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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 1904)
PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1904. PRICE FIVE CENTS. VOL. XLIV. NO. 13,478. jmmmut w AFRAID OF TOGO Russian Fleet in Red Sea Turn Back. CZAR GIVES THE ORDER Japanese Flying Squadron in Wait for a Battle. MUSCOVITES TO SAIL AT ONCE Disaster at Port Arthur Causes Em peror to Fear Invincible Jap- anese and Abandon Plan of Relief. RUSSIA CHANGES rLANS. Lack of definite news keeps the veil over the Russian plan of campaign. Alexieff Is reported to plan falling back upon Harbin, where the railroad from Vladivostok Joins the branch from Port Arthur. The Russian Government' cry of "Patience" lends color to this the ory, and It Is quite possible that the Czar's forces may remain there on the defensive until the Spring. The pres ence of Russians in "Wiju, at the mouth of the Talu, however, shows that this plan of campaign. If adopted now, was not contemplated at the beginning of hostilities. Russia's hope that Port Arthur, in such a case, would be a constant menace In the rear of the Japanese, Is not well founded, in view of the ease with which Japan can com mand the .Llaotung Peninsula and completely Isolate the fortress. News may be momentarily expected that will definitely 6how whether Rus sia will establish her lines on the Talu or withdraw to Harbin, where les effort would be needed in protect ing the lines of communication. SPECIAL CABLE. PARIS, Feb. 20. According to the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Figaro, the Russian government, fearing for the safety of the battleship Oslabya and the cruisers Dumtry, X)on&kol and Aurora and their convoy of torpedo-boat destroyers and transports, now at Jubllil. French Somalliand, at the entrance to the Red Sea, has cabled orders to the Admiral In command to return to Russian waters at once. It Is known that a Japanese flying squadron is lying in wait to capture this fleet should it attempt to continue its cruise toward Port Arthur. KAISER'S ACT CAUSES COMMENT Marked Attention Is Paid Russian Ambassador at Ball. SPBCIAL CABLE. BERLIN. Fob. 19. At the Shrovetide ball in the Palace tonight the Kaiser paid marked attention to the Russian Ambas sador, conversing privately with him for more than half an hour. The incident occaslonod much comment. MAY CLASH WITH AMERICA. Germany Contends It Has Exclusive Privileges at Chefoo. SPECIAL CABLE. LONDON, Fob. 20. According to the Chefoo correspondent of the London Dally We Are Headquarters for All Kinds of MECHANICAL RUBBER GOODS BELTING, PACKING AND HOSE "CRACK-PROOF," "SNAG-PROOF" RUBBER BOOTS Beware of Imitations. GOODYEAR RUBBER COMPANY R. II. Pease. President. CAMERAS Catalogues and Prices on Application. BLUM AUSER-FRANK DRUG CO. 142-146 Fourth at. SHAW'S PURE far mat BLUMAUER & HOCH 108 and 110 Fourth Street Sole Distributers for Oregon and Washington. MITH & WATSON IRON WORKS If you are buyinp SAW MILL. AND POWER TRANS- MISSION MACHINERY OR LOOOINQ ENGINES Call on us. Perhaps we can Interest you. Estimates furnished on aU Iron work Office and Works: Front and Hall Streets, PORTLAND. OREGON Post, only three vessels of the Russian squadron at Port Arthur are now Intact. The correspondent states that an Amer ican squadron is expected to arrive at Che loo within a few days, to protect Amer ican interests, which are threatened hy Germany. The latter nation, says the correspondent, is making the assertion that it has the exclusive trading rights of the Shan Tung Peninsula, and the Amer ican commander is expected to land a large force of marines to prevent any in terference with American merchants. It is intimated that Chefoo is prepared to see a clash follow. RUSHING WORK ON RAILROAD Russia Wants to Get Around Lake Baikal In a Very Short Time. SPECIAL. "WAR SERVICE. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The "World has the following from its St. Petersburg 'cor respondent: The Minister . of Railways, Prince Khilkoff, who is now in Siberia, Is mak ing strenuous efforts to construct a line around Lake Baikal in order to obviate the necessity for unloading trains and sending soldiers and war materials across the lake. Although the construction of this line has been but recently begun, and offers serious difficulties, owing to the necessity of making many tunnels and bridges. It is expected that in the Spring the first trains will be run. AMERICA TO RESCUE THEM. Transport Sent to Take Women and Children From Northern Corea. SPECIAL. WAR SERVICE. