Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1904. THE WAR-AND BEYOND. PROBABLE COMPLICATIONS IN EUROPE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 44, 23 February 1904, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1904. THE WAR-AND BEYOND. PROBABLE COMPLICATIONS IN EUROPE.

THOUGH there is little or no news from the eeat of wtr in Munchuria, owing probably to the rigorous censorship of the cables, every indication poiats to the fact that so far Japan has had the best of all the pre'iminary engagements, even on land. Port Arthur is obviously either pieparing for a siege or is already in a state of siege. It is stated that in a land engagement, upparently something more than an afta r of outposts, tho Russian troops have been repoUed, losing 2500 in killed and taken captive. Tho region where fighting must be proceediug is on Yalu, the frontier river of Manchuria and Korea, Again, it is stated thst the Jap* took the important Manchurian town of Wiju— a scene of a former famous Janancse victory in the Japo-Chinese war — with a major and five men. This points, if true, to the complete temporary abandonment of lower Manchuria by the liassian troop*, who aie prolubly concentrating ou Harbin, there to await sie^e and awe the comnmnicaticnn with Port Arthur as far as possible.

Meantime, the absence of Russian aggression or defenco inlnnj points to a verification of the Czar's recent communique to the effect that it will be tome wont ha before the Russian land forces are prepared to strike a heavy blow. Tbe vulnerability of the Russian railway line is now admitted beyond question, while, as expected, the passage of the unrailed ex panne of Lake Baikal, by marching across the ice, is being accompanied by unknown but awfal horrors suffered by the Russian soldiers. The statement published yesterday that regiments had been engulfed by the breaking of the i e wa9 subsequently minimised by another cablegram averring that all that had lpp- ! pened was that a train van into a snow drift and that some Cossacks were killed and injured. But, as regards the passage 01* L\ke Baikal itself, 6uch an accident as the latter could have occurred ocly on the ioe of the Lake, on the temporary rails. So it seems reasorable to suppca • that if a heavy train got mixed u;j and capsized in a snow drifr, the escaping steam and fire, and the trampling weight, would have exactly the effect recorded in the former newd, viz. that the ice would malt and eugulf all in the vi inity.

Tbe most serious news, however is not from the seat of war, but fiom the centrep of European civilisition. Tlie sympathy ot Germany with Russia has already manifested itse'f, and it is reasonable to suppose that on tbe least indication of help from that quarter Great Britain will have to fnlfil her treaty pledges and help Japan. Similarly, the course of events might compel France to keep h> r pledges of oifensive and defensive alliance with Russia, though it would be the very irony of fate for France and Germany to be fighting on the one side. bimultan;oußly, tho Triple Alliance might be shattered ; th* United States would rusurcdly have to take a band; and Kastern Europe — tho " Powder Magazine'' region — might at once precipitate the convulsion which sooner or later will dismcinbor the Ottoman Empire.

"S\v \V\otl. the \isiting delegate from the Imperial Navy League, in the course of an address at ihinediu last night, dealt with considerable force on the probabilities of a World War arising out of the complications in the Far Fast, and ultimately involving Great Britain. That he did not speak rashly is shown by the circumstance that the fur-sighted statesmen oi Canada are already putting the Dominion Militia on a strong footing, in order (hut, should occasion arise, the help of Canada might be given to the British Empire as soon as it was needed. Similar considerations affect us in these colonies very materially. Following the precedent of the Boer war, it is to be presumed that the offer o( Australian and

New Zealand auxiliaries should Eng land be involved would be as readily accepted as it was when the cain-

paign in South Africa had reached

a crisis. In regard to the services of Australasian and Canadian troops in the Boer war, admittedly great as they were in the field, it

was the moral effect on the watcb-

ing nations of the world that did more for British prestige than any mere victory gained after the lesnon taught by British defeat. Let

»t be romeinbere<l that in the end Hritain overcame the Boers by sheer weight of numbers and the iv.iii-ii.jr clown <>. ..n.liirum-.-. Aiduoufi as our experience was, bravely borne and calmly accepted as our reverses in the eariy stages of the war might have been, we cannot

forget that, in the matter of honours, they were evenly divided,! and the Boers have no cause to be ' ashamed of their stand at least, i whatever may be said of their methods of fighting. In a word. Hri- ' tish prestige gained little in the Boer War ; and. had it not been for the demonstration of Imperial unity effected by the readv offer of auxiliaries from the colonies ami the resolve to send help to the last man if need be. It is beyond question that some of the nations, cvrr jealous of and hostile to Hritain, would have been at her throat soon after Magersfontein and ("olenso and Stormberg. , • • • • I Tlie conditions ruling while war was raging and Hritain was sustainintr the reverses duo to "roc l\Kiiredness" and effete War- Oflice administration prevail more than ever now, when Knglnnd is at peace but threatened with embroilment in nn international struggle. If the nations which watched during the Hoer war and held their band because Hritain was .strong in her Imperial auxiliaries saw that the colonial help given in the Trans was again ready in added strength of numbers and of greater value as being the help largely oi experienced and veteran levies, it is morn than probable that the American Collective Note urging tho local isa-

