THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1732, 10 May 1905, Page 30

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

TORPEDOERS ON THE COAST OF. JAPAN.

SMALL VESSEL BURNED.

LONDON, May 7. Four Russian torpedo boats from Vladivostock arrived last Friday off the west coast of Yezo, the northernmost of the main islands of Japan. After seizing and burning a small vessel the torpedo boats returned to Vladivostock.

THE RUSSIAN SQUADRON AT KAMRANH BAY.

LONDON, May 8. Details which have been received, from Hongkong in regard to the reprovisioning of the Russian warships on the Annam coast, show that Admiral Rozhdestvensky was at Kamranh Bay from April 15th until April 23rd. When the facts were known, the French Admiral Jonquireres advised the Russian commander to depart.

Admiral Jonquireres was most of the time. Admiral Rozhdestvensky left on April 25th. The French steamer Quangaam, full of contraband, unloaded at Kamranh Bay towards April 23rd, junks and boats transferring the goods to the Russian cruisers. This took place in the presence of the French warship Descartes. Tn:s stretching of neutrality enabled the ltussians to proceed, ana intercepttrading steamers. When Admiral Rozhdestvensky arrived on April loth he was dangerously short of supplies.

present

BREACH OF NEUTRALITY.

RESENTMENT IN JAPAN TOWARDS FRAN CE.

ACUTE FEELING IN JAPAN.

LONDON, May 6.

Feeding in Japan at the procedure of -Admiral Rozhdestvensky on the coast of Annain is rapidly growing into creep resentment towards France. The j apanese newspapers are urging that immediate-action be taken. One paper suggests an embargo on French merchantmen pending Aumiral Rozhdestvensiiy s nnai expulsion. it is stated in Paris that before the Japanese representations were made tuns weeii, Franco sent a naval division to Binghkoy Bay (north or ilamranh harbour; to vigorously enforce neutrality.

LONDON, May 8

The Tokio correspondent of “ The Times” says that even when Japan was on the verge of war with Russia the newspapers did not show greater excitement and indignation than they do' now. The soberest declare that France has virtually taken arms against Japan. References to the Anglo-Japanese Alliance are assuming a tone of marked impatience. The newspapers declare that it is England’s duty to prevent interference by third parties. Japans confidence in the goodwill and pacific purpose of France is radically shaken, and on France will rest the responsibility of' carrying matters beyond the realm of diplomacy. The newspapers declare that France has incurred deep discredit for her breach of faith, and has connived flagrantly at gross violations of neutrality, to the great injury of Japan’s vital interests.

LONDON, May 5

Admiral Diehogatoff’s warships passed Singapore eastwards at dawn today.

LONDON, May 6

Amusement was caused in Europe by a St. Petersburg telegram announcing that Admiral Rozhdestvensky had informed the Admiralty of the presence of Japanese warships in the territorial waters of Borneo.

The telegram added that if the report was verified Russia should send a protest to Holland. A later telegram stated that the Admiralty denies having received such information from Admiral Rozhdestvensky.

GIFT BY THE MIKADO.

LONDON, May G

The Mikado has given a thousand, 1 pounds sterling the army branch of trie i oung Men’s Christian Association in recognition of its having opened up recreation and reading tents at the principal bases in Manchuria.

“ GREAT GRAVITY OF THE

SITUATION.”

LONDON, May 8.

" The Times ” says that in the interests of the world’s peace it earnestly trusts the Government and people of France will not remain under any illusion as to the great gravity of the situation. M. Montono, the Japanese Minister, had requested an explanation of France’s attitude, but no reply of a satisfactory character had been announced up to yesterday at Tokio. “ The Times” adds:—Our ally's com-

plaints cannot be evaded, cannot be ignored. The French do not doubt the warmth or sinoerity of our feelings towards France, or the earnest desire that the friendship shall endure and be developed, and will understand that eny action on our part is inspired with, the strongest, wish to avert while yet there is time the possibility of an incident which anight dissolve the entente and compel us to take an opposite side. There is reason to believe that Lord Lansdowne has spoken very strongly to France on the breaches of neutrality, which it is alleged are tolerated. The solution demands promptitude and firmness in dealing with colonial officials.

CONFERENCE IN HIGH PLACES

FRENCH PREMIER AND MINISTER.

LONDON, May S.

On Saturday* M. Declasse, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, had an interview with M. Rouvierj the Premier of France, regarding the situation.

The "Daily Telegraph’s'’ correspondent at Tokio reports that on Sunday France intimated to Japan that the Russian fleet had been ordered to leave Hcn-cohe.

It is believed that Admiral Rozhdestvensky will make Leong-soi, on the south coast of the Island of Hainan, Ins base.

THE MIKADO’S FORCES ON THE

LIAO RIVER.

RUSSIANS DRIVEN NORTH

LONDON, May 8. Reports from Tokio state that the extreme right and left wings Marshal Oyama’s army have materially advanced. Russian advices from Fenghualisien state' that the Japanese are concentrating their principal forces along the Liao river.

Their outposts are near Paolitun, about sixteen miles west of the .railway and seventy-five miles north of Mukden. Japanese cavalry on the 4th inst. (last Thursday), supported by infantry, took the offensive, and forced the Russians back to Hsiaoshengtsu, on the Mandarin road, fifty miles north of Paolitun.

A detachment of Russian Chasseurs foil into an ambush at Ershulipu, and suffered fifteen casualties.

The speed of Admiral Diebogatoff’s fleet (which passed Singapore last Friday) is seven knots. The ships apparently need coal and overhauling. The steamer Tsingtan sighted twentyone vessels of the Russian fleet off Vanfong, and fourteen cruisers off Three Kings, on Wednesday. The action of Admiral Rozhdestvensky in hovering about the vicinity of Nhatrang is due to the existence of a telegraph station there.

ESPIONAGE.

LONDON, May 8

A Russian named Horwitz, alias Orvitch, who was arrested at Singapore on a charge of espionage, has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for trespassing, and fined £SO for having sketching instruments in his possession. A SUSPICIOUS CARGO. LONDON, May 7. The Finnish steamer Aegir, while leaving the German free port of Lubeck for Helsingfors, in Finland, was stopped pending an investigation of the cargo, which is supposed to include sections of two torpedo-boats built in a German yard at Kiel for Russia. LONDON, May 8.

The embargo on the Aegir has been removed on the ground that the torpedo boats of which sections are on board the vessel arc not intended for immediate use. They were merely sections of the and half a year would he required to insert the inner parts. PROLONGATION OF THE STRUGGLE, LONDON, May 8. , The predominant feeling in Russian official circles is that prolongation of the war will exhaust Japan and compel her to accept peace on terms exempting Russia from paying an indemnity.