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The Herald's Chemulpo correspondent cables as follows: "Disquieting news regarding the dis turbances in North Corea were received today. Mr. Allen, the United States Min ister, is sending the transport Seaflre to remove the American -women and children from the Ping Yang district to Chemulpo. "The men will remain there for the present. There ore about 40 American residents In the district." A dispatch from Seoul says an Amer ican gold mining company which has been operating a valuabio concession GO miles from the Corean frontier at "Wlju and employs over 70 Americans, fears trouble from Chinese and Corean bandits infest ing that region, which is rough -and moun tainous. The local manager has tele graphed for protection. Alexieff Delays His Departure. SPECIAL. WAR SERVICE. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The World's Chefoo correspondent cables that vice roy Alexieff has deferred his departure for Mukden until the arrival of Admiral Makaroff. WILL COMMAND THE ARMY. Russia Will Have Minister Relieve Viceroy Alexieff of This Duty. ST. PETERSBURG! Feb. 13. War Min ister Kuropatkln, who Is going to the Far East, will be appointed . Commander-Jn- Chlof of army operations, and Vice-Ad mlral Makaroff, who is now on his way on a train which is expected to reach Port Arthur In ten days, breaking all previous records. Is to be Commander-in-Chief of the navy. Rear-Admiral Jessen has been appointed to succeed R ear-Admiral Bwald von Btackelberg. commander of the Vladi vostok squadron. Rear-Admiral Jessen has the reputation of being a bold sailor who does not hesitate in an emergency. He will leave St. Petersburg immediately. Although Viceroy Alexieff has been con demned in some quarters, there is no In. tlmatlon that he will not retain the Vice- royalty In the Far East. It is possible. however, that the active direction of field movements may pass out of his hands. Grand Duke Michael, the Czar's eldest brother and heir presumptive to the throne, and several hundred officers as sembled at the Nicholas Railroad Station this evening to bid farewell to a number of comrades who left for the front. In tense enthusiasm prevailed among the Immense crowd. Japan Will Issue Paper Money. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The Japanese Government has decided, says a Herald dispatch from Seoul, to issue special paper money for military use throughout Corea, redeemable In gold coin. PORTLAND, OREGON PREMO POCO I ten i urv i ana EASTMAN KODAKS 1 America's ORIGINAL MALT WHISKY Without a Rival Today MALT WHEAT U N Ch icago M arket Reaches the $1.03 Mark. DAY OF WILD BIDDING 'rice Is the Third Highest in Twenty Years. CLOSING NEAR TOP FIGURE Fear That- Russo-Jpanese War Will Involve Other Nations-Strength at Liverpool Responsible for the Big Advance. WHEAT MARKET AT A GLANCE. May -wheat, high point, $1.03. Gain over Thursday, 3 He Closing price. 51.02. Cash red. Winter, $1.08. May wheat In 1891, $1.08. Cash wheat In 1S9S, $1.85. CHICAGO, Feb. 19. (Special.)-In the midst of excitement unequal ed on the 'chango since the days of the Leiter deal in 1S9S, the price of wheat for May de livery touched the dollar mark today, and not content "with this achievement con tinued Its upward march until ?L03 was reached. This record price, the third highest In the history of grain speculation In Chi cago in 20 years, was reached within 15 minutes after the big gong on the floor of the 'change announced the opening of the day's business. Tho dollar mark the goal toward which May wheat has "been struggling for weeks, was reached in the first trade made in the big pit this morning. On the instant the hands' of the official clock on tho 'change pointed to 9, pandemonium reigned In the pit. Half a hundred hands, clinched In the po sition which, inthe sign manual of tte traders, indicated that a dollar -was fered for May wheat, wcro thrust fo ward, as many voices shouted what tfc'a hands mutely signalled, and a moment later the anxious watchers in the room saw the figures $1?L01 written In tho column headed "May wheat." A moment later the price had fallen Into two figures once again, but the relapse was only tem porary, and almost instantly the price with a single bound reached the mark of Toward the close of the session. May wheat again gathered strength, as the result of heavy buying by tho commission houses, which were flooded with outside orders to buy, and made another spec tacular Jump, touching $1.03. A slight re action followed this effort, and the price fell off to SUCH, which point it was at the close. The sharp advance was due to fear that the war would not be confined to Russia and" Japan. Other causes were the strength of Liverpool and the scarcity of milling wheat. Trading was exceedingly active, the aggregate of business of the day being enormous. REDUCES SCHNEIDER'S BAH. Washington Judge Thinks Amount in Land-Fraud Case Excessive. WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. J. H. Schnei der, of Tucson, Ariz., who recently was Indicted and arrested in Washington for alleged complicity in public land frauds in tne West, was released