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VOL. 22. SMITH FIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1004. NO. 51.
THE FAR EAST?RUSSIA AND JA
PAN.
In tlie war now going on- be
tween Japan and Russia we may
expect no battle to be fought in
Japan's dominions. The nature
of the islands comprising the
Japanese Empire is such that a
Russian invasion is hardly pos
sible. The coasts of Japan are
generally mountainous and are
easily defended. One reason
that will prevent a Russian in
vasion is that most of the Japan
ese ports are shallow. Tokio,
the capital of Japan, does not
fear any Russian attack on ac
count of the shallowness of the
bay. It has been suggested that
the channel should be made deep
er so that the largest vessel
might enter, but the Japanese
have refused to do this as they
are not willing to place their
capital at the mercy of a foreign
invader.
Japan has five naval stations.
Each of these stations is strong
ly fortified, has dry decks, arsen
als and barracks. Japan is now
building at thes- ports many of
her war ships. The sugacit'y of
the sleepy-eyed Japanese is
shown by the fact that they al
low no visitor to enter the yards
of these ports. These naval sta
tions are ^ okosuka, Ominato,
Kure, Saseho and Maizuru.
Though Japan is one of the
oldest natiens of the world, it
has been during the past fifty
years that she has waked up and
taken on the spirit of Western
Civilization. Within the past
half century but few nations
have made the progress that
Japan has. ller strength was
but little understood until the
Chino-Japanese war broke out
iu 1894, but within a few months
time she startled the world by
showing that she could with her
forty million people overcome
China with her four hundred
million.
As it now appears the war will
either be fought on sea or in
?Manchuria aud Korea. Either
of these countries are somewhat
unpromising for war operations.
They are so mountainous that
it would be difficult to move a
large army with auy speed.
Korea hus only a few troops and
no fortifications worthy of men
tion. All her ports of any im
portance are treaty ports and
their capture by either of the
belligerents might involve for
eign complications.
At the close of the war between
China and Japan in 1895 Russia
obtained from China a valuable
concession by leasing the south
ern part of Manchuria knowu as
the Liaotung peninsula for a
period of 25 years. At the
southern end of this peninsula is
Port Arthur. This is Russia's
stronghold in the East aud is
the place where the first naval
battle of the present war was
fought. A little to the east is j
Rainy, a city built by order of
the Czar. North of the Russian
concession Manchuria, a terri
tory a great deal larger than the
State of Texas, spreads away to
the north. In 189(1, by an agree
ment between China and Russia,
a branch road of the Trans-Sibe
rian railway was built from
liarbirpon the main line, to Port
Arthur. The building of this
road has had a great deal to do
with fastening Russia upon Man
churia. This railway touches no
important town, but several
towns have been built by Rus
sians along the line, the princi
pal of which is Mukden.
One of the great problems with
Russia at the present time is how
to maintain a large army in the
Far East. Recent newspaper
dispatches say that Russia will
make Harbin her supply base.
The country through which the
Trans-Siberian railway passes is
not very fertile in many respects
and produces only enough for
the population along the line.
To carry the supplies to Russian
soldiers in Manchuria is a great J
problem. It takes a freight train
about 24 days to make the trip.
A part of the trip is made across
Eake Baikil on the ice at this
season, as there is no road
around the lake.
v \
RUSSIA MEANS TO CRUSH JAPAN.
Expects to End the War by Sep
tember?Japan Says Nit.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 23.-?"The
war will end in August or Sep
tember in the complete defeat of
the Japahese," said to the press
association a high authority in
intimate touch with the Russian
war plans, whose opinion can
be taken faithfully to reflect the
belief in the highest official
quarters. He added:
"How the .Japanese can hope
to succeed when our army in ihe
east is strengthened to a point
equal or superior to that of our
adversaries, we are honestly
unable to comprehend. It will
not be diftieult|to place two, four,
or even six hundred thousand
THE MIKADO.
Mutsuhlto, Japan's progressive ruler,
ascended the throne in 18tiS, at the age
of sixteen, aud since then has trans
i 1 ? 1 1 - i
MtTTSUHITO, EMPEROR OF JAPAN.
formed his country from barbarism to
the position of a thoroughly up to date
world power.
additional men in the field, if
necessary. When our forces are
concentrated and ready they
will finish by driving: the Japa
nese into the sea.
