RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13374, 29 August 1905, Page 5

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

CZAJI'SFIFALDECISM NO INDEMNITY WILL' BE PAID. VIEWS-OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES THE INFLUENCE OF BRITAIN.; THE RUSSIAN DREADERS. :i ■ . Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright. THE CZAR'S DECISION. WASHINGTON, August 27.' . (Received August 28, at 9 a.m.) Count Lamsdoru" has reiterated to President Roosevelt that the Czar forbids the cession of part of Kaghalien, also the payment of any indemnity. TEE PRESIDENT AND THE CZAR. A FINAL DECISION. WASHINGTON, August 28. (Received August 28, at 9.56 p.m.)' President Roosevelt's appeal to the Czar was framed on broad humanitarian lines. The Czar, Through Jlr Meyer, American Minister at St. Petersburg, conveyed liis final and unqualified refusal to entertain the demand for an indemnity. THE CONFERENCE SITTING. ' A SCOOP BY THE TIMES. WASHINGTON, August 28. ' (Received August 28, at 9.56 p.m.) Saturday's, sitting of the Peace Conference threatened to be Hie last. Though the secretaries were excluded in order to secure the strictest secrecy, one of tile Russian plenipotentiaries supplied (he New York correspondent of Tho Times with many details. The Japanese seemed to expect a new proposal. "No," said the Russians, "-half of Saghalien and no indemnity are our last, words." M. do Wilie's qniefc firmness convinced the Japanese of the unalterableness of the resolutions. BRITISH INFLUENCE. A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL VIEW. LONDON, August 28. (Received August 28, at 11.2 p.m.) A plenipotentiary informed the New York correspondent, of The Times:—"lf the demand for an indemnity is withdrawn wo will rejoice. Peace will then be made. But it is not conceivable'that Japan will withdraw. If she offers to reduce it onehalf, wo should still decline. This was a question of principle, not of money. I underetaml tho Japanese expect the Czar to cliango his mind. We do not. His answer to President Roosevelt is decisive. Bill we think a stronger influence is working for peace— Viz., England. We have heard that a liew treaty of alliance was sighed by England and Japan not many days ago. Wo believe before it was signed Great. Britain hinted strongly that she desired Japan to make peace. We. know British interests in the East are suffering. Some of Britain's political interests may suffer. We understand from motives of delieicy and generosity to her ally that Britain refrained from urging any definite courso of action. Japaii knows what England wishes. That is v.'liy we think there will bo new proposals forthcoming on Monday. Wo tliirik British views also bad weight at Petei'hsof." (Received August 29, at 0.18 a.m.) The plenipotentiary added: "England, though Japan's ally in Asia, has in Europe other and far' weightier interests. She cannot wish to sec Russia enfeebled beyond a certain point. She made friends with Francis in order to keep the balance even, specially against Germnny. She knoirs Germany designs threatening England's place ill the European system. Britain's and Russia's common interests clamour for peace." RUSSIAN DREAMERS. A JAPANESE. faEW. LONDON, August .28. (Received August 29, at 0.22 a.m.') The , Times' New York correspondent alsn elicited from a .Japanese authority that the conference adjourned to enable the Russians to awake from their illusions. "Wn cannot arrange peace," he said, " with dreamers—dreaming of Linevitch's next battle, dreaming that- the world is on. their side, liy their policy of journalism the Cznr relies on paid information, about our army."

JAPANESE PUBLIC OPINION. NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS. TOiaO, August 28. . (Received August 28. at 9.56 p.m.) There are many evidences that public opinion in Japan strongly resents the partition of Saghalien. Some newspapers Urge that if further concessions are attempted the peace negotiations ought to be stepped. | NAVAL OPERATIONS. TWO SHIPS SEIZED. TOKIO, August 27. (Received Aiigiist 28j tit 9 a.m.) Adiriifal Kataoka reports that the Okablsk fleet captured a gun at Postagon, and seized the British ship Antelope, near Saghalien. The Kamschatka, squadron seized the Russian transport Montnrn. The Japanese fleet is sounding the mouth of the Amur. BOiIBARDIXG GUARD STATIONS. A FRESH LANDING FEARED. LONDON, August 28. (Received August 28, at 8.56 p.rii.i . The Russians reinforced two guard sfations at Zaretf and Port Laznrevj but the Japanese torpedoers destroyed both; and bombarded the lower spurs of Lazarev. The. Russians fear a fresh landing. The rainy' Season at Kufj-chu-iing. has ended. • THE TSUSHIMA BATTLE. THE OFFICERS WHO SURRENDERED. ST. PETERSBURG, August 27. (Received August 28, at 9 a.m.) It is stated in St. Petersburg that all the officers who surrendered with Admiral Diibogatbff at Tsii-shima will be cashiered. The Admiral pleads that to surrender the ships ivas, in the eircunistahces, necessary, ami that his action saved 2000 jives. ..

JAPANESE .BULLETS. HARMLESS. .'..:'■■ .' BERLIN, August 27. ' (Received August 28, at 9 a.m.) German Army Surgeon Scliaefer, who was sent to study the ■ war from a surgical standpoint, reports that the Japanese bullets are as harmless as needles. HARDENING tfP THE PREMIER, TOivIO, August. 27. (Received August 28, at 9 a.m.) • ! The,/ Prime Minister, Count Katsura, has received hundreds of memorial telegrams urging him to insist on Japan's original peace terms.