from custody to day under $12,000 bonds. He was brought up In the Criminal Court on a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, which alleged Illegal arrest and excessive ball. The for mer point was waived, to avoid delay, arid Justice Prltchard sustained the contention of excessive ball by reducing the amount from $20,000 to $12,000. Schneider's attorney held" that the Joint Indictment, naming his client with F. A. Hyde. J. A. Benson and H. C Dimond. all of San Francisco, contained no allega tion that Schneider ever did any act In pursuance of the conspiracy, save for the general allegation that the four men con spired and that Schneider was an employe of the principals. Hyde and Benson. It also was said that only $10,000 ball had been fixed for Hyde and Dimond ona former indictment charging bribery. A. B. Pugh, special counsel for the Gov ernment In the land fraud Investigation, said there were 20,000 acres Involved In this one Indictment, and there were hun dreds of thousands of acres of public lands Involved in the whole scheme of the alleged conspiracy. He said that the scheme was fraudulently to secure title to lands embraced In forest reservations in the States of California and Oregon, and then under the land law to relinquish these fraudulent titles for lands outside of the reserve areas of much higher value. Schneider's part, it Is alleged, was to se cure purchasers of the lands In a fraudu lent manner, by paying them a smalt sum. and after these lands had been exchanged the titles were transferred from the "dum my" purchasers to the principals to the alleged conspiracy. Assistant United States District Attor ney Odkins explained that the indictment set forth two counts, constituting a con splracy, for each of which the penalty might be two years In prison and a fine of $10,000, and even the court smiled at the suggestion of what the cumulative penal ties might aggregate. Counsel for the ac cused argued that Schneider was a poor man; that he came to Washington volun tarily, and "I am Informed that the de fendant never received any benefit from the alleged conspiracy 'other than his wages as an employe." Schneider, he said, came here with the knowledge that he -was Involved, and came under the protection of the court, and the object of the Government seemed to be to kwn him in -fall Indefinitely.- The COUrt sustained the objection to the Govern ment's reference to Schneider's alleged refusal to answer certain questions before the grand Jury, ana reaucea me oa.ii. ; 7 EMPRESS DOWAGER NO MORE.- Noted Chinese Official Is Reported Dead in Canton. ' LONDON, Feb. -J9. A special from Canton says it "Is reported in official cir cles there that the Dowager Empress of China is dead. The Chinese Legation here has heard nothing of the reported death of "thfe Dowager Empress, and discredits It. Neither Canton nor Hong Kong is a. re liable source of news. WELL-KNOWN SPORTSMAN DIES Malcolm Forbes, Prominent in Turf, and Yachting Circles. (MILTON, Mass., Feb.19. Malcolm Forbes, widely known as a patron of light harness racing and a yachtsman, died today at his residence here. Mr. Forbes had been suf fering from an internal aliment for about a week. Two operations, performed as a last resort, failed. Mr. Forbes was nearly 60 years of age. He was very wealthy, and for many years was a heavy shareholder In the American Bell Telephone Company and other prop erties. As a horseman he was prominent both as an owner and breeder, of famous racing stock, and as a yachtsman he had actively participated in international cup races. ig. Irrigation and Forestry Expert. DENVER, Feb. 19. Henry Mlchelson, supervisor of Pike's Peak forest' reserve, and a well-known writer on irrigation arid forestry, died today of pneumonia. He was 60 years of age, and for SO years was engaged in railroad business. He was president of the American For estry Association and a member of the National Irrigation Association, American Association of Science, and the National Geographical Society. Formerly Prominent In Politics. CHICAGO, Feb. 19. Frederick. H. -Winston, Minister to Persia from lS6f"to 1SSS, and who was formerly prominent In Chi cago municipal, political and legal circles, died today at Magnolia Springs, Fla., in his 7th year. Prominent Baptist Minister. ST. LOUIS.