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Show JAPAN SEEKING FOOTHOLD ON Jj CHINESE NEUTRAL TERRITORY I ST. PETERSBURG, March 19. (1 p. jj m.) Tho Government's private infor- j matlon Is not reassuring as regarda Ij China's sincerity In observing a neu- l' trallty attitude. Secret advices Indicate '? that at least a powerful party In tho ) Chinese Government Is abetting tho . J CL) ATI O S&. Although at first reluctant to credit It "' the RuBslan authorities continue to re- 11 eclvo evidence that the Japanese con- j template landing on Chinese neutral 1 territory, weyt of the Llao river, and J 17,000 men are being held especially to ' ; await developments In that direction. Moreover, the Emperor's nava) ex- - ' pcrts who havo bsen studying carefully the puzzlo as to where Vice-Admiral l ; Togo's fieet Is coaling and provisioning , between lie appearances off Port Arthur ! 1 are becoming more and more convinced li' that It Is using as a base some quiet I ' spot on the Chinese coast. After each ,) disappearance not a word Is heard of m , the fleet's whereabouts until It reap- ii) . pears. The' Idea that they ore using -, i Chemulpo, Fusan or some other placo IL J (Continued on Page 2.) '1 RUMOR TELLS OF BATTLE 01 YALU , (Continued Prom Pago 1.) on the Korean coast for this purpose Is rejected. The dwindling number of Japanese battleshlpH appearing off- Port Arthur Is Increasing the conviction that many of them have had to put back to Japan for a thorough refitting. The failure of the Japanese to rush their operations evokes agreeable disappointment dis-appointment here, as it gives the Russians Rus-sians the time necessary to complete their preparations. A Japanese landing on the Llao Tung peninsula to besiege Port Arthur would rather be welcomed now, as It would not be a large force, yet would weaken the frontal attack from Korea, It was reported poon after the Japanese Japa-nese began their operations against Port Arthur that they had seized one of the Elliott Islands, situated In the Korean gulf less than 100 miles cast by north of Port Arthur for use as a base, and the Tokio correspondent of the London Times, March 7th. cabled that a Japanese Japa-nese squadron took possession of Hal Tang Tao, one of the Elliott group, February 29th. The correspondent added that the Japanese found there only Btores of coal and signaling flags, the Russians having evacuated the Island February 23rd. |