an order that the company recognize the light of Colombia to Its shares, which the cowipany holds, passed with the sovereignly to Panama. The court hii fixed March 9 for the arguments. . It was admitted ut the Colombian lega tion that there Is every likelihood of the court's refusing to grant the writ enjoining the company from selling the concessions, but every effort will be made to retain the ownership of the Colombian shares. In or dor that Colombia may profit In the division uf the money paid for the concession. FOI'K REtKIVK BISHOP FARLEY. Head of Archdiocese f Kw York (reeled by Head of Church. ROME. Feb. 25. The pope received Arch bishop Farley In private audlcuce today. Archbishop Farley presented a letter from Cardinal Gibbons, thanking the pope In the name of the trustees of the Catholic university at Washington for the letter, Issued Immediately after he was created pope. Indorsing the resolution of the trus tee to have general collections In the United States for the benefit of the uni versity, the first collection being lllO.flro. The pop wa moat pleased to hear of the progress made by the university. Regarding the Baltimore fir th pone referred with admiration to th report he had received that Baltimore would rebuild without outside help and exclaimed: "It la th tru American spirit. You do everything on a ffraad scale, even in th caaa ot ara MANCIIURIANS ARE RISING Beported from Cbe Foo that Russians Feat Action of Natives, TEN THOUSAND MEN IN THE MOVEMENT Patriotic nich Said to He subscribing to Fund to lie feed by Troopa Against the nnsslans. NEW YORK, Feb. 25. Manchuria Is ris ing against the Russians, says a World dispatch from Che Foo. Fl-e thousand Russian troops have been moved from Mur den to Runmlngtung, because In the vil lages nlong the west side of Llao Tung peninsula the natives are making active preparations to cut off small bodies of R is slan troops. Ten thousand Manchurlans have already been enrolled in the movement, which Is spreading Volunteers are plenty and there Is no lack of ammunition or money, for the patriotic rich are subscribing. Measures are being taken for raising the cruiser Varlag at Chemulpo, according to a Times' dispatch from Toklo. The vessel Is said to he not rerlotmly damagtd, but the Korlets is a complete wreck. RUSSIA SORE AT UNITED STATES Merchants Arc Countermanding: Karly Orders for American Supplies. ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 25. The Irrita tion against the United States on account of the supposed unfriendly attitude of that country toward Russia, which was isllghlly noticeable throughout the negotiations, seems to have becoma daily more, pro nounced. Since the Vicksburg Incident at Chemulpo, when, the commander of this American gunboat 1b said to have refused to unite with the commanders of other for eign warships at Chemulpo to protect against the fighting which resulted 1n the loss of the Russian warships Varlag and Korlets, and tha fact that the Vicksburg did not take on board survivors of the Russian ships, American business men here are really alarmed concerning the possible effect upon American trade. Within the last few days orders for American goods have been countermanded, the only explanation given being that the prospective purchasers did not desire to buy American goods under the present cir cumstances. United States Consul Oeneral Watts has ben appealed to In the case of an American firm which had a large con tract for school supplies, the contract hav ing been peremptorily cancelled. Orders for the Importation of a big con signment of wood pulp have also been countermanded, tho Intending purchaser saying In his letter that he could not be expected to do business with lAmerlca after the Vicksburg Incident. Mr. Watts has felt it to be his duty to write to the State department pointing out the state of public feeling here and great prospective damage to American trade un less measure were taken to allay the Irri tation. Americana here believe that an official explanation of the Vicksburg Inci dent would be opportune s.ud lav at ex cellent effect. The government officially has not taken rrttlee cf the incident, being without direct official advices :rom the far east on the subject. In government circles It Is seen plainly that Russian susceptlbllltta have been wounded and the fear Is expressed that should Washington now disregard Russia and procure exequaturs for the newly ap pointed American consuls at Mukden and Antung from Peking and at'empt to send those efflcla's to their poets, a really un pleasant Incident might be created. Russia does not want to bi placed f: position of refusing to allow those consuls to enter upon their duties, but with ? state of war existing and commerce at a stand still military considerations are paramount and Russia might .