Tokyo, Feb. 7.
A definite assurance that Japan would not start a race to fortify her possessions in the Pacific, no matter what way the naval situation may develop, was-given by Admiral Osumi, who was bombarded witn questions.
'Asked whether Japan would build to parity in the event of the failure, of the Naval Conference, the Navy Minister replied that, in' such an eventuality, Japan" would make: adequate readjustments im the vari-fous classes of warships to safeguard national defence, Consequently, he said, she would build more of some classes than England and the United States and less of other categories.
Aggressive Bases reply to another question, Ad-ural Osuml signified that he favoured
Washington Treaty by the inclusion 0 seviion of Article XIX of" the the Hawaiian islands and Singapore. Decale they were aggressive. bases, and the exclusion of the possessions mentioned in Clause three. ax all these were essential to Japan's defence.
He slated that continuance of Ar-tide, XIX would not necessarily be Aissdvantozeous to Japan, but Japan would giedly agree to any proposal For a revision.
Continuing, the Admiral announced tnat the modernization of capital-shipe and alrerattcarriers would. virtually completed In 1996, ana he forecast that the Navy Ministry may demand appropriations for" a. third. replenish-that pian in the 1997 Budget.
conclusion, Japan would have to many cam, Adria Gru a Srannual average of 54000 tons. to Joplace obsolete vessels from 1996
Tsingkciangpu, Ku, Jan. 28.
The latest reports from Siyang, where the Small Sword Society was taliting the local troops last week is that the country people were able to, Fevolt from the tyranny of the Little [Knives and the leaders of this Society rave now fled to the margins of the Hungtsi Lake, Tt would appear that 1a_very riply situation has been re-Veved. Original reports as to the ess of life were, as usual, exaggera: fed but several engagements of major [proportions took place with a number of casualties.
The underlying cause of the trouble though has not been settled. If the projected digging out of the old bed the Yellow Rives is to be accomplished it will take nearly. two-hundred thousand coolies it is stated, working parts of three to five years. A task so tremendous obviously requires the ce-operation of the local people. Forced labour may be justified but these men must eat and the unanimous report is that not sufficient provision was made for the men. Nor" were adequate shelters provided and 6 a result, when the cold weather came the work ceased absolutely and the men went home.
The Busy Bandits A launch plying between Taingkiangsu and Chinkiang was looted by bandits near Saopeh the other night Jand the passengers robbed of their money and heavy clothing, The audits made their way into the Kaoyu Lake, Roads out of Tsing-Klangpu continue unsafe and pedestrians' are "frisked" in broad day Aight.
The reports of the epidemic of Black Fever" (kala czar) which were printed in your paper and which were said to have emanated
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.