"Frankly, it seems to us that
the Japanese either have utterly
failed to appreciate Russia's
resources, or have counted 011
aid of Great Britain or the Uni
ted States, neither of which ever
contemplated becoming;involved.
So far as great Britain is con
cernedUVve do not. believe any
hallucinations existed there. We
think the British statesmen, who
did so much to push Japan into
war, realized that with Japan's
defeat they would accomplish
two things for Great Britain;
first, to give Russia a check?for.
of course, the war must impede
our progress temporarily?
second, to cripple Japan's mari
time power, which was begin
ning to be greatly felt in the
Pacific.
"If can be said with the utmost,
positiveuess that Russia will bide
her time. She will act on the
defensive until she feels confident
that her weight of numbers will
leave no doubt as to the result.
Reinforcements aregoing forward
at the rate of 3,000 a day.
"Probably some time will
elapse before Russia feels fully
prepared to assume theoffensive.
The conviction is growing here
in official circles that, in spite of
Japanese denials, the Japanese
fleet was severely crippled off
Port Arthur in the engagement
which began February Sth.
Greensboro female College was
the first chartered college for
women in North Carolina, and
with the exception of the Wes
leyati Female College, at Macon
Ga., the first south of the Poto
mac. It is the same age as the
North Carolina Conference, that
conference having begun its
separate existence in 1838, and
the college having been chartered
later in the same year. The col
lege was only last week trans
ferred from the alumnae associa
tion to the two conferences of the
Methodist church in North Caro
lina. A meeting of the board of
trustees of the college has been
called at Greensboro Tuesday,
February 23rd, to discuss the
loss of the fire, and to take such
steps as they mav deem best
looking to its future.?Fayette
ville Observer.
JAP OFFICERS HANGED.
Disguised as Coolies They Tried
to Blow Up Bridge.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 23.?The
Japanese who were hanged by
the Russians in Manchuria for
attempting to blow up the rail
road bridge over the Sangari
river were disguised as coolies.
! They were arrested just as they
were about to make the attempt.
Inquiry revealed that they were
Japanese officers of the general
staff, namely, Colonel Assai, of
the engineers, and Lietenants
Zoueloiascha and Kaeurta, of
the sappers.
They were at once hanged from
the girders of the bridge.
The newspapers of Port Arthur
. dated February 4 reached St.
Petersburg today, indicating
that they were less than three
weeks in transit. Troop trains
probably require a longer
time on accouutof the difficulties
at Lake Baikal, where provisions
and troops are crossing, but on
ice trains and sledges; but the
cold is exceedingly severe.
Today 30 degrees below zero
(Fahrenheit) was recorded at
Irkutsk and other places. Sto
ries of the sufferings of the troops
in the crossing of the lake are
persistent. Some reports say
000 men were frozen, but these
lack confirmation, official or
otherwise. The telegraph is
working well. One line, devoted
exclusively to government busi
ness, runs direct to Irkutsk,
whence, with a single relay, it
connects with St. Petersburg.
The Czar recently stood at the
telegraph key and talked with
Viceroy Alexieff practically un
interrupted.
Military men desiring to ac
company the Russian army have
been formally notified that they
can proceed when convenient,
but it is added thataccommoda
tions and commissariat supplies
caunot be guaranteed before
THE CZAR OF RUSSIA.
The emperor of all the Russlas is in
his thirty-sixth year and has ruled Rus
sia nine years. The Hague peace tri
NICHOLAS II.
bnnal was his idea, and ho is strongly
in favor of peace so long as it docs not
prove a barrier in the path of his em
pire's growth.
March 15. No authorizations
have yet been issued to war cor
responden ts, and it is improbable
that anything in this direction
will be done until the concentra
tion of troops is completed.
The Chinese minister here has
presented to the foreign office
a note similar in tenor to that
handed to the government at
Tokio regarding China's neutral
ity and the respect to be paid to
the imperial tombs. It is under
stood that Russia has not made
a specific reply, but comtnunicat
ed to the minister a copy of her
reply to Secretary Hay's uoteou
the subject of China.
The New York American an
nounces that I'rof. George 15.
Pegram, of Columbia, Cniv? rsity,
! a son of Prof. \V. H. Pegram, of
; Trinity College, has discovered
in a radium vacuum tube ma
chine the nearest approach to
| perpetual motion yet devised.
! The American says that "Radi
um's activity has not yet been
! demonstrated by any physical
instrument to decrease. So far
as is known this machine may
! therefore be expected to run in
definitely, until the propelling
! machinery isexhausted."