-onsider herself war runted in interpreting such a course on the part of the United States to be political rather than commercial. The refusal of Russia to allow Mr. Mor gan, the newly appointed American consul at Port Dalny, to go to his post at present, is based solely upon the military situation, which may compel all foreigners to leave Port Dalny. The micer hope is expressed that the United States will not embarrass Rissla f"f"r by pressing the question of consular repress Nation at this time. l.F.AHX THE TRICK AT SANTIAGO. Member of admiral Toito'i Staff Waa wth. American Fleet There. (Copyright, by New York Herald Co., IpOf) WASHINGTON, Feb. 25. (New York Her ald Service Special Telegram to The Boe. It has Ih'Cii suggested that perhaps the Japanese attempt to bottle the Russian licet ut Port Arthur came more directly from the American navy than mere Imita tion of Hobaon's feat. I Jiuleii.int Com mander Akl Yama of Admiral Togo's staff was on the cruiser New York at the out break of the Spanish-American war. The deolslon of the Navy department not to permit foreign officers to accompany the flout in the Santiago campaign waa heart breaking for him. He got as close as be could to the fighting line, however, and fow details escaped him. He was an especially close student of the fight at San tiago. Rear Admiral Chad wick, who then com manded the New York, Rear Admiral Sampson's flagship, was a warm friend and gave him many valuable Ideas. He learned all about the at torn pt to block the en trance to Santiago harbor' with the Merrl- iimc. However, it is a mere supposition that he may have prompted Admiral Togo to send In the flreshlps. Cnmmajider Isam Takeshlta, the Japanese naval attache, said today: "Port Arthur and Santiago are quite similar. The cluinnel at Port Arthur might easily be blocked with hulks, although It la not so narrow or sinuous as the entrance to the harbor at Santiago. The entrance to Pert Arthur la about four and a half fathoms in depth. On this account the Retvlzan and Czarevitch and other heavy Russian ships are not able to enter the roadstead. The Retvlzan lies In the outer roadstead, but It la grounded. It still Is able to Ore one side of Its batteries, but cannot maneuver. "We have heard nothing of this engage ment and therefore cannot give any de tails. I do not believe the reports of at tempted landings at Pigeon or Society bays. They would both be exceedingly dif ficult landing points at this time of year Unless it was for the purpose of blocking th channel I would not credit th re ports that th Japanese had attacked Port Arthur with anything but fighting ships Roaslaita Hold Railroad Matlnn. TTFN TSIN, Feb. 25 The Ri;s-itns hive r'lced n srmed sentry st 'hs Itm Kow railroad station. A detachment of ffJO Rus sians with two guns ts outside Bhla Ming Tung. MAY DELAY CANAL PAYMENT French Litigation Indicates that Money May ot Change Hands Immediately. NEW York. Feb. 25-Secretary Shaw of the Treasury department was at the snhtreasury today, whrre he received a number of callers, including K. H. Hnrrl man. pretddent of the Union rnelflc and Southern Pacific systems; Isaac N. Sellg mnn of the J. A W. Seligman company; James Stlllrrfan, president of the National City bank, snd Valentine P. Snyder. pr si dent of the National Bank of Commerce. Respecting the Panama canal payment, the secretary said that no call will -be Issued to the depository hank for payments of the ITiO.OOti.OO'i involved until the attorney general had passed upon the validity of the Panama canal company's title. It Is suggested that the Treasury deport ment mny Hi d It necessary to send a rep resentative to Parts to Investigate the phases of the litigation now pending there and If this Is done payment of the tto.i'iflO to tho canal company will be Indefinitely delayed. WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-In an Interview with a representative of the Evening Post, Mr. Shaw Is quoted as f.'ll ws: "No money will be paid over until we are sure of a clear title. That, I think, we will secure beyond all doubt, although It mny take a little time to complete the formalities and get t.e papers in shape." "Will It be necessary for our government to send a representative to Paris?'