Scarcity of Cereals in Manchuria.
'A dispatch from a reliable source in Moukden states that there are fears that there will be great scarcity in cereals in Manchuria this year owing to the intended abstention of the farmers from cultivating their fields. It is further stated that not expecting hostilities the wanton destruction of crops last year by Russian soldiers and Cossacks is being deeply repented by the Russian authorities, as scarcity is already being felt, so much so that the Russian troops have begun to be put on short rations, even at the present early stage of the war.
'The Neutral Line, that is to say, the western banks of the Liao river in' Fengtien province (Lower Manchuria) marked out by the Chinese Government, according to a Peking dispatch, being unrecognized by the Russian Government, in spite of repeated dispatches of the Chinese Minister at St. Petersburg to the Russian Foreign Office to that effect, drew from Viceroy Yuan Shih-kai the dispatch to Viceroy Alexeief? referred to in yesterday's "Notes" in which the former notified the latter that force would be used to expel any Russian troops found inside the neutral line noted above. It is now stated from North Chinchou that Viceroy Yuan's stern remonstrance to Viceroy Alexeieff has had the desired effect, as the Russian patrols hitherto wandering about Hsinminton and other points west of the Liao river have been withdrawn to the eastern banks of that river. The constant arrival of Chinese reinforcements from Paoting and North Tungehou in the vicinity of the Hsinmintun Railway doubtless also gave a convincing proof to the Russians that Viceroy Yuan Shih-Kvai was in earnest. It is to be hoped that his Excellency will receive the proper backing from the hitherto weak and timid Ministers of the Waiwupu.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.