tion 01 the war and thn neutrality of the onlooking Powers would be respected as soim tiling an>v than iMiTP paper. Canada has u-t ", 'v I'fM of Ifn! Fimiuh pOKM-^siMiie hoyond the Bens' an cxamplo wii'ch it im hoped will be followi'd j.rnn.ptly as a deterrent to that l,.ur-br ahied Kaiser— that intornat ional I htirton who may sot Furopo ablazo Ih.ough his had driving. His historic c.-M.-Kinin to Kruß.-r has found a parallel in his rordial telegram of svnipaihy with tho C/.av in the welldeaeived Port Arthuj: disaster. The coiuiivanco in the use £f th(> Kic i (anal by Russian war vessels at a lime of war has boen denied but pnp nio.v tnKc thjtt denial ap a ' diplomatic reply." £hlch *a polite English probably for a thundering lie. There is yet time to confine \.(\p Kaiser s antics to mere indisprctipns. and tp circumscribe the OHHiimi ••pplpnfnl 1 ' ,>,,- --lc v. V >«i'»'e vapoiirlngn— \S England demonstrate to the world, „«?t only her own preparedness in tho I nin-cl Kingdom, but also the ii-aUiiu-ss of h,. r sons beyond {hi , ««u 10 nmkp tho flmpife fit largo ....«'.' •". / md !" uny ''^"•"utiontl mar u? m>( ' " I)on it> ' To war - Th»t mUBt he P^P^n-d 'or of ifr w ; htlt «' a » virtually the text statosmJu ait at ° nCC by colonlftl

The Nelson Sailing Club's race on Saturday afternoon for the Union S.S. Company's trophy drew four entries, and only threo startod-^Captain Cox's Vio'e 1 :, 3eratch ; Mr Nicholi'd Dolphin, 1 minute ; Mr Cook's Moana, 10 minutes. After rounding tho black bu:>y t^e Violet took the leadjaod kept it t j the finish, winning by 23 militates, the Moaoa second, beating the Dolphin by 1 minute. Tho annual. toneting of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce will bo held tomorrow evening.

In futnro candidates from tho colonial military forces will bo qualified for commissions in tho Imperial Army op to the ago of twenty-five years. Palace cars will leave tho Mason* Corner for Ihe Glen, Wakapuaka, at 2 o'clock to-morrow afternoon, and intending trippers are requested to book their Boats. A. southern contbmporary learns that Mr Arthur If. Adams has boca successful in finding a publisher for his New Zealand novel " Tussock-land," in London. Mr Adams' no rel deals with life in New Zealand and Sydney, and is an attempt to portray thsdffoionces in ouvironnienc and ideals betwoon Australia aud Now Zealand. Tlie story opens on a shoop run in Otago, and mucn of tho action pasties in Dunedin and in Sydnoy. MiAdams was at one time on tho literary staff of the Wellington " Eveuing Post," and was a well known contiibutor of poetry to tho Sydnoy " bulletin." Mr Adams is now on tho litorary staff of one of I.ondou'B loading dailies.* At tho Magistrate's Court this morning, boforo Mr H. W Robinann, SJI, a peculiar question of costs arose in an action \V. Lock v John King, of Collingwood, a claim f r a balance of account

allogod to ho owing on gooJs supplied. It tnrnod ouf, however, that the settler had paid iho sum of £\) whon lie got tho tfooda, aud tlm sum *vaa credited to

another porson of thu an mo name as tho aottlor. When tho case was called in Court the solicitor for the plain till wished to discontinue tho case, hut the solicitor for the defendant claimed expenses. The HUH) of Ji'i U)« wai allowed as the defend-

ant's oxponaeH to conic to Nelson, and his solicitor was allowed XI Is, aDil also