.' was asked. "It may be," Mr. Shaw replied. "The call on tho depository lanks will be made In time to have tho fund in hand a woek or more before the transfer has to be effected. If I thought that we had to pay tho money over to Panama In ten days I would send out the call by wire im mediately. The banks are today fully pre pared for It and could finance the with drawals without difficulty." MINNIE HEALYBURIES FIVE Cave-In at Thousand-foot I-evcl of Montana Mine Results In Loss of Five Lives. BUTTE, Mont., Feb. 25. Five lives were Inst by a cave-In ef earth and rock In the Minnie Healy mine this afternoon. The dead : THOMAS HAGGERTY, shift Koss. THOMAS FURLONG, miner. WILLIAM DWYER. miner. IKE ABRAHAM, miner. ANTON TRINETTI, miner. The accident occurred on the sixth floor of tho 1,000-foot level. Early In the day Foreman Joseph Kane was Informed that the ground In that place was very soft and In danger of falling. Ite withdrew all the miners who were working there. This aft ernoon Shift Boss Haggerty took Furlong, Dwyer, Abraham and Trlnettl Into the place to bulkhead and otherwise strengthen the weak spots. Just how the fall came will never be known, as not one of the five men was left to tell the tale. The noise of the fall was heard In other portions of the mine. Work was at once suspended and every one went to the rescue. The bodies of Hoggerty and Trlnettl were found tonight, but It Is likely to be days before the others a" Recovered. The Min nie iiaJy'inlt ''iwraled by" the Montana Ore Purchasli Pospony, RAILROADS : TO AGREE Rate War Threatens Between Lines In Cripple Creek District of Colorado. DENVER, Feb. 25. The traffic conference Just held between officials of the Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek District railroad and the Denver & Southwestern railway, "wnlng the Midland Terminal and the Flor ence and Cripple Creek railroads, compet ing lines In the Cripple Creek districts, was according to one who speaks authorita tively, without result. The tratlle agreement, which expired Feb ruary 1. was not renewed, each Bide de maiidln a greater percentage of the earn- ngs. As a result of the failure to arrive at an agreement octh sides are preparing another rate war. The Denver & Southwestern Is a New Jersey corporation, owned largely in New York, as is almost all the bonds of both companies. About eighteen months ago the competing llns waged a disastrous rate war extending over a period of several months, and the bond holders of the Denver & Southwestern took over that corporation. MAY WHEAT IS AGAIN HIGHER Makes Kievr Price of fl.OO a Bushel on Higher European Cables. CHICAGO, Feb. 25. Aided by strong Eng lish grain markets wheat for May for de livery today jumped 2'4 cents above yester day's closing figure, touching J1.09 a bushel. This price is above the high rocord mark made a few days ago. Heavy realizing sales caused a reaction, tho close being at tl.OTVj, a net gain for I ho day of 1 cent. The July delivery clewed 2 cents up at 9VB cents. BERRYS SHOT AT AN OFFICER Kansas Lawyer Tells of Assault by the Men Who Were Killed. NORTON. Kan.. Feb. 25 In the trial to day of Chauncey Dewey and his two cow boys for the murder of Ihirchard Berry, Fred Robinson, an attorney of At wood, corroborated the testimony given yesterday by C. E. Burr.ham, sheriff of Cheyenne county, to the effect that the Berry boy had one shot st the sheriff In the belief that he was Dewey. GENERAL CARRJN ST. PAUL Sew Commander of Department of Dakotas Arrives at Headquarters from Omaha. ST. PAUL. Feb JR. Brigadier General Carr. th newly appointed military com mander for the Department of Dakota, reached the city today from Omaha, and assumed command of his department. Gen eral Carr was accompanied by one of his aides, ' Lieutenant Frank B. Edwards, Fourth cavalry, his other aide. Lieuten ant Williams, remaining In Omaha for a fow days. Bishop Hartley Consecrated. RTE1BENVILLE. O. Feb. 18. Rt. Rev James Hartley wa formally consecrated bishop cf the diocese of Columbus today in the Church of the Holy Name, which h built during his pastorate of eighteen years. Nearly all the dignitaries of the Catholic church In Ohio wer present to take part In the ceremonies consecrating the sucrt-ssor to Rt. Rev. Henrv Moeller. now the coadjutor of the archdiocese of Cincinnati. Most Kev. Henry Elder of Cln ctm atl was prese.it and Must Rsv. linry Mocuar ci unanmiu waa in cnarsa. JAPANESE PLAN BOLD MOVE Land Foroe on Foniet Bey tor a Dash at Russian Base at Earbia THREATEN VLADIVOSTOK ON THE NORTH Kit her Plan Contemplates Campaign In Difficult Conntry Which Is In tensely Cold at This Union ot the Yenr. (Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 19H ) NEW YORK, Feb. 25. (New York Herald Service Special telegram to the Bee.)