CORVALLIS GAZETTE
duetts Publishing Co.
CORVALLIS. . . . : OREGON
EVENTS OF THE DAY
Comprehensive Review of the Import'
mat Happening of the Past Week,
Presented In Condensed Form, Most
'jkefy to Prove Interesting.
The Russians aie preparing to retreat
jDto Liao Yang.
Secietary Moody is ill. His ail
ment is not eerioas.
" The range war in Eastern Oregon has
broken out afresh.
The warships Oregon and Alexander
have arrived at Hong Kong. -
.Fire at Newport, Arkansas, destroyed
$100,000 worth of property.
The Vladivostok squadron is said to
have captured three Japanese cruisers.
Both Russia and Japan have agents
busy trying to purchase steam trans
ports. Cholera is said to have broken out
among the Japanese troops and there is
an average of 100 deaths daily.
Two thousand pounds of opium,
woith $30,000, have been seized by
United States secret officers at Seattle.
One arrest has been made and others
will follow.
A third army is being mobilized by
the Japanese. A change in the Jap
anese plan, arising from the naval dis
asters, involves the utilizing of the
second army for the reduction ot fort
Arthur and therefore the first army is
entrenching at Feng Wang Cheng.
A plot to wreck a train on which the
czar was traveling was nearly success
ful. The internal revenue receipts for
April were $577,749 less than for April.
1903.
The government will Bend only the
best of its exhibit at St. Louis to the
1905 fait.
Seattle's mayoi is receiving numer
ous threatening letters on account of
having closed down gambling.
The Russians are reported to have
blown up the cruiser Bogatyr to pre
vent capture by the Japanese.
Estimates of the damage caused by
the flood in the Cache la foudre valley
Colorado, run from $1,000,000 up..
Several thousand bacilli taken from
plague sufferers in India have been lost
somewhere between St. Paul and Chi
cago. I
France has ordered her ambassador
to the Vatican to take a vacation as
protest against the nnte regarding the
visit of President Loubet.
A daily newspaper is to be published
on the steamers of the Cunard line
Telegraph service will Je furnished by
the wireless system and news will be
received from both sides of the At
lantic.
The National Editorial association
will visit Portland during the 1905
fair.
The Russians have forced the Japan'
ese army to retreat to Feng Wang
Cheng.
The British steamer Turret Bay went
on the rocks off the Cape Breton coast.
The vessel was lost with 13 of the
erew.
Governor Chamberlain has offered
$2,500 for the capture of the murderer
of Creed Conn, in Lake county, Oregon,
and $300 apiece for sheep slaughterers.
The Russian fleet at Port Arthur
will go out and take the offensive as
soon as the cripples are ready. Only
one vessel is now holding them back.
The Japanese are prepaiing to storm
Port Arthur, the waters becoming too
dangerous for the fleet on account of
the floating mines turned loose by the
Russians.
England has sent a warship to Mo
rocco to compel that government to
taxe immediate steps to capture the
bandits who hold a British subject for
ransom. An Amarican vessel will also
De sent.
An imperial edict has been issued by
Corea still further involving it with
the Russian government and obliterat
ing all semblance of neutrality. Co
roan steamships are aiding in the land
ing of Japanese.
Two thousand Russians were killed
or wounded in an engagement at Hsien
Yen Cheng.
The cruiser Tacoma has left Hono
lulu in search of an unknown island
between there and Panama.
Russians attribute the Japanese
naval disaster as divine interference,
and believe the tide has turned.
Bandits in Morocco have seized a
rich Amreican and his stepson and
will hold them for a heavy ransom.
The Corean goveinment has an
nulled all treaties and agreements with
Russia. This is practically a declara
tion of war. It is feared China will
follow.
Admiral Togo reports that 651 men
went down with the two warships sunk
by Russian mines.
St. Petersburg officials say there is a
free passage at Port Arthur for even
the largest battleships.
Russian army surgeons are praising
the Japanese bu lets. They inflict a
small, clear wound, though possessing
good stopping effect. One captain in
the Yalu fight was wounded 20 times
but will recover.
