RUSSIA'S FINAL OFFER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 36, 11 February 1904, Page 5

RUSSIA'S FINAL OFFER.

LONDON, February 10. A Russian official eommunque states | that the Russian Government refused to recognise Japan's privileges and cwamer- • cial position in Corea, with the right to employ force in the event of disturbances, conditional on Corea'e independence and integrity being inspected, no port to be used for strategic purposes, and freedom of navigation in the Straits of Corea preserved. Japan declines the conditions- guaran- [ teeing Corea's independency- (says the commuuque), and made an admisaabh; demand in regard to Manchuria, though Russia had not refused to recognise China's sovereignty, and the treaty privileges of the other Powers, while I he occupation of Manchuria 'aated. WAR AND THE PRODUCE MARKET. The outbreak of war has already resulted In a rise in the price of wheat and oa cs. Yesterday oats, in the South,

the very fact that Japan has most to gain by an immediate battle k-ads to the belief that the Russians will strive to avoid action at first, and attempt to weaken the Japanese fleet by torpedo attacks. The important fighting ships of the Japanese fleet are as follows: — BA XT LF/SHIP S (6). Mikasa, IS\ to 10 knots, 15,000 to 15,20) tons. 4 12in., 14 Bin., and many small suns. tlatsuse, ISJ to 19 knots, 15,000 to 15.200 tons, 4 12in., 14 6in., and many sma.l suns. Sblkishima. 18J to 19 knots. 15.000 to 15.200 tons, 4 121n., 14 6in., and many small guns. Asahi, ISJ to 19 Knots, 15,000 to 15,200 ton?. 4 121n., 14 61n.. -and many small suns. Fuji. IS knots. 12,300 tons, 4 12in.. 10 Cm. jruns. Yashitna, IS knots, 12,300 tons. 4 12in.. 10 Cm. guns. ARMOURED CUt'ISERS (0). Asansa. 22 knots. 8800 tons, 4 Sin.. 14 Gilt. 12 12-poundet-s. 4 Sin. guns. Idzmruo. 22 knots, BSOO tons. 4 Bin., 14 Cm., 12 12-poundt-rs, 4 Sin. guns. Iwate, 22 knots. BSOO tons. 4 Sin., 14 Gin.. 12 12-poundei-s, 4 Bin. guns. Tokiwa. 22 knots, BSOO tons, 4 Sin., 14 6in.. 12 12-pounders. 4 Sin. g'Uiis. Azuma. 20 knots. 9880 tons. 12 6in., 12 12----ponnders. Yakumo, 20 knots, 9880 tons. 12 Gin., 12 12----pouuders. All twelve ships are believed to be in the standing squadron, commanded by Admiral Togo, a splendid officer, of great bravery and resolution. The two armoured cruisers purchased from the Argentine Government are now due in the East. There are two old armoured ships, of use in the second line, four very fast protected cruisers, 12 weaker cruisers, seven old cruisers, 17 destroyers or catchers, and 60 effective torpedo boats. In the war with China the Japanese lorpedo boats did great execution, as torpedo work snits the Japanese temperament. The number of men on the active list in 1903 was 28,000, with 2100 officers. The Russian fleet in the Far East is commanded by Vice-Admiral Starck, and the following are ite important fighting ships:—

THE AMERICAN NOTE.

SECURES CHINA FROM INVASION. SUPPORTED BY THREE POWERS. (Received 8.49 ajn.) LONDON, February 10. Mr. Hay's note aim* at the prevention of the invasion of China proper southwards of Shanhaikwan. It was at first proposed' to include Korea and Manchuria in so far as the prohibited sphere was concerned, but it was afterwards considered better to leave the Powers to determine the position of these regions after war. Mr: Hay has sent a note to Russia and Japan, and requested the neutral Powers to similarly address the belligerents. It is believed that the suggestion has been wall received. (Received 9.7 a.m.) LONDON, February 10. Great Britain, France, and Japan support Mr. Hay's note. Eussia has not yet replied. FEELING IN RUSSIA. STUPEFIED, BUT INDIGNANT. (Received 11.2 a.m.) ST. PETERSBURG, February 10. There is great stupefaction in Russia, mingled with indignation, at Japan's causing a rupture without awaiting a reply. There have been patriotic processions at Kharkoff and elsewhere. The Czar has issued a manifesto emphasising his efforts to assure peace, and that it was Japan who began hostilities without giving notification of a state of war. He confidently invokes God r s blessing on the army and navy. ~JAPAN'S FOOD SUPPLIES. SYDNEY, this day. The Yawatu Maru, the last of the Japanese mail steamers to quit Australia, has a valuable cargo. The vessel left Thursday Island on Monday under sealed orders. She will probably go by a round-about route to Japan.

flagship), and the armoured Yakumo, Asama and Iwate. Three torpedo-boats were patrolling on the outskirts of the fleet, which was lying in the open roadstead, all the other torpedo-boats being inside the basin. At half-paat eleven pjen. three muffled explosions were heard, alarm- , ing the fleet and causing a display of searchlights, and a hot, [brief fire commencedA little later the Retvisan ana Tsarewiteh, two of the most powerful battleships, and the first-class cruiser Pallada, intended to destroy Japanese commerce, tried to enter the harbour. The Retvisan was torpedoed forward, and the Tsarewiteh aft. Both the Russian battleships grounded across the entrance of the harbour in a helpless state, lying very close together, but not blocking the entrance, except to ships of heavy draught. The cruiser listed to port and was torpec'oed while aground outside the entrance to the harbour. At daybreak three Japanese cruisers came boldly within the long-distance range, taking observations for two hours. A strange apathy possessed the Russians, and no vessel chased the Japanese or even fired a shot until the cruisers were prepared to leave, when the fleet vainly pursued them, soon returning to the roadstead, where there are now five effective battleships, five effective cruisers, and 17 torpedo-destroyers. ST. PETERSBURG, February 10. Admiral Alexeieff has telegraphed that three Russian warships had holes knocked in them, but the seriousness of the damage has not yet been ascertained. pSote. —The above attack by torpedoes must be distinguished from the bombardment, which was an entirely separate action, with twelve hours apparently intervening.]