-A force lias been landed at Posselt bay, which, as will be seen by scrutinizing the map, flanks tho main Russian army on the Yalu, threatens Vladivostok and is In a po sition to dash for Kirln and Harbin, cutting off all communication and isolating the Russian troops in Manchuria from their base of supplies. Colonel Oka of the Japa nese general staff, In a recent Interview with a Herald reporter, declared that a dash for Harbin nnd northern Manchuria would be one of the first moves of the cam paign. "Harbin," said the colonel, "Is Ihe key to the strategic situation." "Russia with Its troops scattered nil over Manchuria, with big garrisons at Port Arthur, Mukden, New Chwang and Vladi vostok, would, we consider, suffer by her decentralization. We think that by a great effort and much self-sacrifice on the put t of our troops.'the rush upon Harbin, with Its Immense stores of ammunition, forage and provisions, would he a success. "Once In occupation we should hold the line at the vital point. To the south would be Port Arthur and Dalny cut off from their lines of communication. Both places would be at the risk of assault by the Japanese navy outside and the Japanese army on the land side. To raise the siege the garrisons would have to come out and tight In the open." Ktrln Is some 200 miles from Hln Chun, however, and campaigning In northern Manchuria In February is no plasant un dertaking. The temperature rarely goes above zero during winter In those latitudes, it Is possible the Japanese movement Is In tended to flank the Russian position on the Yalu. Berlin dispatches from Stockholm an nounce that the Swedish and Danish For eign offices are levlslng the neutrality reg ulatlons, which were drawn up In 1885, when war was expected between Russia and England. When this Is completed It will be submitted to England and Russia for their approval. The Swedish government. In view of tho Russo-Japanese war, has proclaimed Stock holm and Carlakron military ports. Move Against Vladivostok. LONDON. Feb. 26. (New York Herald Cablegram Special Telegram to The Bee.) The Dally Mall prints the following dis patch from New Chwang: Rev. W. II. Gillespie, a missionary, arrived from Kwang Cheng. He states that the Japa nese have landed at Posslot bay to the south of Vladivostok and have advanced to Hun Chun. Th Russian garrison has fled. The Japanese are marching on Kirln, from which women and civilians ar leav ing in i pai-ie. - The Mall, In commenting on th fore going statement that the objective point of the Japanese Is Kirln, says that In that case a long march will have to be made over a very formidable country and through mountain chains in extremely se vere weather, but that the very difficulty of the route may have led the Russians to leave It unguarded. Though there Is a roaj running up from Possiet bay to Kirln, It Is yet hard to see how the troops of a large army can be worked along It. There are no parallel roads available for a great distance, and the problem woidd be, one of immense difficulty for the Japanese staff. In view of these difficulties tho most obvious explanation of the Japanese move ment would be that tbeir force was seizing and securing an advanced base for the purpose of an operation against Vladivo stok. For this Possiet bay is admirably adapted, being only about nlntey miles off. The Russian fortress and the naval base of the Japanese action. In fact, would be exactly analogous to that of the Ameri cans In the war with Spain, when tlioy occupied Guantanamo with an expedition ary force to serve as the base of their fleet blockading Santiago. VAniAO WAS COMPLF.TEI.Y RIOni.FfJ Eye Witness Describe Fearful Kse cutlon of Japanese Shells, (Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1 4) NAGASAKI, Feb. 25. (New York Herald Cablegram Special Telegram to The Bee.) In the course of a lengthy dispatch from Chemulpo descriptive of the naval engage ment there, where he wns an eye witness, a correspondent says: "The Varlag had reached Round Island, about 8,000 metres distant from the Japa nese ships, when the battleship Wakasa fired the flrst shot. The big projectile struck the Varlag nmldshli and within lour minutes ten similar missiles had hit It. doing terrible damnge. The Varlag cir cled In a small radius, using nil Its guns and endeavoring to effect an opening In the ring of Japanese through which to use its great speed to escape. Tha Koreltz per formed the same movement, but It whs too old and light and did no damnge, so the Japanese let it alone. "The terrible cannonadn continued for fifty-five minutes, after thirty of which the Varlag was afire aft and many of its guns were disabled. Nevertheless It fought gal lantly on and finally turned and steamed back to Its haven. "I was able to