OOLD IN FARMS.
Value of 1903 Products Is Placed , at
$4,500,000,000.
Washington, May 25. The depart
ment of agriculture Las issued a report
on the "Nation's Farm Surplus," pre
pared by George K. Holmes, chief of
the division of foreign markets. . It
gives $4,500,000,000 as a conservative
estimate of the value of the faim pro
ducts of this country not fed to live-stock-in
1903, on the basis of the cen
sus valuation. The value of the ex
ported farm products of this country
was, in i903, $878,479,451, and the
highest value reached during the last
11 years was $951,628,331 in 1901, due
chiefly to cotton.
The value of the exported farm pro
ducts of this country is concentrated
mostly in a few principal products. Of
it in 1903, cotton constituted 36 per
cent, grain and grain products 25 per
cent, meat and meat products and live
animals 24 per cent, these products
equaling over 85 per cent of the exports
of farm products last year.
Adding tobacco, whose exports were
valued at over $35,000,000; oil cake
and oil cake meal, $19,839,279; fruits
and nuts over $18,000,000, and vege
table oils, over $16,000,000 gives a
total of eight clasess of products, each
with an export value of over $10,000,
000, that comprise almost 96 per cent
of the farm exports of 1903.
j The' fraction of the wheat crop ex
ported in the last dozen years has been
! about 31 to 41 per cent, and the ex
ported wheat and wheat flour have
yearly averaged somewhat more than
200,000,000 bushels since 1897.
Only a small portion of the corn crop
is exported as corn, the highest per
centage, 11 per cent, being for 1898.
Notwithstanding the small percentag3,
the exported bushels reach 100,000,
000 to 200,000,000.
The beef exports weighed 385,000,-
000, pork exports 551,000,000, lard
exports weighed 490.000,000, oleo oil
exports 126,000,000 pounds and tobac
co 368,000,000. . Putter and -cheese ex
ports have decidedly declined within
two or three years.
The report says that within a few
years the results of an enormous exten
sion of orchard planting will Deign to
be shown, and some of these results
may be in a much increased fruit sur
plus for export. The exports of ani
mal matter are losing ground relatively
with a coresponding gain by vegetable
matter.
FLBBT WILL QO TO MOROCCO.
Two United States Squadrons are With
In Easy Reach.
Washington. May 25. A brief
cablegram came to the state depart
ment today from Consul Gummere, at
Tangier, Morrocco, which confirmed
the press reports that Lon Perdicaris
and Cromwell Varley were being well
treated Jby the Moorish brigands by
whom they were kidnapped. The au
thorities, according to the dispatch, are
in communication with the bandits
regarding the two men, and it is be
lieved the terms of ransom are the sub
ject of negotiations. " .
The consul hopes to be able to re
port these terms to the- state depart
ment very soon. Mr. Gummere is
moving actively in the matter, his in'
structions being to secure the release
of Perdicaris as soon as possible.
Naval officials are awaiting news, of
the arrival of Admiral Chad wick .at
Fayal with the South Atlantic squad
ron, and that of the European squad
ron, under Admiral Jewell, at the
Aozres. The administration will send
vessels of either of these squadrons to
Morrocco for the moral effect it may
have upon the officials of tnat country
in the event the release of the men is
brought about in the meantime.
Terms With Bandit Chief.
Tangier, Morocco, May 25. Ihe
Shereef of Wazen left this morning to
meet Raisuli, the bandit chief, . who is
said to be at Benarios. Mohammed -el
Torres, representative of the sultan of
Morocco at Tangier, has empowered the
shereef to say that the government will
grant all the demands of Raisuli if Ion
Perdicaris and Cromwell valey are
handed over immediately. The soldiers
already have been withdrawn from the
districts where the bandits are lo
cated. Massac rod by Moras.
Manila, May 25. A report has been
received here from Camp Oterton, on
the island of Mindanao, dated May 15,
stating that a massacre had taken
place on the 12th inet., near Malabang,
on the southern coast of Mindanao.
