THE STEAMER CALCHAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 5

THE STEAMER CALCHAS.

RUSSIA'S UNTENABLE ATTITUDE. London, September 15. The Russian Government desire to retain the captured steamer Catenas, now at Vladivostok, for use as a cruiser. They have offered the owners £100,000 for her. (Received September 10, 10.42 p.m.) London, September 16. The Times expresses the hope that pending the appeal regarding the case of the Calchas, the Russian Government will withdraw from the Vladivostok Prize Court's uncompromising and untenable position. It says the British Government is hound to adhere to Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne's recent announcement that Britain will not recognise any Court's decision that violates the rules of international law! The point in tho Calchas case is that the Prize Court ordered the confiscation of the cotton, flour and timber the vessel was carrying for Japan. Britain refuses to admit that these things are necessarily contrahand unless it can be shown they were for the use- of the army or navy. RUSSIAN RAIDERS. SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE PACIFIC. (Received September 17, 12.59 a.m.) London, September 16. • There is much speculation at Victoria, in British Columbia, over the hurried'return of the British cruiser Grafton from Esquimault. Her return is supposed to be connected with activity on the part of Russian commerce destroyers in the Pacific. THE BALTIC FLEET, THE COALING ARRANGEMENTS. London. September 15. Advices from St. Petersburg say that the coaling places for the Baltic fleet on its way to the Far East have been admirably organised by the Germans. These j places, it is said, are known only to the Tsar and the Kaiser. The fleet, which recently left Cronstadt, is now lying at Liban awaiting further instructions.

NOTES ON THE WAR. The report that General Stoessel has sent to the Tsar is probably true. He says he is shor*- of ammunition and food. He has had fc feed his garrison of, possibly, more than 30,000 men, since early in May from the collected stores. Then there has been incessant fighting all that time, and his stock of shells and cartridges must be getting low. Since the battle of Liaoyang the hope of relief by Kuropatkin must have been completely dissipated. He is therefore providing for the end. Ho has, he says, made preparations for blowing up the forts in the event of the place being carried by storm. There have been many terrible conflicts at Port Arthur, but they will bo thought mild affairs compared with the final assault if General Stoessel carries out his present intentions. Men who cany a place by storm are not easy to control. Wellington found that in the Peninsula. If there is to be the blowing up of more Japanese troops by mines, the surviving troops will take an ample revenge on the garrison.

The Japanese newspapers are taking alarm at the resentment of the British news-papers with regard to the restrictions placed oh their correspondents. To a large extent the Japanese commanders are only following the example set by Lord Kitchener in Soutff Africa. They, however, have gone further, for they have prevented the correspondents from witnessing the fighting. In many respects this may have been a mistake. It is necessary, no doubt, to prevent the publication of strategical operations leading up to a battle, bub the story of the battle itself should be fully told. Several of the Japanese successes Lave resulted from the secrecy of their methods. The capture of the passes wan a surprise that might have been spoiled by premature publication of the intention. Only this week a cablegram stated that the Japanese hold in force, but secretly, all the positions along the Liau River. A statement of this sort from a, correspondent with the Japanese army would have been a flagrant breach of faith. Field-Marshal Oyaina said the other day that Japan can duplicate every army corps sent out by Russia. lie is said to have ordncd 100,000 moro men, with 225 guns, to leave Japan at the end of tlit present month. This act may have been his response to the Tsar's order for the sendiug out of three more army corps. It is probable, however, that it merely means that he is preparing for an advance to the far north. An advance to Tieling and then to Harbin would neer" as largo an army as invested Liao-yaug, and garrisons would be needed for the passes, yang, Haicheng, and Niuchwang. He is occupying country which must be held in force. If ho advanced upon Tieling, a Russian force might find fts way from Kiria down towards Liao-yaug. In any case the Japanese are wise, now that they have the advantage, in using all the power they possess in retaining it, and in completing the campaign.

The fall in Japanese stocks is remarkable —five points in a week. It is said to have been caused by the Russian retreat from Liao-yang. There can be little doubt that General Kuropatkin and his army might have been captured if the Japanese armies had been handled differently. The Japanese showed hesitation about weakening : their eastern and southern forces. When Generals Oka and Nodzu were sent to the assistance- of Kuroki at Yeatai it was too late. General Kuropatkin, having decided tw abandon Liao-yang, was able to concentrate most of his forces for securing his retreat. His generalship to the north of Liao-yang was masterlydoubtless better than thai, of the Japanese. He had supreme command ; while the three Japanese armies wore under Gyama, who may be past his prime for handling troops in face of the enemy. The leaving of Kuroki for two days without support was a serious blunder, for which some explanation will probably be sought by the Mikado. It doe* not, however, justify any doubt as to the superiority of the Japanese soldier, or of the ability of Kuroki, Oka, and Nodzu. Investors' no doubt see in tb.3 escape of General Kuropatkin the prolongation of the wax.