pay a visit to the Varlag and the damage done by the Japanese shells was terrible. The bridge had been shot away and the vessel's sides were rid dled. Everywhere was the ghastly indica tions of slaughter. The dead were left aboard to receive a sailor1 grave. At 1:80 p. m. It was scuttled, the decision to blow up the ship having been changed. On board the Koreltz time fuses had been con nected with the magazine. At 4 o'clock the Japanese vessels appeared In the dis tance and as the hour struck the Koreits exploded with two terrific reports and pil lars of flame, while huge columns of smoke blackened the sky. Single sheets of the ship's papers were carried away to a dis tance of three mile. "The Varlag remained apparently un moved, hut the Russians boarded It again In the Pascal's boats and set It afire. It blazed for on hour and a quarter and then, slowly keeling over, settled down nt t o'clock, finally disappearing with a low rumble. "Late at night th Japanese sent In a re port that they had suffered praetlrally no damage, but In conversation with the cap tain of the VaHag lie said he was certain h sank a Japanese torpedo boat and seri ously damaged two cruisers, one of which waa badly on fire, which Is very credible. Moreover, foraaa fishermen report having seen the Japsne destroy tha remains of a sunken warship." NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST Fair In ortlicrn anil Mum In Vontli Portion PTlilnyi Colder In mti c Porttoni Sntnriln) Fslr and Warmer. Temperature at Omnha Wstrrdaii Hour, rt a. H a. T a. M n. 1 n. 10 n. 11 a. 12 m. Ilea. . . TJ . iTi . . -i-J. . . 'irx . . 24 , . 3il Hour, I l. Vt . :t p. p. lira. . mi . Vd . K . a:t . at . in . ! . in . 1 m , in . 5 v in . i p. in 7 p. in N p. ni ! . in RUSSIAN HOPES AND FEARS i Friendly to t.ermnny. Doubting; Great Rrltiiln and Talk of Other Intern ent Ion. HT. PETERSBURG, Feb. 25 There Is a growing belief here that an understanding exists between Russia and Gernvtny rela tive to the development of the v..ir, and the iliplomatists are giving tnoie aitentlan to the likelihood of other powers becoming Involved. Fiance's enormous financial in vestments In Russian funds and enterprises are estimated at elore to $2.0 W,000,0w) and It Is feared that in cae of Russian re verses which might threaten tho empire France may bo compelled to go to the sup port of its ally. There are suspicions of the motives of Great lirltaiii in the complica tion in that event. It is strongly intimated that the return of the Russl.m ambassador to Great Brit ain, Count ReiickendorfT, to St. Petersburg was not solely to bid farewell to his son previous to the hitter's departure for tho far east with his regiment, but that it wns also to consult with tho Russian Foreign oltlce relative to the British expedition to Thtbit. The Russian goven ment is angry at the latiguago Ufied by Foreign Minister Lans downe, as printed In the recent British blue book on tho subject of Thibet, and Ambas sador Benckendoi tt may receive Instruction to reply in kind If exchanges on the sub ject continue. The conditions in the Balkans are lo considered e -finely critical and hltofwhrr the d'plomats feel that If the aaivgor of a gonerul conflagration Is to be av. hied every energy should be directed not only to lim iting tho sphure of operations, but toward an attempt at mediation. Ihey arc dis cussing the subject with great neriousness. it la now believed that Russia will not be disposed, while imurlir.g under the hu miliation of defeat, to accept intervention, but once a decisive victory is nclileved the diplomats are ;:iclined to believe that owing to the tzar's rineere aversion to war he will welcome good offices. The Novoo Vremya. declare Great Brit ain's failure to protest agarlst the viola tion of the noutrallty of '.'out, whose In violability was guaranteed by the Anglo Japanese treaty, proves that the treaty was directed solely against Russia. Some old believers In the schismatics of 300 years ago, wno re among tho wealth iest Russians, show a disposition to place a vast sum at the disposition of the govern ment If the occasion requires. Sccres of millionaires are among them at Moscow, where they enjoy valuable concessions granted by Catherine the Great. As they ar aot believers In banks the money would liav to tome out ef their i,r1vate strong boxes. A special dispatch from Port ithur rays Peking and Tien Tsln report that tuere is considerable dissatisfaction In leituin Chi nese circles at the neutrality of China and that the Japanese minister, M. Ouchida, is trying to force China to side with Japan. It is asserted that Yuun Shut Kai, the Chi nese