Fifty-three Filipino men, women and
children, the families of military em
ployes of the Uinted States government
at Malabang, weie surprised at . mid
night while asleep by the Datto Ahs
and slaughtered.
Natives Threaten to Rise.
Johannesburg, May 25. The an
nouncement that Chinese labor is to
be given preference in an 'endeavor to
solve the labor problem here has caused
considerable unrest among the native
tribes, and an uprising is not unlikely.
HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON
LAW WORKING WELL.
Income From Incorporations Amounts to
- Over $100,000 First Year. ,
Salem One year ago the Eddy cor
poration law went into effect. - The
state has received under the provisions
of that law $106,866.03. During this
first year of the operation of the new
law, 465 new domestic corporations
have been formed and 200 foreign cor
porations have qualified for the trans
action of business in this state.
The total number of domestic corpor
ations is now 2,022, which number,
with the , 200 foreign corporations
makes a total of 2,022 companies auth
orized to do business in Oregon.
During the next 12 months the re
ceipts from declaration fees of foreign
corporations will be very small, but
this will be more than made up from
annual license fees from foreign cor
porations. , In the past year many of
the foreign corporations paid only for
a fraction of a year, but hereafter they
will pay for full years.
The income of the state from the
Eddy corporation tax law will there
fore exceed $100,000 a year and within
a year or two will probably reach
$120,000 or 410,000 a month. The
expense of maintaining the corporation
department is about $2,000 a year.
FRUIT CROP LOOKS WELL.
drain Fields Promise Bountiful Harvest
and Hay Doing Well.
La Grande From every quarter of
the Grand Ronde valley come the most
flattering reports of a most bounteous
yield of all kinds of fruit the coming
season, particularly the apple crop, and
should the valley escape late frosts, it
will be the banner year for fruit grow
ers throughout this section of Oregon.
The grain crop also promises an
abundant harvest, and the yield of hay
will be much larger than usual.
Owing to high waters of Grand
Ronde river and Catharine creek this
spring many farms in the river bottoms
are yet too wet to plow and seed, which
will reduce the acreage from what it
otherwise would be.
Stock of all kinds are in excellent
condition, and farmers, fruitgrowers
and stockraisera are in the best of spir
its at the very promising future out
look. Coming Events. '
Western Oregon Conference and
CampmeMing of Seventh-Day Adventist
church, Corvallis, May 26June 5.
Annual Students' conference, Y. M.
C. A., Gearhart Park, May 28-June 6.
Umatilla Pioneers' reunion, Pendle
ton, June 2-4.
General election, June 6.
Coast Longshoremen convention,
Astoria, June 6.
Staate Sunday School - convention,
Portland, June 7-8.
First Oregon cavalry and infantry
reunion, Hood River, June 16.
Annual reunion, Department of Ore
gon, G. A. R., Hood River, June 15-17.
Linn County Pioneer association- re
union, Brownsville, June 22-24.
Pioneer association reunion, Port
land, June 22.
Northwest sportsmen's tournament,
Pendleton, June 24-26.
, -
, Christian ? campmeeting, Turner,
June 23-July 3.
Federated Fraternal Mardi Gras and
Carnival, Portland, June 28-July 9.
Western Division State Teachers' as
sociation, Portland, June 29-July 1.
Eastern Oregon G. A. R. encamp
ment, La Grande, July 1-4.
American Congress, Portland, Aug
ust 22-27.
For Wallowa Reserve.
La Grande The register and receiver
of the Uinted States land office here
have received a telegram from the gen
eral land office at Washington, D. C,
withdrawing from deposit a large por
tion of timber land to be added to the
Wallowa forest leserve. This land is
in Union, Baker and Wallowa counties,
most of it being in Wallowa, with a
good portion in Baker county, and con
siderable about six miles east of Union
and on toward Telocaset and Medical
Springs, which takes in a portion of the
ragged edge of Wallowa reserve.
