INTERESTS STEMS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 73

INTERESTS STEMS

CZAR OR SATAN P A party of twenty-five S'araoyede-s recently arrived at Surgut on their Avay south to join the Russian forces. Six Aveeks or so ago they said they heard that Avar had broken ont, and they set ont at once to offer their services to* the Czar. The chief of the party, Lapa Pe, Avas armed Avith a rifle, but mest of his companions had boAvs and arrows and pikes. According to Lapa Pe, last Christmas Day they Avere visited by a gigantic Russian in a whit© uniform, who they imagined was the Czar. The “Czar” told them tliat the coming year Avould he a bloody one, and that all men must “prepare to fight for him or for Satan.” THE TERRIBLE LANCE. A Cossack named Esaul Naidenoff gives a terrifying description of the effect of the lances used by his men against the Japanese. ‘‘lt is a mistake,” says Naidenoff “to think that the lance is obsolete. Apart from the question of shock tactics, it is a most effective Aveapon, especially in pursuit. I could giveST'ciozen instances. “When we Avere scouting south-east of Tungyuanpu Ave overtook a small party of Japanese, who immediately cleared off, Ave after them. One Jap fell, and the man immediately behind fell over him. The two got tip together and started to

run, but one of our men galloped up and sent his lance through the tAvo bodies at one drive. “During tho fighting before Fenghuang similar instances occurred. I believe our men struck terror into tho Japanese. One of them, riding do-wn on the flank of a Japanese officer, transfixed the horse’s nock and its rider’s head at the same time, just as horse and man Avere in tho act of Avheeiing round. Tho horse galloped aAvay, its head locked by the lance to its masters.” ENGLAND AND RUSSIA THE CONQUERORS. The St. Petersburg “Novosli” lately published a lament that no agreement had been com© to between Russia and England before the outbreak of the present Avar. This lament has produced tho following curious comment in the “Yiestuik”: —• “The fiNovo.sti’ has expressed a profound truth, for Russia and England arc the destined conquerors of the earth. Let England coin© to an agreement Avith us Aviiii® there is yet time. She av ill get better terms hoav than after avc havo annihilated Japan. Let England keep Indiaand withdraw from Tibet. T'lio rest of Asia is for us. “Wo havo no objection to England extending her authority in Africa, in America, or, for the matter of that, in Europe—if she can do so. But Asia is ours. We came thence and thither shall return.” WRITTEN IN BLOOD. Admiral Togo, Commandcr-in-Chief of the Japanese fleet, iu liis report regarding rlio first blockade of Port Arthur, stating that in enforcing his decision to block the mouth cf the harbour he proposed to raise Kesshitai (a corps of m-en resolved to light till death}, and inir mcdiately obtained nearly 2000 applicants, of whom some sent in applications Avritten or signed Avitli their OAvn blood. It is now ascertained (hat one man avlio wrot-e a petition Avith blood Avas the second-class Warrant Officer Monp-ei I-lay-aslii, belonging to the battleship Mikasa, and another who made a blood signature was a first-class bluejacket named Suyekiehi Inouye. The former bit liis finger, and making ink ox tho blood, which ho collected in a dish, wrote the application. His Majesty the Emperor has be cm pleased to keep the blood-autograph. The application runs as follows: “Sir, —I being desirous of participating in the volunteer corps uoav being raised, entreat you to select me, hereby sending in application Avritten with my oavu blood. —Monpei Hayashi. A RUSSIAN GIANT. Considerable interest is being manifested in medical circles by the case of the reservist Stepan Siieloff. S'rieloff, during his term of military service, five years ago, Avas renoAvned for his stature, he being then six feet six high. When called up as reservist a Aveek ago tho medical officer rejected him on account of his unwieldly height and clumsy gait. Measurement showed, that Srielof? was nearly 7ft 2in in height, and had therefore gained no less than eight inches between tho ages of 23 and 23. Siieloff is a great, uncouth savage, illiterate and intensely stupid, although ho had been knoAvn as a fairly intelligent man Avhen lie entered the- army. TJnliko most giants, lie is very hairy, his face being practically covered. P IIOFESS TON A L V A SSPO R T FORGERS. The Russian police baA*o apprehended a gang of seven professional passport

forgers, who have been making a fat living through tho patronage of soldiers and even officers who desert and seek refuge abroad. Two large carts were employed in removing the presses, plates, seals, and stock of specially-made paper found in tho forgers’ house. Genuine Russian, English, French, and German passports Avere secured in large numbers, and in a safe the police disco\-ered 88,000 roubles and a price list, from Avhich it appeared that _ sham Russian passports may be bought for fifteen roubles.