cornmander-ln-clilef, Is under Japanese influence and that ho secretly recommends an alliance between Chlua mid Japan, on the ground that If Japan gets Corea she would not take Manchuria. The Associated Press is authorized to sny there Is no truth In tho rumot curreut that thu Rqssian embassy at Washington will be entrusted to a charge d'ufTalrus as a sign of displeasure over the conduct of tho commander of the United States gun boat Vicksburg ut Chemulpo In refusing to Join with the commanders of the other for eign warships In the protest against he attack of the Japanese fleet on tha Rutstan cruisers Varlag and Korlotz. Th Foreign office declares nothing of the sort Is con templated. AUSTRIA EXPECTING TROUBLE All Reaily to Mobilise lis Army for Service in the Balkans. (Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1M ) BERLIN, Feb. 26. (New York Herald Cablegram Special Telegram to The Bee.) I have received Information from a trust worthy source which Indicates that Austria expects to have to Intervene In the Balkans in co-operation with Russia. Orders have been Issued to prepare for tiie mobilization of the army. Commanders of the army corps have hern told to grant no leaves to officer and horses liable to requisition have been called in and military railway and transport officer have been already ap pointed AIM AT CI.OSIMi TIIK BALTIC SKA. Scandinavian Nations to et in Cnae Kngland Is Involved. (Copyright, by New York 11-rald Co., 394 ) ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. ZS.-i.New York Herald Cablegram Special Telegram to The Bee.) The active preparations of Denmark and Sweden, combined with the recent presence here of a special messenger front the kaiser, may te tJiken as representing what the Herald foretold weeks ago. In esse England oeeomes Involved In tha war the Baltic will lie closed by the nimPei powers under the sgreemrut and protec tion of Germmy. England was aimed at directly In the late Russian note concern-. Ing the Independence of Corea. The Novoe Vremya takrs up the matter, saving: "England keeps silent now, when Russia demands the recognition of th Independ ence of Crirea, but will howl loudly when the time arrives, whicli will surely come, that Russia begins to drive the Japanese back. If England doi s not declare herself Russia will have full right to consider the Anglo-Japanese treaty as directly against herself." (Copyright, by New York Herald C.)., ) BKRIJN. Feb. 25. (New York lleruid Ca blegram Special Telegrnm to The Bee.i Dispatches from Usbon to the Vossl ehi Kelturg state that the alliance with Great Britain Imposes nt pre-erl !: a y bu ihns on Portugal. Not only are new rifles b'.lni; served to the army In all haste, but a represent itlvc of the Krupp firm Is at present ut Lisbon Instructing artillery officers In the hanlllny of the recently purchased field artillery. Coast defenses are being overhauled In Lisbon, Fayal and Lagos, whl-h could serve ns naval stations for th- '.r1'ti. fleet. Te'.egram." frorp AmsterdMi, isi,,t, that everything Is ready for the mublllr... tion of the Dutch army. All leave is retard to ufaevts. SHELL PORT ARTHUR Japanese Hret Lett the Kussiace Know it ia Still in Business. FIVE GUNS IN FORT ARE SILENCED Much Pamege Done it 0 ty and t Shipping in Inner Harbor. AIM EVIDENTLY IS TO REACH ARSENAL Several Shells Fall Jus4. Short and Explode in the MnJ. RUSSIANS SAY JAP SHIPS ARE SUNK Three Others re Claimed to Have) Been Disabled, but Cnrrenpondcnt Tan Secure o Verification of Report. (Ci pyrinht. by New York llernld Co.. let.) CHK FOO. Feb. a-tNew York Herald C'ablegrnm-Spr clal Telegram to The Boe.) Arrivals from Port Arthur report a naval engagement at the entrance, of Port Ar thur harbor on Tuesday uftcr midnight. The Russians received timely wanting from three toriedo boat destroyers, which met the Japanese fleet .wenty miles off Port Arthur. Thi Japanese tleet approached ti within eight miles from the entrance and, commenced the attack. The lli-sl to retaliate were the forts, fol lowed by the Petcropavlovsk, the Novlk, the Failudu and th Askold. The enRngement lasted until nearly day light, when the Japanese retired. Am un able to ascertain tho details of the losses on both sides, but It is said the Japanese had two ships sunk ajid three disabled. Th Port Arthur forts had flv guns sil enced. The damage to the town was serl (!. One shell struck amid the anchorage of Junks, bowling many of them to atoms. The Newsky works and the engine work were struck three times. Several ' fc'iell fell just Khort of the rsenal, but struck: tho mud wull surrounding It and doing no damage. Judging from this the Japnnesa evidently attempted to destroy the nrnenal. Several guards were killed by hsrstlng shells. Civilians took refuge In the new part of Port Arthur. The Japanese tried- to sink two trans ports at the entrance to Port Arthur th night of February 22. out the plan miscar ried. The two ship were sunk outslda tiie entrance, one being stranded. Th Japanese nombarded Ineffectually. Five thousand men ure now working day and night strengthening th defense of the garrison, which Is 80,000 strong i.nd well provisioned. Tha Japanese have no chance of success. Thre merchant steamers are still at Port Arthur. Story from St. Petersburg. ST. FETERSBURG. Feb. 2S.