- New Creamery at La Qrande.
La Grande The new creamery which
is being put up in La - Grande by the
Grand Ronde creamery company will
be ready lor business by June 1. The
creameries at Union and La Grande
will manufacture over 25,000 . pounds
of butter per month, and it is the in
tention of the company to store much
of the product in the warehouses at
Pendleton and Baker City, as those
places are now sending to Portland for
much of their butter.
Salmon Season Disappointing.
Astoria The run of fish has shown a
decided decrease in the past few days.
The season has been very disappointing
up to the present time, and not nearly
as many fish have been packed as st
the corresponding time last year, and
that was considered a bad season. The
cold storage pack is in an even worse1
condition.
L O. O. F. ELECTS OFFICERS.
Various Branches Report Work Pro
gressing Very Satisfactorily.
Astoria The several branches of
Odd Fellows lodges met' in annual ses
sion here last week. Reports of officers
shows good gains in both membership
and finances. - Portland was selected
as the next meeting place. The state
grand lodge elected the following offi
cers: '' ' .
Grand master, J. A. Mills, Salem;
deputy grand master, W. H. Hobson,
Stay ton; grand warden, W. A. Carter,
Gold Hill; grand secretary, E. E.
Sharon, Portland; grand treasurer, Dr.
u. v. uoane, ine uaues; grand repre
sentative, Joseph Micelli, Roseburg;
trustee of the Oddfellows' Home,
Thomas F. Ryan.
- xne grand encampmnet officers are:
Grand patriarch W. M. Green, of Eu
gene; grand high priest, Claud Gatch,
of Salem ; grand scribe, E. E. Sharon,
of Portland; grand treasurer, W. W.
Francis, of Halaey; grand senior ward
n, W. I. Vawter, of Med ford; grand
junior warden, H. M. Beckwith, of
Portland; grand representative, Thorn'
as F. Ryan, of Oregon City.
xne Kebekan officers chosen are:
President, Mrs. Nora Barnett, Athena ;
vice president, Mrs. Ella Frazier, Eu
gene; warden, Mrs. Clementine Bui
lock, Portland; secretary, Mrs.' Ora
Cosper, The DalleB ; treasurer, Mrs.
Sophie Severance, Tillamook; trustee
of Oddfellows' Home, Mrs Maiy Tom
linson, of Portland; assembly trustees,
Mrs. Iceilla M. Sears, of Albany; Mrs
Bertha Henderson, of Pendleton ; Mrs
Mary Vanderpool, of Dufur. .Mrs.
Cosper. secretary, was elected for the
eighth consecutive time.
. No Sheep on Reserve.
Baker City Forest Reserve Super
visor Terrill has returned from marking
the boundarise of that portion of - the
Blue mountain and Baker City forest
reseive over which he has charge. The
general land office has recently sent
him specific instructions as follows:
"The secretary of the interior has de
cided that sheep shall not be allowed to
graze on the Baker City forest reserve,
but that the cattle and horses which
grazed on tne lands now in tne reserve
last season may be allowed in the re
serve during the season of 1904."
. Sheepmen Sell Much Wool.
, Pendleton Inihe face of an uncer
tain market sheepmen are selling wool
fast when, they can get their price. It
is estimated that over a million pounds
of the spring : clip are already sold.
The jump in price from 11c to 12c
since last week caused the heavy sell
ing. Grqwers have been saying they
would be satisfied with 12c. The av
erage clip of the county is between
two and a half and three million
pounds.
Buys 40.000 Pounds of Wool.
Pendleton A buy of 40,000 pounds
of wool at Alpowa, on the Snake river,
nas been made by Jfi. 11. (Jlark of Pen
dleton, wno nas been touring among
the growers of Walla Walla, Franglin,
Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties
Mr. Clark buys for Koshland & Co., of
Boston.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 72c; blue-
stem, 80c; Valley, 80c.
Barley Feed, $23 per ton; rolled,
$24.5025.
