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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1904)
PORTLAND, OREGON; THURSDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 25. 1904. PRICE FIVE CENTS. FIERCE NAVAL FIGHTING CONTINUES AT PORT ARTHUR VOL. II. NO. .302. VfEH RESULT UN ROWN Subjects of the Czar KnowThat Con- 11 i ' T . Tt ' T .L TV . . if" T if met is Kaging but rear me lriun When Details Are Toll Vladivostok Threatened ' by Japanese Fleet Son of Marquis Ito Says Japan Wants to Win Without Assistance From Powers - i (Journal SpeclalServle.) , London, Feb. 25. A dispatch from St. Petersburg today states that Russia's greatest fear Is that China's hostile actions in Manchuria may precipitate a far-reaching strife. """Ic Is pointed out that unless neu trality Is maintained in the flowery kingdom, European powers will surely be drawn into warfare. England is known to stand ready to become an ally of Japan, while" France and Austria are the only nations that Russia can really count upon for aid, although Germany and Italy may remain nentral if their rights are not molested. . Despite the news of the Tort Athur victory gloom, rather than Joy, prevails In this capital, principally for the reason that the people are skeptical of the report, as they were made 'to believe that Russia had defeated the Japanese at the first attack on Fort Arthur, when later and truthful reports told of a, Russian disaster. The other reasons are that the people know that thousands of Chinese are gathering in Man- ) churla as friends of the Japanese, and in JJorea the fighting population will probably be recruited as an adjunct to the mikado's army. .T-.--' - J : W.ihtn.tAB Rnrati nf Tha Inurn&l.Y-: Washington. Feb. 36. News tend ing to confirm the. naval battla at Fort Arthur -which Is said to have occurred Tuesday morning 'was received today. Details of the encounter are lacking, which .gives many official the idea that the report may be exaggerated. The following dispatch from Port Arthur this afternoon via London con tains 'the following: "One of the Japanese vessels sunk In the attempt to enter the ' harbor here Tuesday, now lies behind Ooldenhlll fortress, "another lies near the battle ship Retslvan, while the third and fourth are between the channel entrance., and LlaotlBhan. Tha two others are still afire." - "The London dispatch continues: 'In the absence of further definite details regarding the naval engagement Tues day at Port Arthur it is believed by experts here that following a daring at tempt of the Japanese to blockade the Port Arthur narbor entrance Russian cruisers probably came out a short dis tance to reconnolter and the Japanese Vien fired from a- long range and the lussians retreated back into the harbor. A his In a measure Is confirmed by pri vate advices." London, Feb. 25. Very late dispatches from the far east today indicate that the Japanese vessels sunk Tuesday in the harbor at Port Arthur were mere hulks brought there for the purpose. WAJTTS TO rXOZT AXOVX. Situation On Mission. (flpwlaj Dfopatc-h to The Journal.) ; Victoria, B. C, Feb. 25. Baron Suye matsu of Toklo, son-in-law of Marquis Ito, In whose cabinet he held the re sponsible post of minister of foreign affairs and of communication, arrived in this city last evening on the Japanese liner Iyo Maru, which left Yokohama on the 10th, two days after hostilities . This is a half-tone of Grand Duke Cyril, who has been given permission to fight in the far east. He is tha eldest son of the Grand Duke Vladimir, uncle of the csar and the fourth in Una of suc cession to the Russian throne. ; . - had commenced. The baron is on his way to London, and although he does not car to discuss tha exact nature of his mission, he is understood to be charged with important duties at the court of SC. James ' on behalf of his government., Tha floating of a war. loan in London is believed to bo one of . the undertakings which ha has in hand, and this the baron admitted was a possible outcome of his present trip. Other and more secret missions to the British for eign office will fall within his duties at London, where he says he may find it necessary to remain several months, and where he will supplement tha effective work of Baron Hayashl in fostering pro-Japanese sentiment in tha British metropolis.