-At o'clock till evening rumors are In c'-cula'.:on to tho effect thut n t'. mba.'dmint cf Port Arthur Is r.ow going on. Major General Pflug, the chief of. staff of Viceroy Alexloff, tei.-KKptd us fallows, under today's date: "The emrny cgufn at tacked Fort Arthur from 1 to 3 a. m. and was everywhere repulsed. Details follow. It Is row snia that the Pussla.ii Hal lo squadron, comprising eight bbttleshlp v, two irm.ircd cruisers, three protected cruis ers, two (urge transports and thirty tor pedo boats, will leave for the far east at ihe end of June. It Is added that It will be commanded by Rear Admiral Rojest vensky. According to Information received by well informed military men, the Russian army, which is Intended to oerato In Corea, will consist of an advance, guard of two regi ments of Siberian sharpshooters, a van guard of wlxteen regiments of infantry, with ninety-six quick-firing guns, three bat teries of mounted guns and a correspond ing force of cavalry. The main body will consist of forty regiments. Including Cos suck cavalry, with 300 guns. It Is added that no Important military cpo-t,tlons will be possible before the melt ing of the Ice and that the present opera tions will be confined to necessary prepara tions. Japanese Torpedo Boats In Injured. LfrVDON, Fob. 20. The British Foreign effree has received an official dispatch say ing that not ono of the .'apaneeo torped boats was injured In the attack on Fort Arthur of Wednesday, l'vbriury H. A special ulspatch fom Hong Kung Says the British admiralty olllclals arc serving out clothing to the Russian sailors rescued nt Chemulixi, Corea, uml that tho crews of the vessels forming part of the British squadron have given half a day's pay to provide luxuries for tho Russian woundwl. Tells Plan ot Attack. TOKIO, Tuesday. I'eb. 23.( IVIayed In Transnils! ion.) Auvlces aru hourly antici pated here of the third naval cngagomont 1 W illi h has taken place nt Port Arthur. It vr.-iF h:::iwn that the flwt Under command of Admiral Togo lias leeh In. motion, but thu uai ure f thn opi rations about to bo ui.lrtakin had not lu eu dlsi h sod to th Navy ucpa, ! u:i nt. 'i he h.tter admits antici pating information, but u-iys. It dots not ex po. t to recti vo any beforo Wednesday. It is thought hue that Admiral Togo first at- 1 to ked Alth hhi lorpido boats and then sht lied port Artnur. Tiie opinion expressed by thu foreign ml'ilst ry here l:, howevor, almost united ugainst tho ability of ihs Jaiane'w ships to shell ihs place without dangerous exposure to the heavy gun ot the shore batteries. The Japanese, how ever, are confident that the place Is vul nerable nt three points on tho sua side and In pioof of their opinion cite the explosion of a number of shells In the town on' the occasion of the recent night t'.r.ht. The jtvia one wer In 1'oii Arihur and they have moat complete Information In regard to distances snd lauges. A bombardment of the place iliouid prove highly destructive, a It Is narrow and cramped. A few shells thrown over the hill into the basin holding the bay and town could not fail to do ser'ous execution. Tho Jspanesu shells ar charged with .i high explosive and are very effective, and It Is ImJioved posi.lblu to render the harbor untenable for Russian warship by bombardment and force them to put to n a and tight in the open. It is tnought here that the withdrawal of dmlral AlexiefT from port Arthur and the removal of hei.iif;uariei's and records to Hsrbln Is sn admission of the weakness of tii" place and of Its Inability to muko a s istaiued defense. It is believed that the Jfip.mese Intend to mul.e a vigorous or.slr.iight on I'ort Arthur. Its possession wuld deprive the Russians of a naval has and insiie the Jspanrse a base for future operation on th Llao Tung pcnlnsuln. Hulnn Uracil th Llao Hirer. PKKING, Feb. 21. The director ft-nt ral of r:Jlrj:.l reports that lrJ Russian ln far.tryroen, an officer, a gun and, a larg supply of ammunition are at Yao Yang llu, and that 'M Russian ca-vaJryauB aud