Flour Valley, $3.904.05 per bar
rel; hard wheat straights, $44.25;
clears, $3.85(34.10; hard wheat pat
ents, $4.404.70; whole wheat, $4
4.25; rye flour, $4.50.
Oats No. J, white, $1.25;
gray,
$1.20 per cental.
Millstuffs Bran, $192d per ton;
middlings, $25.5027; shorts $20
21; chop, $18; linseed, dairy food,
$19.
Hay Timothy, $15 16 per ton;
clover, $910; grain, $1112; cheat,
sj.i(3ii:.
Vegetables Turnips, 80c per sack:
carrots. 80c: heetn. 11 : narsnins. 11?
1 - ' ' ' X 7 r 1
cabbage, 22fcc; red cabbage, 2Jc;
lettuce, nead, zoo4ue pei doz; pars
ley, 25c; cauliflower, $2; celery, 75
90c: cucumbers. 11.75: asDaraeus.
$1.25; peas, 5c per pound; rhubarb,
3c per pound ; beans, green, 15c ; wax,
15c; squash, $1 per box.
Honey $33.50 per case.
Potatoes ancv. S1.21K0J1.25 tmr
cental; common, $11.20; new pota
toes, 34c per pound; sweets, 5c.
t? i f mi
15c per pound; cherries; $1.25 per
box; gooseberries, 6c per pound; ap
ples, fancjr Baldwins and Spitzenbergs,
$4.502.50 per box; choice, $11.50;
cooking, 75c$l.
Butter Fancy creamery, 17c;
store, 1213c. -
Butter Fat Sweet cream, 183c ;
sour cream, 17c. '
Eggs Oregon ranch, 1718c per
dozen. -
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 12
13c per pound ; springs, small, 18
20c; hens, 1314c; turkeys, live, 16
17r Tier nnnnil dressed 18020c: dnnka.
- x x '
$78 per dozen; geese, live, 78c per
pound.
Cheese Full cream, twins, new
stock, 12K13c; old stock, 10c;
Toung America, 14c.
Hops 1903 crop, 2325c per
pound. . . -.
Wool Valley, 17c ; Eastern Oregon,
12 14c; mohair, 30c per pound for
choice.
Beef Dressed, 58c per potmd. .
Mutton Dressed, 56c per pound ;
lambs, 6c. - ,
Veal Dressed, 4 7c per pound.
Pork Dressed, 77c.
W1N BIO. VICTORY.
Russian Troops Make a Sortie From
Port Arthur.
St. Petersburg, May 24. The gov
ernment this evening received - news
confirmatory of .the rumors in circula
tion here that General Stoessel has
made a succssful sortie from - Port Ar
thur, resulting in the defeat of the
Japanese, with the loss of more than
1,000 killed or wounded. The Russian
losses were 116 killed or wounded.
The movement was carried out by a
combination with a train bringing in
war munitions and supplies and Gener
al StoesseFs force, communication be
ing maintained by wireless telegraphy.
The Japanese barred the route between
the train and General Stoessel's force,
whereupon; the Russians attacked and
routed the Japanese. After the engage
ment General Stoessel's force, together
with the train, returned to Port- Arth
ur. -.
The current accounts of the Port Ar
thur sortie are somewhat conflicting,
and there is some doubt as to -whether
the version mentioning tne train is
correct. But the operation is des
cribed as having been brilliantly car
ried out by the Russians.
General Stoessel, it is said, made a
new distribution of his guns before tak
ing part in the sortie.
The Russians fought with great
bravery, breaking the Japanese line
and carrying the enemy for a consider
able distance.
COSSACKS NEARLY AMBUSHED.
Pursuit of Japanese Is Stopped Just in
the Nick of Time.