AGAINST THE JAP1NESE.
Rumours From Seat of War Seem
%
to Favor the Russians.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 25tn,
(Thursday). 2:45 a. m ?A tele
gram from Viceroy Alexieff to
the Czar says:
"At a quarter before three in
the morning of February 24
numerous Japanese torpedo
boats attempted to attack the
battleship Retvizan and sink
large steamers loaded with
inflammables. The Retvizan
was the first to observe the
torpedo boats and opened a
strong fire on them. She was
supported by the land batteries.
She destroyed two steamers near
the entrance of the harbor; they
were coming directly towards
her. One of them went down on
EMPEROR OF KOREA.
Emperor Yi Hiung, whose country
caused war between China and Japan
In 1894-05 and is the present bone of
contention between Japan and Itussia,
mv.
YI IIIUNG.
Is fifty-one years of age. lie became
king In 18(i4 and emperor in 1807. Like
the emperor of China, he is a man of
little force and ability.
the rocks near the lighthouse on
Tiger Peninsula and the other
"laLk under (iolden Hill. The
Retvizan observed four steamers
in a sinking condition, and eight
torpedo boats departing slowly
to rejoin the waiting Japanese
warships. A portion of the
crews of the Japanese vessels
was drowned. The grounded
steamer is still burning. The
enemy is observed in the oiling
of Port Arthur in two lines."
THE FXUST REPOKT8.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 2." ?
(Thursday, 12:10 a. m.)?The
wildest rumors have been afloat
here regarding the reported
Japanese repulse at Port Arthur,
but up to midnight nothing offi
cial could be learned. An official
bulletin, however, is expected
soon.
It is reported unofficially that
the Japanese, while attempting
to land at Pigeon Bay, lost two
cruisers and two transports.
London, Feb. 2-L?A dispatch
to Reuters Telegram Company
from St. Petersburg, sent at 11
o'clock tonight, says that on
February 28, the Japanese at
tempted to send four steamers
filled with explosives among the
Russian fleet in Port Arthur
harbor. These fire ships did no
damage and were themselves
destroyed, two being sunk and
two going ashore. Two Japa
nese boats escorting the fire ships
were destroyed by Russian guns.
A dispatch to the Central News
from St. Petersburg gives anoth
er version of the reported Japa
nese defeat at Port Arthur, ac
cording to which the Japanese
planned to sink some barges in
the strait leading from the outer
to the inner harbor of Port
Arthur, thus blocking the exit.
The Russian gunfire, however, x
; sunk the barges before they ar-;
! rived at the intended spot.
Mr. J. C. Clifford has been ap
pointed receiver of the Bank at
Dunn, which failed last week.
Senator Simmons has intro
duced a bill in the United States1
Senate to encourage the emigra
tion of desirable labor into the1
South.
SEES CHANCES FOR VICTORY.
Cleveland Calls Upon the Demo
crats to Unite.
Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 11>.?
lu ail article written for thin
week's Saturday Evening Post
former President Cleveland urges
his "'rank and file associate*) of
the Democratic party to unite
aud take advantage of the op
portunities of next November.
"1 am one of those," lie writes,
"who believe that there is an op
portunity for Democratic success
in the coming presidential elec
tion.
"Thorough attachment to the
party in which I am enlisted and
an intense desire for its ascend
ancy makesuch belief exceedingly
welcome; they certainly don't
create it. It is built upon an un
shaken and abiding trust in the
patriotism and intelligence of my
fellow countrymen."
Mr. Cleveland's paper opens
with a reiteration of the declara
tion that he made three years
ago:
"Our fighting forces will re
spond listlessly and fulteringly if
summoned to a third defeat in a
strange cause: but if they hear
the rallying call of true Democ
racy they will gather for battle
with old-time Democratic enthu
siasm aud courage.
Referring to his faith iu his
Democratic associates, he con
tinues:
"This trust will not permit me ,
to overlook the meaning of the .
daily increasing unrest among <
our people, growing out of the
startling and flippant abandon- j
ment by the party of national ,
traditions and maxims; its dis- ,
regard of our national restraints; ,
its inconsiderate tendency to set ,
aside national good faith; its ,
willingness to break away from |
safe and accustomed moorings,
and its contemptuous neglect of
our national mission. Surely
these conditions, together with
the broken pledges aud forgotten
promises of reform that vex the ,
sight on every side, not only
PREMIER KATSURA OF JAPAN.