- Feb. 19. Rev. Pope Tea man, for 20 years moderator of the Mis souri Baptist Association, died suddenly today, aged 74 years. UNIVERSITY LETS TRIGG OUT Chicago Professor Has Been Too Lib eral In hfls Statements. CHICAGO. Feb. 19. The Tribune to morrow will say: The name of Dr. Oiear Lovnll Tri Instructor la English, a$ the. University of Chicasro. has been drn'nnod from tV iut of instructors who wj?i be- advised tomor row oi meir reappointment Dy tne board Of trustees for n. thrm of - throp warn Alter July l, his connection with the unl- ersity, it is said, will cease. Tho action of the trustees came as a urorise to Professor Trice's rollon imps The concensus of opinion, the Tribune will say. is that Professor Trice's Uheral views and the unusual statements he has made in his literature classes and In pub lic lectures, have proved distasteful to the authorities or the university. ROOSEVELT FORCES LOSE. Ohio Congressional District Refuses to Instruct Delegates. DEFIANCE, O.. Feb. 19. The Republi can Congressional Convention of the Fifth Ohio District nominated W. W. Campbell. of Napoleon, for Representative, and by a vote of 32 to 23, decided not to Instruct Its delegates to vote for President Roose velt at the National Convention. ', Japanese Cruiser Near Shanghai. SHANGHAI, Feb. 19. A large Japanese cruiser arrived at Wu Sung 11 miles north of Shanghai today. GENERAL Russia's War Minister, General Kouropatkln, until his appointment to that office, was a" General of Infantry. It has been rumored that he would .take the field In person against the Japanese) but that story is now denied, as the Czar needs him In St. Petersburg to direct the general campaign from the capital. 1 TO DEATH Twenty-Four. Persons Killed by Explosion. GAR OF DYNAMITE SET OFF Brakes on Train Fail to Hold, and Collision Results. REPORT- IS HEARD 85 MILES Twelve People Are Also Badly Injured and Everytning for a Radius of Half of a Mile is Com pletely Wrecked. OGDEN, Utah, Feb. 19. Twenty-four persons were killed and 12 badly Injured this afternoon by the explosion of a car load of dynamite, caused by a head-on collision at Jackson, a telegraph station on the Ogden-Lucln cut-off of the South ern Pacific Company, So miles west of Ogden. Eight of the dead and five of the Injured are Americans. The others are Greeks. The dead: T. W. BURKE, section foreman, wife and three children. J W. BURKB, ex-general foreman. W. L. HOLLER, messenger, Andrew, Ind. OWEJf DERMODT, conductor. Bearer Dam, WU. Sixteen Greek laborers. The injured: Engineer Lelna, slightly: Con ductor Courtney, slightly; Engineer Stanton. not serious; Operator Taylor and wife. Injured about face and body; seven Greeks, serious. Tho collision occurred between two ex tra trains, and was caused, it Is said, by the air brake apparatus on one train failing to operate. The explosion which followed, tho collision was terrific, every thing within a radius of half a mile being wrecked. The report was heard in this city, S5 miles away. Several outfit cars, occupied by Greeks, were completely de molished, and the occupants blown several hundred feet from the track. The tele graph office was shattered and Operator Taylor and his wife Injured. Foreman Burke, his wife and three children and his brother,-who were standing near the sta tion, were-phot 200 feet through the air an4 Instantly killed,, . When the news of the accident reached headquarters In this city, a special train with doctors, .nurses and stretchers was hurriedly despatched to the scene of the disaster. Late tonight this train returned to Ogden with the Injured. Conductor Dermody and Messenger Holler died of their injuries en route. The town of Terrace, 15 miles to the North, on the main line of the Southern Pacific, was shaken as by an earthquake. The telegraph station at Colon, 15 miles distant, had every window pane broken. The explosion was so tremendous that the first knowledge of the disaster, in stead of being received by telegraph from the scene of the disaster, was communi cated from Terrace and Lucin, operators at those points reporting to headquarters that a calamity had occurred. The people of Terrace, looking' across the old lake bottom, saw an Immense cloud of white smoke ascend from Jackson Point, and spread out at a great height and then flames burst forth. This information was given to Lucin, and a lineman was started out from that station on a handcar" to in quire Into the disaster, and if possible re- KOUROPATKIN pair the damage to the telegraph line, communication by wire over the cut-oft having been destroyed. He had not gone far when an engine and a caboose was met carrying the dying and wounded. Where the explosion occurred there was a hole blown Into the ground large enough to bury a train, 500 yards of track were displaced and three miles of telegraph poles blown down. The dead were scat tered for hundreds of feet in all direc tions, and a majority of the victims had their clothes blown off. One Greek was found headless, and the arms and legs of the children of Section Foreman Burke were torn off. A laborer was pulled out of the burning debris, his lower limbs on fire. The injured were covered with blood and one heroic little woman, her face scarred with deep gashes that poured out a stream of blood, inmlndful of her own Injuries, helped gather up the dead and dying. A witness to the scene of destruction said he walked out