St. Petersburg. May 24. The czar
has received -the following dispatch
from General Kuropaikm:
"The reconnaissance of May 19 failed
to show any sign of the enemy in the
valieys of the Sedzyk river and of the
Unziag rivei. a tributary, as far as the
village of Deoiouteidzkou, on the main
road from Siuyen to Feng Wans; Cheng
"A detachment of the Japanese van
guard numbering 300 men occupied the
village of Deopudza, on the same road
A Japanese battalion was posted five
miles bevond Siaskhnangki, and at-
least a division, including guard regi
ments. was stationed five kilometres
further on toward Khabalin.
"A body of Cossacks on May 19 en
countered three troops of Japanese cav
alry near the village of Pipouza, 11
miles southwest of Feng Wang Cheng.
The Cossacks attacked and pursued the
Japanese to Pipouza, where they en
countered some Japanese infantry, who
had piepared an ambush, which, how
ever, was discovered in time. The
Cossacks lost two men wounded, one
horse killed and two horses wounded
"No trace of the enemy was found in
the mountains between Kaichau and
SiuYen."
JAPANESB CAPTURB KAI CHOU.
Advance of Russians From Niu Chwang
Direction Also . Prevented.
Tokio, May 24. Although it has
not been officially reported, it is said
on good authority that the Japanese
forces have captured Kai Chou, driv
ing the Russians back to Tashi Chi in
the direction of Niu Chwang, and pre
venting the advance of the Russian
troops at Niu Chwang in the direction
of Kai Chou.
The bombardment by the Japanese
in the vicinity of Kai Chou recently
was probably in preparation for the
landing of forces in the northwest cor
ner of the Liao lung peninsula for the
purpose of. capturing Niu Chwang and
co-operating with the other armies in
the march on Liao Yang. Probably a
small Japanese force has been landed
at Kin Chou bay.
Takushan. .where .Japanese forces
were landed May 19. is at the mouth
of Dayan river, west of their column.
More Buildings for Army Forts.
Washington, May 24. Constructing
Quartermaster Penrose, at Port Town
send, has been instructed to invite bids
for the erection of buildings to accom
modate two additional companies of
coast artillery at Fort Worden and one
more at Fort Casey. At Fort Worden
the government will erect one field offi
cers' quarters, one double captains'
quarters and two double lieutenants'
quarters, one double noncommissioned
officers quarters and two barracks. At
Fort Casey three sets of officers' quar
ters and one barracks will be erected.
Record Run for Warship.
New York, May 24. The United
States battleship Kentucky anchored off
Tompkinsville today, having made the
world's record run for a warship from
Hong Kong and Madeira to New York
The total distance steamed was 12,699
miles from Hong Kong at an average
speed of 12.07 knots. The last run of
2,900 miles from Madiera to New York
was made at an average speed of 13.8
knots. The whole distance was made
under natural draught. The Kentucky
has been in commission a little more
than four years.
Expect Foreign Powers to Protest.
Tokio, May 24. It is absolutely cer
tain that the battleship Hatsuse was
sunk by Russian mines ten miles off
the coast. The position of these mines
makes navigation dangerous for neutral
vessels, and a protest from foreign gov
ernments is expected. The loss of the
Japanese warships is keenly felt here.
No flags are flying in this city, and tne
nightly lantern parades have been
abandoned. American nurses will go
to Heroshima hospital.
Military Trains Reach Liao Yang.
Liao Yang, May 24. Eleven mili
tary traintthave come in here during
the past 24 hours. The Russian rub.e
is rising by leaps and bounds. The
rains have stopped suddenly and fine
weather has set in.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT
RUSSIANS LOSE TORPEDO BOAT AT
VLADIVOSTOK.
Went to the Rescue of the Bogatyr
Struck a Mine Cruiser Which Went
on the Rocks Will Be a Total Loss
Serious Explosion Reported on Board
the OrcL
St. Petersburg, May 25. It is ad
mitted at the Russian admiralty that
not only has the Russian cruiBer Bo
gatyr proven a total loss, as a result of
her grounding at the entrance to Vladi
vostok harbor r but that at the same
time one Russian torpedo boat 'which
was sent to the rescue, struck a mine
in the outer haiboi and waa totally
wrecked.