Count Katsura is Japan'* premier i
and minister of the interior. Soldier
as well as statesman, he received his
GENERAL COUNT TARO KATSURA. '
military education at a German war
eollcKP and is a Held marshal In Ja
pan's army. ]
ahundantiy explain tin* popular i
distrust and fear prevailing I
everywhere in the land, but llj
submit that in such stress of 1
political weather those of our
lellow citizens who thoughtfully
and constantly love our free in
stitutions will not be uumindful !
of such safety and quiet as may
be offered them by a patriotic
and conservative Democracy."
Mr. Cleveland thinks the con- '
ditions justify the assertion of
Democracy's opportunity. He
says: '1
"it should be remembered,
however, that opportunity may 1
be only distantly related to ac- ,
tual accomplishment, and that it '
does not of itself, unaided aud '
alone, warrant the expectation '
of reaching successful results.
"This is no time for cunning '
finesse, nor for the use of words '
that conceal intentions or carry '
a double menning. The Demo- 1
cratic party has a message to '
send to its followers and *> the I
masses of the American people.
Let that message be expressed
in language easily understood, i
unconfused by evasion and un- I
touched by the taint of jugglery, j I
Obsolete issues and questions no
longer challenging popular in
terest should be manfully aban
doned.
Mr. Cleveland urges tariff re
form, pleads for economy in the
expenditure of public monev,and
charges the opposition with hav
ing made promises and broken
them. He arraigns the adminis
tration s Philippine policy, and
refers to the isthmian canal in
these words:
"The Democratic partv has
been consistent and unremittiug
in its advocacy of an interoceanie
i anal, and has with the liveliest
satisfaction looked forward to
t he day when such a highway of
i ommerce, built under the aus
pices of our government, would
be contributed by America to the
world s progress and civilization.
It is, nevertheless, not within the
mandates of the Democratic
? creed t hat, even in consummating
so noble an enterprise as this
the territorial rights of any other
nation should be disregarded, or
that our own national good faith
should besubjected to reasonable
suspicion "
Mr. Cleveland concludes as fol
lows:
"At such a time as this the
Democratic party cannot with
honor undertake the battle of
the people, except under a leader
that not only represents the
best traditions and purposes, but
fully realizes what is meant by
the tremendous issues of the con
tact; and bis selection should not
depend upon so small a consider
ation as the locality whence he
-omes.
"The democracy's opportunity
I is already in sight, but only in a
campaign waged in reliance upon
the people's love of country and
levotion to national morality,
under leadership that personifies
these sentiments, will be found
the Democracy's hope."
Out of the Mouths of Babes.
W hat did George Washington
do for his country?" asked the
teacher.
"He gave it an extra holiday,"
promptly answered the boy 'at
the foot of the class.
"Why, Freddie!"exclaimed the
?xcited mother, "what did
V'ou drop the baby for?"
"Because," answered Freddie,
grandma said he was a bounc
ing baby and 1 wanted to see
!)iin bounce."
"Fan you tell me what a smile
is. Elsie?" asked the father of his
ittle daughter.
"A smile is a laugh that cracks
one's face without breaking it
ipen, replied thesniall observer.
Teacher?Where's the north
pole, Harry?
Harry?ifon't know.
Teacher?What! You don't
snow where the north pole is?
Harry?No, ma'am; if 1 did
them explorer fellows would be
out of a job.?Chicago News.
The directors of the Baptist
Female University passed an
order last week for the erection
it once of another dormitory
ouilding to cost not exceeding
f.'50,000. The capacity of the
ouilding will be for 00 girls.
Che !? oo, Feb. 21.?Russia is
rushing troops into Port Arthur.
The Japanese declare they will
take Port Arthur within two
months. The Russians are pre
paring for a long siege.
Greensboro,.N.C., Feb. 18.?Fire
par!y this morning destroyed the
historic old Greensboro Female
I ollege, the loss aggregating in
the neighborhood of #05,000.
The building and contents were
insured for #85,000 for the
benefit of the bond holders and
this amount will be applied to, he
bonded indebtedness of the col
lege (#40,000) when a sett ement
with the insurance companies is
made. None of the insurance
was held in the Greensboro com
panies.
A new bank with a capital of
?2.>,000 has been organized at
Dunn to take the place of the
two which recently failed there.