to where the children were, naked In death, and threw a few garments over them. A. few feet away was the mother and Ju3t beyond the father and his brother a whole family wiped out. Of 45 persons at Jackson's Point when the explosion occurred, only nine escaped without wounds. Asphyxiation by Coal Gas. BRIDGEPORT, Conn.. Feb. 19. Asphyx iation by coal gas is said to have been the cause of the death of Joseph B. Canfleld, superintendent of the Canfleld Rubber Company, and his Swedish maid-servant. whose bodies were discovered In their sleeping rooms in the Canfleld residence. this city, today. Mrs. Canfleld apparent ly Is suffering from the effects of gas in halation. MARTIAL LAW WILL SOON END Colorado Militiamen Will Quit Mln ing Camp Next Week. DENVER, Feb. 19. The News today says: .Martial law will come to an end in San Miguel County and Colorado Sunday. Every man of the National Guard now stationed In the Telluride district will be withdrawn on the first day of the week. and the so-called provost guard at Cripple Creek will be reduced to 50 men. The lat ter will remain on duty there Indefinitely. The above statements were authoritative ly made at the capitoL Governor Pea- body refused to confirm them, but the re port was stamped as correct by a high military officer. LABOR LEADERS ON TRIAL. Colorado Conspiracy Case Which Grew Out of Miners Strike. CRIPPLE CRuEK, Colo., Feb. 19. In tho trial of the conspiracy case In which Sherman Parker, Thomas Foster and W. F. Davis, miners union leaders, are ac cused of attempting to wreck a Florence and Cripple Creek train, the opening state ments of the attorneys were made and the taking of testimony began today. The defense charges that the conspiracy was one of the Mlneowners' Association, who sought to discredit the union. Charles McKlnney, the principal witness. admitted making a confession implicating Foster and Parker, but said he had after ward denied the truth of his signed state ment Ho related the incidents leading up to the alleged attempted train-wrecking and Identified tools which he said were used. He Implicated Parker and Foster in his testimony. McKlnney denied he was forced to flee from Kansas and Utah to escape prose cution for crime, but admitted he had used an assumed name on several occa slons. Ends Life, Fearing Consumption. CINCINNATI, Feb. 19. Mrs. Hartwell Cabell. 30 years old, a lawyer and the wife of a prominent attorney, shot her self to death because of the apprehension that her suffering from the grippe would lead to consumption. CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER War In the Far East. Russian fleet In the Red Sea Is ordered to abandon trip to Fort Arthur and return home. Page 1. Great revolutionary movement will be launched in Russia with next war reverse. Page 1. Russia abolishes the censorship on news. Page i. Russia will not grant exequatur to American Consul en route to Port Dalny. Page 4. British press warns nation to be prepared for an alliance by the powers against her- Page 4. Domestic Car of dynamite explodes in collision near Ogden, killing 24 people, and injuring 12. Page 1. St. Louis Constables precipitate a riot. In which six men are shot, by attempting to close a poolroom across river In Illinois. Page 5. All Cleveland shows keen sorrow at the funeral of Senator Hanua. Page 2. Presbyterian church committees agree on a plan of union. Page 5. Congress. House' besins consideration of naval appro priation bill. Page 3. Chemawa Indian School's appropriation Is In creased by committee on Indian affairs. Page 3. Mitchell is sure to head Interoceanic canal committee If Piatt does not want the place. Page 3. Commercial and Marine. May wheat touches $1.03 at Chicago. Page 15. Heavy selling In stock market for foreign ac count. Pase 15. Backward Spring trade reported. Page 15. San Francisco produce quotations. Page 15. Trade returns for January. Page 15. Forty-one men quit work on Chinook because of, poor food. Page 11. Sport. Baseball peace plan may .fall through. Page 7. Pacific Const. Montana posses in pursuit of Jones gang of desperadoes. Page 12. Puyallup Indian and white woman accused of scheme to swindle Indian s mother. Page 0. Many candidates for Roseburg Land Office. Page C Coroner's Jury at Victoria accuses Captain Roberts, of the Clallam, of manslaughter. Page 0. Mysterious assault In Tacoma attributed by victim to woman's disappointed lover. Pace 7. Linn County Republicans organizing to insure victory. Pace 6. Portland and Vicinity. Pedestrians will cross Morrlson-etreet bridge at their own peril. Page 10. Foes of liquor attack Dr. Woods Hutchinson. Pase 10. Residents of Sellwocd will hold mass meeting to Induce woolen mills to rebuild. Page 1$. Constable files affidavit raying charge of crim inal assault made against prisoner was ma licious and false. Page 10. Three-Mile Rapids to