THE WAR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12868, 21 September 1904, Page 3

THE WAR.

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

RUSSIA AND GERMANY,

(Received September 20, 10.9 p.m.) LONDON, September 20.

The “Globe” suites that Mr Balfour and Lord Lansdownr Imvc initiated diplomatic action to prevent the secret understanding between Germany and Russia so developing as to necessitate the enforcement of the Anglo-Japanese treaty. It is naturally a business of the greatest delicacy and difficulty, and it is only undertaken as the most urgent necessity. Germany, to all intents, is the aider and abettor of the Russian endeavour to crush Japan and annex Manchuria. A BIG ORDER. (Received September 20, 10.9 p.m.) LONDON', September 20. The Carnegie company is engaged on an order for 22,000 tons of nickel steel plates, supposed to be for Japan,, and to be used in the construction of warships.

GENERAL ITEMS,

LOXDOX. September 19.

Lieutenant Prince Radziwill lias reached Chefoo in a junk with despatches from General Sioe&sel to General Kuropatkin. He states that the temper of the belligerents is absolutely merciless. General Stoessel has warned the garrison that they must resist to the last, since undoubtedly they will be massacred. Three hundred nurses were advised lo leave, but declared that they preferred massacre to desertion. The stench caused by the unburied corpses compels the sentries to constantly keep handkerchiefs soaked in camphor to their noses. As illustrating the ferocity of the recent assault on Port Arthur, Prince Radziwill states that two companies of Japanese hoisted the white flag. The Russians disregarded the signal, while the Japanese in the rear, disapproving of surrender, shot down 600 of their comrades. The wounded were seen hopelessly appealing for succour for a week. Prince Radziwill says he saw dead Japanese soldiers with their teeth fastened in dead Russians’ throats, while, on the other hand, the Russians’ fingers had stiffened in the act of of gouging out their opponents’ eyes. The Prince states that 5000 out of 8000 wounded men of the garrison have resumed duty. On the 14th he saw 2000 Japanese lying dead between the second and third forts, but was unable to explain the cause of the slaughter. The “Standard” states that the gunboat Gremiastchy, while leaving Port Arthur to meet a French vessel running the blockade, struck a mine and sank. The crew were saved.

General Knropatkin reports an important reconnaissance under Generals Wannekampf and Samboricff, who on Sunday occupied several villages nearer Yentai. There was some heavy fighting, and many casualties resulted. General Kuropatkin reports that the Japanese mistook revolver flat-nose bullets for dumdums.

Baron Y'amamoto, Japanese Minister for Marine, has telegraphed to Marshal Oyama, asking him to extend every possible consideration to the foreign attaches and war correspondents, as Japan’s object in war was to ensure the safety of the Empire, the peace of the Orient, the blessings of civilisation and humanity, and the promotion of the interests of all nations.

The Japanese hope to be able to construct the railway from Mukden to Smraintung. As they advance, the Japanese will re-establish order and the control of taxation, and appoint masters of the Chinese schools. Exposing the denials of the German press, the "Times” shows that four ocean liners, auxiliaries to the German Navy, were sold to Russia as cruisers; also that she organised a supply of coal for the Russian fleet. Under such circumstances, says the “Times,” it is difficult to recognise a strict neutrality. ADELAIDE, Tuesday. The Oroya, on the voyage out, waa under the surveillance of a Russian Volunteer cruiser off Cape St. Vincent. No attempt was made to hoard the Oroya, which was called upon to show her signal. The cruiser was apparently one of the American-Hamhurg liners purchased by Russia.