THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 53

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

THE PEACE CONFERENCE PLENIPOTENTIARIES MAKE . LITTLE PROGRESS. LONDON, August 15. The only news regarding the Peace Conference of Russian and Japanese representatives now sitting at Portsmouth (New Hampshire, U.S.A.) is that M. de Witte has agreed to the following clauses of the Japanese terms: — The recognition of a Japanese protectorate over Korea. The evacuation of Manchuria, and. the abandonment of any rights there. The cession to Japan of the Chinese Eastern Railway from Harping southward. The following conditions are rejected by M. de Witte:— Relinquishment to Japan of Russian, warships now interned in neutral ports. Limitation of Russia’s naval strength in the Far East. LONDON, August 15. The St. Petersburg correspondent of. “ The Times ” states that it is comsidered in high quarters in the Russian capital that unless the demand for indemnity is withdrawn there will be a rupture of the negotiations at Portsmouth during the present week. Preparations have been completed for a general mobilisation, and if the conference falls through a supreme effort will he made in the Far East during the present year. WASHINGTON, August 16.

The Russian and Japanese plenipotentiaries being unable to agree, the clause regarding the cession of Saghaken Island has been postponed for discussion, later.

Agreement has been come to respecting tbe clause arranging for the administration of Manchuria by China. The Czar’s representatives have also agreed to surrender the Russian leases of tlie Liaotung peninsula and the Blonde and Elliott Islands. When discussing the evacuation of Manchuria, the Japanese yielded M. de Witte’s demand that the obligation was mutual. “The Times,” discussing the negotiations, says the conference may linger on, but If Russia persists in resisting, as M. de Witte indicated, the cession of Saghalien, the payment of an indemnity, limitation of the naval forces in the Far East, and yielding up the Russian warships interned in neutral ports, peace is impossible. The above points have not yet been discussed. The conference is taking the others in order.

WASHINGTON, August 17.

The Russian and Japanese peac® plenipotentiaries have agreed to Rus* sia’s retention of the railway connecting the trans-Siberian line with Viadivostock. Considerable discussion took place at yesterday’s sitting regarding the Chinese Eastern Railway, which the Japanese throughout have resolved to transfer to China when reimbursed for the expenses they have been put to in repairs and in altering the gauge after the Russians were driven off, to salt 5 the Japanese rolling stock; M. de Witte contended that the railway was the private property of the Russo-Chinese Bank. There are indications that Russia is willing to compensate the bank if that should be necessary owing to the cession of the line.

WASHINGTON, August 18. The Peace Conference at Portsmouth! (United States of America), is unable to come to an agreement regarding the Japanese demands for payment of indemnity, or for the handing over to Japan the Russian warships now* interned in neutral ports. Both these questions have been temporarily shelved. The discussion of the clause proposing limitation of Russia’s naval power in the East has commenced. Present indications are that the plenipotentiaries will fail to agree on this point, but the question will he further considered today. The Tokio correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that M. dd Witte has conceded the demands for fishery rights on the waters of • the Siberian littoral north of Vladivostock to the Behring Sea. Dr Marrisoin, formerly Pekin correspondent of “ The Times,” who is now at Portsmouth, telegraphs to his paper that the Peace Conference will seemingly fail. He is of opinion, however, that its holding will have been justified as opening the way to a subsequent conference, when a favourable issue may be expected.

FEELING OF THE ARMY IN MANCHURIA. LONDON. August 16. “The Times” correspondent with General Nogi’s army in Manchuria states that the end of the rainy season i« imminent. and the Japanese are impatient to advance. Those at the front- have no faith in the likelihood of peace being concluded, and if Deace is arranged it will fee a

deep disappointment throughout the Japanese army. Indications are that any future operations will be restricted to the neighbourhood of the railway, with minor movements in the Kirin region. It is improbable that any great military results will ensue this year. , Senior Japanese officers generally consider the military progress not yet sufficient’ to justify the expectation that Russia will concede terms which are indispensable to Japan. ’ ' The Japanese report that a reconnoitring force along the railway on the ‘Kirin road drove in the Russian outposts, killing eleven aiid captui ing The Japanese outposts, adds the report, repulsed a Russian counter-recon-naissance; LONDON, August 18. Marshal Ovaina and all the' generals at the front have sent a memorial to the Mikado stating that the forces are anxious to deliver a crushing blow at the enemy. . .. • The memorial states that it is considered stronger terms of peace should have been imposed. ... The feeling at Tokio is buoyant at the prospect of hostilities being ienewed. - LINEVITCH against peace. • LONDON, August 15. - The “Daily Telegraph’s” St. Petersburg correspondent states that General Linevitch is renewing pressure against ' peace. He has telegraphed to the Czar that the Japanese, instead of attempting to influence the peace negotiations by '& decisive blow, have adopted a waiting attitude, and he considers this a sign of weakness. ■ . ■ The demonstrative occupation of Sagiialien, according to General Linevitch, counts for nothing. . PREPARING TO FIGHT ON. ST.' PETERSBURG, August 18. An Imperial ukase authorise the issuing of the new 5 per cent, internal loan of twenty millions sterling, the object of which is to enable the prosecution of the war if the Peace Conference fails to come to an agreement. Drawings are to be yearly, beginning in November, 1906. A sinking fund is to be established. . - REINFORCEMENTS FOR LINEVITCH. LONDON, August 18. The “Standard” correspondent at St. Petersburg says that the Czar has ordered two additional army corps to the front. RUSSIANS RETIRING FROM KOREA. ST. PETERSBURG, August 15. It is announced that the sixteenth army corps is to go to the Far East immediately. —^ LONDON, August 14. An. unconfirmed report has reached Tokio that the Russians are retiring across the' Tumen river in order to ~ avoid a fight in.northern Korea. ST. PETERSBURG, August 15. General Linevitch reports that a Japanese force west of the Mandarin road and another force west of the railway, assuming the offensive, reached Oandylin, a defile south of Shikovga Valley, but were repulsed. LONDON, August 15. There are 1200 Russian soldiers under treatment at Harping for cutting off the first finger of their right bands. LONDON, August 16. The Tokio correspondent of the « Daily Telegraph ” states that the occupation of Kamsehatka (between the Sea of Ohkotsk and the Behring Sea), for which place Admiral Katoako recently sailed, will ‘be announced shortly. FIGHTING IN MANCHURIA. LONDON, August 17. It is officially stated at Tokio that early last Monday a battalion of Russian infantry and two sotnias of cavalry, with eight field-pieces and six quick-firers, attacked thj Japanese Eisliihlipu, north of Chang-tu (on the Mandarin road, west of the railway). The Russians were immediately repulsed. Their loss was thirty-five, while the Japanese had only one casualty. Simultaneously a Russian detachment made an attack at a point eight miles north-west of Changtu.. Here also the Russians were repulsed, leaving ten killed or wounded. ST. PETERSBURG, August 17. General Linevitch reports that the Russians occupied 'Kopingean, in Korea. after some fighting. AT SAGHALIEN ISLAND. ✓ LONDON, August IG. A Japanese destroyer, operating on the east coast of Saghalien Island, attacked a Russian force, which was holding a telegraph office at Raroro on the 13th inst. The attacking party captured eighteen, besides arms and the telegraph apparatus. Admiral. Kataoka reports that a detachment of his-squadron attacked the Russians at Lazaret, in the Straits of Tartary, on the 13th. The enemy was hidden in a forest and suddenly attacked the marines as they were landing. One of the marines was killed and four were wounded. The enemy was finally dispersed.