be deepened. Page 1L Bids for street Improvements and bridge opened. Pace 10. Democratic politicians from California urge Western States to Vote as a unit. Page E REVOLT H Russia to Have War Right at Home. EVERYTHING IS NOW READY Another Reverse Will Be the Signal for Demonstrations. REVOLUTIONISTS WELL ARMED Their Organization Is-Well-Nigh Per fect and Some of the Lead ing Citizens of Em pire Are In It. SPECIAL CABLE. GENEVA, Feb. 20. Russia is facing a revolution of great magnitude, and the up rising may come at a!ny moment. At the headquarters of the central revolutionary Russian committee this evening it was stated that reliable advices received from St Petersburg show that everything is now In readiness for a far-reaching revo lutionary movement. The men who have prepared the ground have left nothing un done to add to the general feeling of un rest within the country, and have seized on the defeats of Russian naval forces In the Far East as a pretext for their agi tation. At the word of a fresh Russian reverse. the trouble Is to be begun with demonstra tions against the government In all of th8 principal cities of the empire. The revolu tionists are declared to be well armed and equipped and to have a well-nigh perfect organization, and that numbered In the ranks are some of the best-known per sons In Russia. In addition, thousands of students are enrolled as members, and many of the rank and file of the army and navy have sworn allegiance to the move ment. RUSSIA FAST MOVING TROOPS. Twelve Days More and the Manchu- rlan Force Will Be Vast. PARIS, Feb. 13. A representative of the Matin, who has reached the center of the Russian military concentration at Harbin, after great hardships, due to the trans-Siberian railway trains being crowd ed with thousands of soldiers, in a dis patch from Harbin confirms the an nouncement that the place will be the main base of the Russian operations. Thus far the base has succeeded In maintain ing its communication with Port Arthur. The concentration of troops, the corre spondent says, proceeds systematically and provision has been made for the speedy arrival of 12,000 men from the di visions of Moscow, KlefT and Varsovle. Before 12 days shall have elapsed tho Russians will have disposed of an. army of 400,000 men through Manchuria. Intense demoralization exists among tho populace and the people of the surround ing villages are flocking Into the town. seeKing to reacn western itussia. xpe railroad trains, however, are blocked and over 2000 voyagers are thus held up. The Intense cold prevailing increases, the suffering and adds to the difficulties of bringing forward troops. WISE MOVE FOR RUSSIA. She Can Make a Better Stand at Har bin Than Anyhwere Else. PARIS, Feb. 19. Significance is at tached to the Figaro's discussing the pos8iblo retreat of the Russian forces from Port Arthur toward the North. The Figaro, which is intensely pro-Russian and enjoys the favor of the Russian Court, says: "The Russian note explaining the de lays In the military operations has had the effect of confirmation of "Viceroy Alexleft's plan to withdraw northward toward Mukden and Harbin." The military editor of the Figaro de clares this would be a wise and tactful movement, as the Russian troops are bet ter able to make a stand farther north. PREDICTS RUSSIAN SUCCESS. General Joseph Wheeler Gives His Views on the War. NEW YORK, Feb. 20. Major-General Joseph Wheeler, after reviewing a squad ron of the State Guard at their Armory here, has delivered a brief address on his views of the war between Russia and Japan. He compared the strength of their armies and their resources and reached the conclusion that Russia la likely to win In the long run. "1 believe that the Chinese, organized and under good ofilcers. would make," he said, "as good soldiers as any In the world. . They are brave and enduring arid seem to enjoy a fight. There are 400.000,000 of them and a tremendous army could be raised there. Those people could make a march and occupy any part of Europe that they chose. However, we need not worry about that Just yet." UNABLE TO GET TRAIN. Many Russian Women and Children Suffer From Cold and Hunger. HARBIN. Manchuria, Feb. 19. The Russian troops are concentrated in the lower Talu River "Valley. Everybody is In high spirits and dally expecting reinforcements. Russian families are leaving Manchuria, owing to the dearness of provisions, of which all are required for the troops. The Manchurlan and especially the trans-Baikal railroads cannot cope with the demands for -transportation. "Women and children are unable to get trains and many are waiting at the stations, suffer ing from cold and hunger. The rise in prices Is. due to some ex tent to the fall In the value of paper money, which in some places Is altogether refused. It Is expected that there will Concluded on Page Four,