TORPEDO ATTACKS.

AUSTRALIAN ADMIRAL'S ACCOUNT. SYDNEY, February 10. The Admiral commanding the Australian station has received the followlng cable from Hongkong:— "An English steamer, which has wrived from Chefoo, states that during tHe nights of February 8 and 9 the Japanese attacked the Russian battleships in,. Port Arthur, and torpedoed two battleships and oa* 'Wuiaer, waieh. waee rmi aslior*.

advanced threepence a bushel. The following humorous messages were exchanged yesterday between the manager of the Northern Roller Milling Company and the Premier:— "Auckland. February 10, 1904.—H0n. Mr Seddon (Defence Minister), Wellington. —Russian Admiral cabled for supply 'Standard , muscle raiser. Shall we send? Anxious for your reply to avoid complications.—Virtue, Champion Mills." "Virtue, Champion Mills, Auckland.—• Vessel raiser more than muscle raiser required. Complications Port Arthur sufficient for the moment, no desire to bring them to Auckland. , —R. J. Seddon."

THE FLEETS OF RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

In the present war in the Far East it is only the forces actually on the spot that will count, as there are many obstacles in the way of any attempt on the part of the Russians to move reinforcements from Europe to the China Sea. Such a proceeding is almost impossible, without the complicity of neutrals, and if there were such complicity it is prob- . able that England, under the terms of | the alliance with Japan, would be called ; upon to interfere. We have, therefore, a simple problem, to estimate the strength of the rival fleets now in the East. Of the two fleets the Japanese is slightly the stronger, and it is stronger for three reasons, all of great importance. In the first place, Japan possesses twelve armoured ships, capable of fighting in line.,to the Russian nine. In the second place, behind the first line. Japan has a number of older ships, which might be very valuable for the purpose of holding the sea, when the first line has been disabled or injured in battle. In the third place. Japan has far greater repairing facilities than Russia. To the Russian four docke in two dockyards she can oppose eight large docks, and numerous small ones, -.veil distributed in several yards. She could thus simnltaneously dock and repair eight large armoured ships. It follows, then, that all the Japanese Interests lie, in forcing an immediate battle. If the Japanese fleet wins Russia -will have received a ternble blow; if the action is indecisive, the repairing facilities which Japan possesses make it certain that her fleet will be the first to recover, while in view of the numbers and force on either side a eemplete deIμ* of the Japanese is improbable, But

BATTLESHIPS (7). Cesarevitch, 19 knots, 13,110 tons, 4 12in., 12 6iii.. and numerous small guns. Retrisan, 18J knots. 12,700 tons, 4 12in., 12 6in., and numerous small guns. Poltava, 17 knots, 10,900 tons, 4 12in., 12 6iu., and -numerous small guns. Petropavlovsk, 17 knots, 10,960 tons, 4 12in., 12 61n., and numerous small gruns. Sevastopol, 17 knots, 10,960 tons, 4 121n., 12 Sin., and numerous small guns. Peresviet, 19 knots, 12,674 tons, 4 10in. and 11 Gin. suns. Pobteda, IS knots, 12,674 tens, 4 lOin., 11 61n. jruns. ARMOURED CRUISERS (2). Gromoboi, 20 knots, 12,336 tons, 4 Bin., 16 Cm. guns. Bayan, 22 knots, 7800 tons, 2 Sin., S 6in. guns. In addition to the above, the battleship Oslabia, similar in all particulars to the Peresviet, and the Alexander 111., similar to the Cesarevitch, are on their way to the East. Besides the ships enumerated, Russia possesses two large old-fashioned cruisers of some power, the Ro.9sia and Rurik, and five smaller protected cruisers of high speed. There are six or seven other cruisers, for the most part of little fighting value; two ships of the "Volunteer fleet, fitted out as cruisers, and useful for scouting, as they steam twenty knots; and a number of gunboats. The torpedo flotilla, according to Russian returns, is three catchers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats, but there is reason for thinking that there are a number of destroyers building or in reserve at Port Arthur, which would bring the strength Up to 16 or 20 in this class. Under orders for, or on their way to, the Far East are three cruisers and 11 destroyers, in addition to the battleships mentioned above.—'-'Daily Graphic."

SAYINGS ABOUT THE WAR.

"'The dangers of the present situation, ■whether arising from treaty obligations or otherwise, are so apparent that both the French Government and our own may be trusted to err on the side of caution.. Unhappily the true key, the problem, the incalculable Chinese factor, lies beyond our grasp."—"Saturday Review," Jan. 2, 1904. "It is even possible that the Kussians may repeat the policy of the Crimean war, and by keeping their ships in the harbours of Port Arthur and Vladivostok, may baffle the hopes of the Japanese Navy, and confine the war to operations inland. The Japanese may then be forced to risk ay cry serious and dangerous enterprise, the seizure of Port .Sorthur or Vladivostok." —"''Sgeetater," .UiBUiU-y 2, 1904,