- Unwillingly Xntr4 Tight. "Japan entered this fight unwilling ly," he said this evening. "We were forced to fight for our exlstenca and also to fight . for civilization generally. We demand equal rights in Manchuria and we want recognition of our domi nant interest in Korea, where we have a large population." . Alluding to the position in which Russia finds herself, the baron pointed out that her line of communication Is an extremely attenuated one and is largely dependent on a railway notor iously inefficient and running through a country non-productive in character and hence one in which transportation can be properly maintained only at great expense. , Still another feature of the situation was hinted at by him and it was one which he frankly stated he hoped would not become a serious factor. This was the probability of trouble from Chinese sources in Manchuria. He says this Is a . danger to Russian which the latter little appreciates, but which is never theless one which is Imminent. He ex pressed his earnest hope that China will be able to keep this hostile spirit in Manchuria in check. Wants to right Alone. Tor," he adds, "if China becomes In volved it means that mother Europe and all her powers will become embroiled, and Japan wants to fight this battle alone." Having been foreign minister in Japan during the Boxer i troubles in China, Baron Suyematsu has an Intimate knowl edge of the capacity of Russian sol diers. ' He regards them as lacking in the initiative while at the same time he admits that the Cossack is a desperate fighter and a man' to be feared, especially as Japan is weak in their cavalry arm. He says in marked contrast with the Indifferent spirit of the czar's sub jects is that displayed in his own coun try, where the most intense war senti ment has been aroused. 8chool children, he says, are contributing dally to war funds, and a short time before ha left the minister of finance received from a scholar in one of the public schools 26 yen as a child's contribution - to the campaign fund. The baron proceeds to Seattle on the Iyo Maru tomorrow and from there will hurry on to London, (Continued on Page Two.) COLOMBIA READY. FOR HOSTILITIES " (Hearst pell Serrlee.). Panama. Feb. 25. Despite Colombia'! Internal disturbances, letters have Just been received from there which declare the Colombians are readys to fight so soon as news arrives that tha Panama treaty has been ratified... One . general In Carthagena Is quoted as saying that ' if the government does not declare war, troops on the brtrdir will Invado Pan ama anyhow, revolutionary talk of of ficials meets with popular approval in Colombia. The last information from the coast Is that another regiment of soldiers has been sent from Carthagena to the frontier. On account of the feeling of tha Indians the Panama government has displaced Inanqttinina as principal chief and has named Henry Clay, whose head quarters are' at the mouth of the Rio Diablo, to b governor-general with ta commlsblon army, - L ' i Hal 8t. Petersburg, Feb. 25, 6 p. m It Is reported hers that not detsrrsd by ths apparent failure of the at tempt to blockado Port Arthur, tha Japanese fleet again attacked tha Russian bstwesn 1 and 13 o'clock this morning. They wera' repulsed at svery point, according to tha advloea tslographed by General Pflug. Tha dispatch making this announcement states that the details of ths engagement will b forwarded later. 5 Paris, Feb. 25. A dispatch from St. Petersburg this afternoon state that fresh fighting 1 going on at Port Arthur between Admiral Togo' fleet and the Russian fort and battleehip and that tha engagement 1 : iT.- ; Hera is a typical group of Mikado fighting men. They are shown in the trenches during the time given them for lunoh. They are hardy little crisp and SRlendid" soldiers. , . . - CONGRESS : MAY ADJUST THE "OVERLAP" LAND TROUBLES Settlers; Have No Ground ' to Complain' Says One of Them "They Were Warned That Their Titles Hieht Be Disputed Prosecution - For Stripping Land of Timber, and Damage Suits Possible. ' I Wholesale arrests and prosecutions of individuals for. the Illegal use of timber and civil suits for damages against the government may be the aftermath of the sweeping decision made by the supreme court of the United States, in holding that the government had no right to the land' in the ,. "overlap" territory in Washington, title to which it declares to be vested in the Northern Pacific Rail road company. Squatters located on the land - claimed by the railroad company and proceeded to cut the timber. The company notified theae people that they were not entitled to have possession of the lands,' and Issued frequent orders to them to vacate. As the railroad dtd not. however, have a conclusive title on which to base an action for eject ment many of the squatters refused to heed the orders. Now , that title has been ' given to the company and ' thou sands of acres have - been stripped of timber, which reduces the value of that land, the persons who' have profited by the situation may be held responsible for the loss.., . The government, it is asserted in permitting settlers , to file upon and In many cases Issuing patents on land to which they had no title, has made Itself liable to- civil action for damages for the value of the timber cut. . Congress May Aid. Register Phillips of the Vancouver land office in speaking today of the de cision said: '"It is a-aorry condition in which the settlers find themselves. The government also has a hard nut to crack. Congress may. have time before the close of the present session to pass a bill of some kind to adjust the differences. A proposition may bo made to th railroad company to take the timber land scrip in lieu of the land that has been given them by the supreme court The scrip is a good investment, the face value be ing greater per acre than the valuation which has been placed on the railroad land by a board of appraisers. The railroad land is held at $1 and $6 an acre while the scrip Is worth $8. If the railroad people refuse to do this then It is a matter between the settler and the government There is every reason to believe that the railroad company is inclined to be absolutely fair, and will perhaps open the lands for sale to the bona fide settlers on a reasonable ba sts. The government may buy the lands for the settlers, which would leave them with all their improvements and not work any hardship on any. one," John O'Xane Explain. John O'Kane, who from 188S to 1889, under the first Cleveland administration was receiver of the Vancouver land of fice, and under whose authority many of the filings now in controversy-, were made, said: "The fight over the land has been on for over 16 years. The second grant was made to the railroad company in 1870. It waj, however, 1886 before the surveys of the definite location of the grant were filed. Up to the time of the filing of these maps, applications for homesteads and timber claims were taken by the office. The first legal trou ble was over the effort of the railroad people to -eject from the land settlers who had been given permission to file by tho government. Attorney J. A. Munday represented between 300 and 400' set tlers and carried the ease before - the department of the interior. Secretary Hoke Smith in 1898 decided that the railroad company had no right to the 'overlap' as the same land had been re served at a prior period and forfeited. The case was then brought before United States Judge Hanf ord at Seattle, who upheld the decision of Hoke Smith. The case was taken to the court of appeals at San' Francisco, but was mot decided, as the Judges differed in their opinions. From there it was taken to the supreme court of the United States with the re sult thattthe railroad company gained the victory. "The land In the 'overlap district is mostly in Clarke county. Wash. It ex tends to within two mile of th east ern edge of the county. .The nearest land in controversy is about 10 miles northeast of Vancouver. It takes in La Center, Fine, Hayes, Kerns, Cyclet Lewlsvllle, Monroe, Sara, Follda, Amboy. Tacolt, Froebstel, ' Battle Ground and Rldgefleld- "It includes many acres in the rich valleys of the Salmon and Lewis rivers and Cedar creek. Some of the farms are In a high state of development and worth thousands of dollars." A Xocatefa flew. Edward Goodnight a rancher located on some of th land in controversy, gave his version of the case, as follows: "I sm satisfied with the decision, and think that the farmers will not be allowed to suffer by it One thing is sure, Clarke county will now get thousands of dol lars a year in taxes from th railroad (Continued on Page Two.) Pi 1 naS -- rT , . J Thi is a tyjl of th torpedo boat destroyer of, which thr ar a number in th Russian . squadron, at Pert Arthur, Jhy ar twift and well equipped with torpedo tuber. nd ar Invaluabl a eeouta, i NOT A SAFE Not Long Before He Died Senator llanna Talked . Plainly to Roosevelt. THE CANAL President Roosevelt Signi Panama Treaty This Morning. FILLS THE COMMISSION Names a San Francisco Engineer aS the Seventh Member of the Im portant Board All Ready to -Begin. '- . (Whlngton Banwo ef Th. Journal.) , Washington. Feb. J5, The last tlm Senator llanna called at th Whit House he had a talk with ' President Roosevelt about, the sudden uprising in the republic of Panama, and tha presi dents part therein. ;Mr. President," said Hanna, "do not the people criticise what was done in tJie Panama matter?". . . ,. . "Do not the people