A correspondent of the Central News
has also learned that there was' an ex
plosion yesterday on board the battle-,
ship Orel, at Cronstadt, and that ten
stokers were killed. The vessel, the
Correspondent says, was damaged, and
it will take weeks to effect repairs.
The explosion, according to the dis
patch, was the result of an accumula
tion of gas in the bunkers.
VINDICATION ONLY THOUGHT.
Russia Has No Patience With Those Who
Suggest Mediation.
. St. Petersburg, May 25. The Rus
sian newspapers are unanimous in
their affirmation of the deep impression
made upon the country by the ' emper
or's personal God-speed to the troops
in South Russia, - declaring Russian
prestige in the Far-East must be vindi
cated, and that every Russian breast
echoes the emperor's conviction, ex
pressed to the Town Council at Moscow
as follows:
"Our glorious armies will return
with the aureole of victory."
Considerable irritation is manifested
by the papers over the suggestion made
fey M. Dubail, the Fernch minister at
Pekin, that a congress of the powers be
held for the purpose of effecting a con
clusion of the war. The Novoe Vre
mya says:
"The war is Russ-'a's personal affair
and she asks no one's assistance.
When it is ended she will negotiate
with the Mikado, but not with Europe.
Therefore we regret that the represen
tative of Russia's ally should be the
first to utter the word 'congress.' "
The same paper, speaking of the re
ception of the news of Japanese naval
disasters by the British press, says:
"The hymn of uninterrupted tri
umph by Japan which was sung by t he
friendly choir of English press has been
changed by a few pounds of dynamite
from allergo maestro to aligato assaib
asai." The Chinese minister says China,
will not seek to participate in any con
gress at the conclusion of the war.
The negotiations will be direct with
the power occupying Manchuria. The
minister continues to insist that China,
is determined not to become involved
in the war.
WAR IS CRIPPLING BUSINESS.
Many Large Firms are Compelled
to Re.
duce Their Forces. .
St. Petersburg, May 25. The war
has already begun to produce a serious
effect upon the economic life of Russia.
A writer in the Uiedmosti presents re--ports
which go to show that the com
merce and industry of the country are
passing through a severe crisis as a re
sult of the practical cessation of all
trade with Siberia, caused by the con
centration of the military along the
Trans-Siberian railway. This conges
tion of trade is especially felt in Mos
cow, w.'iere several of the largest mer
cantile establishments are insolvent.
From Kieff come reports of an un
willingness to invest in the timber in
dustry and there have been many fail
ures. Russian Poland is probably the worst
hit because of the shortening of for
eign credit by European banks.
In Lodz, 150,000 persons are out of
employment, while all dock improve
ment work at Odessa and other south
ern cities has been abandoned. ' v
Urges Britain to Act.
London, May 25. In connection
with the reports which show that float
ing mines haye been liberally distrib
uted bv the Port Arthur fleet in the
water adjacent to Port Arthur, Sir Wil
liam Walrond, in the house of com
mons, yesterday in a vigorous speech,,
condemned the practice and declared
that prompt action should be taken by
Great Britain and all other nations to
check this scheme which seriously en
dangers all neutral shipping. He
states that the practice was in viola
tion of warfare and international law.
Fear Coming of Yellow Fever.
Washington, May 25 It has been
officially stated that there is some fear
that the Panama canal may become a
factor in introducing yellow fever into
the Philippines and the entire Orient.
Dr. R. P. Strong, director of the bio
graphical laboratory at Manila, in his
report to the Philippine commission,
shows that the Hawaiian islands, .
Guam and the Philippines will be ex
posed to the importation of the mos
quito that carries the fever.
Big Loss in Fight.
St. Petersburg, May 25. It is re
ported that Foreign Minister Mamsdorff
has received a message from the Rus
sian consul at Chefoo saying that the
Japanese have made a land attack on
Port Arthur and that in doing so they
loet 15,000 men killed or wounded.
The Russian loss , is placed at 3,000
men. The ultimate outcome of the
fighting is not stated.