Mr. Griscom to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

(Mr. Griscom reports the beginning of hostilities. The minister for foreign affairs informed him of a naval engagement to-day near Chemulpo, in which the Russian gunboat Korietz was sunk and the cruiser Variag was captured. The telegram announcing the engagement alleges that the Korietz begun hostilities by opening fire on Japanese torpedo boats.)