think I am a pat riotic president T" asked Roosevelt in turn. Tes,' ald Hanna, "but they do not think you are a safe president." A Chicago man closely identified with Hanna for year in politics and busi ness, was, in Washington a few weeks before Senator llanna died, and asked him why he did not state flatly that he would not be a candidate for the presi dency and favor Roosevelt . "Because I gave , my word to J. P. Morgan that I would - not," Hanna re plied. "Morgan came to me and asked me if I was to be a candidate for president I told him 1 -would not be; not that 1 would not like to be president if I could, but because my health would not permit me to be.". ' "To you think Mr. .Roosevelt will be nominated? Mr. Morgan asked me. "'It look so now,' I replied. " 'And you will not be the candidate? " I cannot I want to live. It would kill me to make the campaign.' " POSTOFFICE CASES ' AGAIN CONTINUED (Washington Burets of The Joanul) Washington, V. C, Feb. - 25. Holmes Conrad, special agent for the . govern ment, had the Machen, GrofT, Lorena case continued for argument this morn ing. He said he had come to tha con clusion that there was not sufficient evi dence to convict Samuel Groff, inventor of the fastener, but that Dlller, Groff, Machen and Lorens had. been proved con spirators beyond doubt , )' KXS M2XOBT rAXXJES. L. K., Klipple. who was arrested last Monday by Special Officer R. L. Hentn ger for pulling off a telephone receiver in a down town saloon, -was fined $35 by Municipal Judge Hogue this morn ing. Klipple at first did not remember the struggle he had with tha telephone, stating that he was drunk at the tlm he was placed under arrest. He finally pleaded guilty to the charge. (Wrttntoa Bum cf Th. Journal. I Washington, Feb; 21. President ftoosa v.lt slgn.d th Panama treaty at 11:H o'clock thi morning. All that now remains to be don js tt plaf th construction of th canal ac tually In th hands ef the president and a formal exchange of the ratification between Secretary Hay and Bunau-Var-flla of Panama, will take plac tomor row at th sue department Befor. signing th treaty the presi dent completed his selection of members of the Panama canal commission by de termining upon C. Ewald Grunsky of San Francisco a the seventh member. Mr. Grunaky is tho well-known hydraulic engineer and has been identified with, many enterprises on the Paclflo coast. Senator Perkins assured th president that Grunsky would accept. Tha other member slated now stand as Admiral . Walker, General Davis, Frank Hecker of Detroit Professor Burr, of Colum bian university, William Parsons, angU neer of th Nw Tork subway; B, Har. rod of New Orleans. . At 11:40 th president , signed tha Panama treaty. Senator .Klttrldge of! South Dakota was presented and waa given the pen used by the president Mr. Grunsky la a resident of Calif or-, nia since 1S78, and has held high posi tions in state and municipal engineer lng departments. At present he is city; engineer of San Francisco. He la con sidered one of tha greatest water supply expert in the country. . in appointment or City Engine Grunsky of San Francisco to a canal commlsionershlp turns down Editor Harvey W. Scott of Portland. Mr. Scot! had been pressed for a plac by th Ore gon delegation and will reach her prob ably tomorrow, expecting to take part In th efforts to land the place, but will be too late, ss th Grunsky appointment is all that will b mad for th Paclfl coast. TOKPXBO BOATS BATH. ! London,- Feb. 25. -An official dispatch! to the war office says that none of thi Japanese torpedo boat were injured 1m the attack on Port Arthur yesterday. I This is a half-ton of tha Grand Duk Boris, who has been given permission ty go to Manchuria. He is a cousin of th czar and spent a short but lively time tm this country two year ago, when ha was said to b engaged to May Goelet 1 THE NAVY WILL BE INCREASED (Wtsatnrtoa Burns, ef Th. Joaroit.) house today. In committee Of the whole, continued the naval appropriation dis cussion.' ; ' Th house today, by a rising vote of K 1 In 190 AfnAA Dn4.H'. mAttrtli til tttrlkA from th nnval Kltl nrnvtilnni iflT a ls.OOO-ttn btti ship. A motion by Kltrhen N. V.) to strike out the ap propriation f.ir two flrMt-cl" armored cruisers, .was i to This artlon settles for .11 time th long disousalon relative to th. t Vt o visions, of the 'naval bill. .'-. . The senate twlnv, affr minor mut ters, resumed eoniHirat;ixi of rim ssrri. cultural appropriation liil. Thn h committee on lbrr twin !tt l Opposition to th right h.M.r ).:. 5.- , eral rpprntativ'f of tn" , .i- . I Msl Trad'.-a .rMV,r, i. i . ,. r.nt x