THE WAR.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12282, 28 August 1905, Page 7

THE WAR.

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S EFFORTS. THEIR REPORTED FAILURE. United Preee Association—By Eiectrio Teleeraph-^Copyright". WASHINGTON, August 25. President Roosevelt Is still in com* munication with the Czar. LONDON, August 25. Reuter*s agency reports that the Japanese popular opinion is bitterly opposed to further concessions, end advocates harsher -terms. "The Times'" New York correspondent says that, if Russia continues the war, she will forfeit American friendship and esteem for good. PARIS, August 25.All the French papers encourage Russia to come to terms.

OPINIONS OF THE SCEPTICS.

LONDON, August 25. According to ""Ss* Times'" correspondent, sceptics contend that. President Roosevelt would not attempt to continue to compromise the quarrel if he were convinced that Russia and Japan had said the last words'. ■ Hβ adds: M. do Witte'e and Professor Maartene's published criticisms of Count Lamsdorff for lack of pliancy on the compromise, and for his unwillingness to Tesort to arbitration, must compel the serious attention of Poterhof.

SUCCESSFUL RUSSIAN SKIRMISHES.

LONDON, August 25. General Linievitch claims three successful skirmishes in the Hailiingcheng district.

RUSSIAN PRESS ARROGANT.

AN IMPUDENT SUGGESTION. THE REAL SITUATION IGNORED. (Reoeived August 27th, 4.9 p.mO ST. PETERSBURG, Auguit 26. The Conservative Press <at St. Petereburg is growing more arrogant and declares Japan is financially exhausted and bound io agree to terms that will be satisfactory to Russia. The "Novoo Vremya" insolently suggests that inasmuch <as Japan is in pressing need of money to satisfy her cieditore, Russia might guarantee a Japanese war loan and occupy the island of Tsushima until Japan repaya her borrowing. ,It adds, Japan must renounce the idea of maintaining a large army, and by euch renunciation prove she sincerely desires peace. This article is typical.of tihe absurdities obtaining widespread circulation. The real facts of the situation are wilfully ignored at St. Petersburg;

A PESSIMISTIC REPORT.

FAILURE OF THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS. (Reoeived August 27th, 4.13 p.m.) LONDON, August 26. The correspondent of "The Times" reporte that 'according to tho best information, there as little doubt that President Roosevelt's gallant efforts on behalf of peace have failed.

CONFERENCE AGAIN ADJOURNED.

STATEMENT BY M. DE WITTE. (Received August 28th, 0.59 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 27. Tho Conference sat for an hour and a half, approving the signing of protocols. M. de Witte states that at Count Komura'e request they adjoiirned till Monday, when, it is presumed the Japanese will have something to submit. Other Russians state that the Czar has . refused to permit a counter proposal to the Japanese by way of compromise.

SAGHALIEN.

Writing from Yokohama on July 18th, tho correspondent of the " Daily Times" cays:—Mr Kam>beioja|ii, who appears to have travelled much in Saghalien and made a special study of its conditions, delivered a lecture about the island on the, 7th before the Geographical Society in Tokio. His appreciations are very diseouraging.JThe island,'he says, has certainly a quantity of coal, but tho beds lie on the western cade, where there are no good hiarboure, end the cost of carriage to a place of easy shipment would be deterrent. The same remark applies to timber. . The southern districts abound "with fine forests, but they remain quite unexploited, owing to the difficulties of transport. Neither does the island present any attractions for agriculturists. In short, it is a distinctly uninviting place, never likely.to make a good colony, and regarded try the Russians themselves as a nuisance rather than a valuable possession. Its fisheries are its one redeeming feature, and even these demand preservation, for, if left I to be exploited indiscriminately, they would soon become worthless. Mr Eambet says nothing about petroleum, which the Russians are said to have found in • largo quantities, but never properly worked. Saghalien is a long narrow'island. It measures 670 miles i from north to south, it has a width of from 20 to 160 miles, and a superficies of 24,560 square miles. Its population consists of 30,000 Russians, 1500 Ainu, 2000 Giljak, and about 1000 various. There are only 1400 free emigrants, all the other Russian inhabitants being criminals or their families. Tlie Japanese have evidently gone to Sagh&lien to stay, for the day after the news arrived of their successful descent upon the island appeared - an official notification changing several of the Russian place-names on the coast and vicinity, as well as those of other islands, as in the list below:— Xew Naen*. Old Name. Karafuto I»luid Higaahi iFuehimi B«jr Awwa Bey Chrboeo Bey Lwo»i Bay ShicMre iß*y Patience Bay Tsushima Point Endum* Bar Kondo C*pe Cape Krikm (Capo Notpro) Jub* Cape : Oape Siretoko (Cape . ' . '. Kaciroa) Kartnoka Cape Cape Patience Kaifca, (Sea-horu Toaomosbiai (Mane- - Islmd) ran leknid) Kijo (2ft) Bock Opscncet Beck Dta- . g«pu» Bock) Jgjtihyo <So* Leopaid) Si-njchi Book Bode • K«ihyo Idftird Robben Isltnd funoue . • ■ -for • Ks aeal ' ••• ■ • tookeriee) It will readily be supposed that this re-naming has special significance. Thus, the etibstitotion of, the "term HijgashiFushiini Bay for Aniway Bay is -de-, signed to' commemorate the destruction of the Novik by the Ohitose and the Tsushhne. in th© former of which chips Prince Higashi Fuahimi. was then serving. In the same incident is to bo found tho cause of calling Eneuma Gape,: Tsushima Cape, and Loeosei Bay Chitose Bay. l Aβ for tho names nawr given to tho promontories at the entrance to

"i CABLE NEWS.

Aniwa Bay, that on -the east hitherto called Shiretoko. now to be known as Jnzo-saki, and that on the west (Notoro Point),Kondonaki, these two names are intended to commemorate the exploits of Kondo Juzo, who, in the eighteenth century, conducted extensive researches in Saghalien, and published a. five; volume work called " Hokuen Bunkai Zukai."