Court coßts amounting to IDs, the costs ' against the plaintiff amounting in all to XL la through the mistake. The Magis< tratu ronmrked that it was tho first case of the kind that had ovor como before him>- Mr Maginuity jun. appeared for the plaiutiff and Mr 0. J Harley for the defendant. A full meeting of the Committee of the Nelson Defence Kifle Club was held last night, when arrangements for the match against the Tnkaka Mounted Rifles, Nelson Rifloß, VTPakntu Mounted Rifles, and Maitai Kifle Club on Saturday next were made, and the following team selected, j\7., Milroy, -Milner, Wilson, Kenning', Brown, Host, Allport, Hooker, Small and Sherwood j emergencies, Giblin, Catley, Simpjon, and Bradley. The lirst five are to fire on the Brook Stroet Range. It svaa decided to t>tnd a team to Tadinor at Easter, if poseiblo. Morabers able to go are requested to send in their names early- rho-> competition for next week will be for Mr Fuirey's trophy, 200 and 300 yards, to fee followed by Mr Gorman's Club tio^hy, both to be won twice. A mooting of the Executive Committee of the Nek on Carpenters' Union -will bo he'd fit Mercoi'a Rooms this ovenine, when Mr Hampdcn will deliver an address. At the inquest held on the body of tho la;e Mr Donald Boss, who was killed by lightning in the Wairau Gorge (Cantirbury), Mr Munro, Stock Inspector, in tho couise of his evidence, said :— " I left tho Rainbow Accommodation House on 14th February at 9.3.) a m , accompanied by the deceased. At 10 20 wo stopped five minutes, speaking to rabbiters at their camp on the R.uubow Bide of t!»e Wairau Gorge. Rain had then come od, and it lookei threatening. We pushed on to reach Jarndalo before the Wairau rose too high. In the Wairau Gor^e tho storm increased and the flashes were blinding. When we had passed the Gcrge 1 looked back to Mr Rosa, who was about a horse's length behind mo. Ho smiled when I looked back. I remember nothing more till I began to recover consoiousuesß. I found my3elf rising from the ground in a stupetied state. 1 saw the bod^y of ble Ross an the ground, and hia horse beside it. I looked at my watch. It was ten niinutos past 12. As soon as I could move about 1 caught my horse, and then examined the body of Mr Ross. Ho was dead. I noticed a. mark on his fom« Lead. Ilia hat whs broken und lying a chain away, the rim of it Lot bo far away. The horre wiis lying on tho track. 1 could not remount at once, and sat on thj dead horso for about ten niinutos. I thon remounted and made for I'arudulo. J met Mr Gordon three quarters of a n.ile from Tarndalo, and ho rodo back with me. A party immediately wont out to tho body, and I waited till they returned, and at 6 that ovening staited for tho Clarence, comiug into ITanmor enrly on Monday, and report ing tj tho consOablo at Cnlverdon." Owing to tho lack of appropriate facilities in tho Maitai, tho College Shorts Committee advertise in this issue that the swimming clianipiouship ovtnts will bo contested at tho wharf to-morrow afternoon at 230 o'clock Competitors will wear full costumes, and all friends nro . iavitod to attend. Tho races will

| consist of 10 yards, l">0 yards, and 4V) I yards. All other events will take place on Saturday at buncLvy Hole id the Maitai Bi\er. | Messrs Bisloy Bro3. and Co. report the ' bulo of a cottage property off A ltonstreet to Mrs Amey ; also Mr D. S. Barnett's Cambria,.Btr»i_t property to Mrs Audcrbon. To-morrow, at 2.30 Messrs Disloy fJros and Co. conduct a supplementary ramijur and l.ve stock sale at their Kich | rtrond yards j on Saturday noxt, at 12 ' nt»n fc at tlm rooms, tho tirra will sell Mr • Acdrew Sta^g's Wuiuiea West property, 31U acres fieeliuld and JeashoM. ' i In the auctionoenpjj coluiuu of tliij issue Mewrs J. F. Clarke A Co. advertise. ' two prcpertiuc ntlMgcim Valley fur pri-. vato sale. ( i

Dou't forget that March tifh id tho appointed Sunday for the celebration of tho KXJth Birthday of tho Biblo Society, and ask yourself " What can I do for it -"- <)!)

1 The recent raspberry case in Motueku attracted considerable attention tho Court being lull. People did not seem inclined to pass an opinion, but they had no hesitation in saying that Lock the l.nivcrsal Provider hud by far tly largest, most up-lp-duU, " and ulylisli stock of furniture and furnishings in tin'' Nelson district, and that as his prices were much lower than others, he did the bulk of tho furniture trade of the phicu. Air Lock is a manufacturer and direct importer, and stocks everything required in the home. Among the hundreds of linos are to be found crockery, cutlery, carpets. rugs, quilts, curtains, velvets, etc.. fancy \ases, holloware, bruyhwyie, ct,*inelwnri!, rang**., stoves, portable buileiri, couoliea, mattresses, linoleums, paint ings, go-carts, rattim ware, cabinet work, bedsteads .md cots. sideboards, etc., also the marvellous Atlas Sewing daclpn,^ The (jiiality of the poods \? ; h ■ f (;.vt the prices lowest, and h>> t •;■!,>■; ti<> r'asii'Ht. Mr Lock has n.'s.> a hu'g.stock of g-ood sound seconi-i'iaiKl furniture at vary low prices. Lock's is no mere catch-penny show but one of iho largest and best complete furnishing warehouses in the colony. It is no wonder that the name oi' Lock is a household word. . 781