RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2671, 24 May 1905, Page 19

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE. THE RUSSIAN POSITIONS. THE BALTIC FLEET. MAKING FOR THE PHILIPPINES. THE FORTS AT PORT ARTHUR. TWO MILLIONS UNSPENT. ST. PETERSBURG, May 16. An Imperial decree just issued authorises the issue of 200,000,000 roubles' worth of short-dated Treasury bonds, of which 150 millions' worth have already been placed. May 17. Admiral Birileff has ordered the • commanders of the ships of the fourth Baltic fleet to be in readiness to leave Kronstadt on June 14. May 21. The Russian Ministry of Marine is planning several- new building yards at St. Petersburg and Kronstadt, and the Construction of second class cruisers. May 22. ; The- commission inquiring into the surrender of.' Port Arthur has ascertained that £2,000.000 sterling, intended for fortifications^ was. not ,used. for-the purpose. The Responsibility is - attributed to Prince AJexieff. Admiral Boulioff starts from St. .Petersburg for Vladivostock on the 25th. The Czar has instituted a permanent State Defence Council, under the presidency of Grand Duke Nicholas, to ensure the adequate development of the. fighting forces*of the Empire. LONDON, May 16. Admiral Wirenius, interviewed here, declared that Admiral Rozhdestvensky did not violate French neutrality. He merely stopped at Kamranh to clean his ships' boilers. " The statement - officially published in Tokio last evening that the Russians had returned to Indo-China waters has been contradicted in Paris. 'j.ne Times' ToMo correspondent, telegraphing apparently earlier than Reuter, states that Admiral Rozhdestvensky's rSturn to Hong-kohe had caused the Japanese anger to flame out stronger than ever. * The Times and Standard eulogise the patriotism of the majority of the French Chamber in resisting the efforts of certain Socialists to inopportunely force a debate on French neutrality. Both papers say that MM. Vaillant and Pressense's chief aim was^to strike a blow at M. Delcasse, the Foreign, Minister. An advice from Chi-fn states that a mine in the Gulf of Pe-chi-li has suiQc another Japanese transport. The transport Kido Maru struck a mine off Port Arthur on Thursday night and sank. The crew were rescued. Japan has prohibited the export of coal to Saigon while the Russians are in IndoChinese waters. The Russians in one month used 120,000 tons of coal. May 17. ' Four thousand Russians crossed the Tumen, in Northern Korea. The vanguard is at Kil-ju. The Russians at Possiet Bay have- been reinforced. Marquis Okuma, interviewed!, referring to the stupor and irritation caused among the Japanese by Admiral Rozhdestvensky's leported return to Hong-kohe Bay, said if ike relations of Japan with France had been less friendly popular excitement yoold have carried everything before it. It "was- urgent that France should take up a- clear position, otherwise the excitement .would be irresistible. . The -Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent Teports that, despite Japan's third Wotest, the Baltic fleet is still anchored at Hong-kohe. .The Russian Admiralty holds that Admiral Rozhdestvensky is as much entitled to revisit Hon-kohe as to visit any port m French waters for the first time. A German ship that arrived at Hongkong reports that slie saw 50 vessels of

the Baltic fleet at Hon-kohe on the 14th inst.

Hongkong and Singapore are in a complete state of defence. This, coupled with the reinforcements on the British-China station, is interpreted in Tokio as a virtual demonstration on the part of Great Britain.

Baron Suyematsu, in a letter to the Paris

Matin, says that the absence of a 24 hours' rule cannot imply that warships are to be allowed an unlimited stay in French waters. Russia herself had adopted the 24 hours' limit, and when the Czar ordered Admiral Rozhdestvensky to leave, his obstinate sojourn on the coast of Indo-China was an affront towards France, end an act of disobedience to his own Government. The Dutch steamer Wilhelmine, insured in London for £73,000, has been confiscated by the Prize Court at Sasebo. The Japanese steamer Chuyethu Maru struck a mine on Sunday, and was beached on Elliott Island. The Dietrichscn-Jebsen Company purposes running a line of steamers between Tsing tar and Hai-chau, and as the waters may contain unknown torpedoes they are taking soundings. May 18. Reliable information lias reached Tokio that plague is raging at Harbin, and that 300 deaths occur daily. There are only a few recoveries. The medical staff is inadequate, and the hospitals are filled. The Japanese fleet is crusing below Formosa, and receiving nightly orders from Amoy. It is believed an engagement with the Baltic fleet, is foreshadowed south of Formosa. Adices from Saigon state that Admiral Rozhdestvensky consistently displayed absolute contempt for the excitement created by his prolonged presence off Indo-China and its bearing on neutrality. He behaved as if the charge entrusted to him involved complete independence. Hs declared he would act as he saw fit. The transport Kamschatka stopped a junk off Dayot, and arrested a Hanoi newspaper correspondent, bound him, and conveyed him to Admiral Diebogatoff's flagskip:- After he had been subjected to an examination he was made welcome and released. M. Beau and Admiral Jonquieres report that the Baltic fleet has not been seen in Indo-China waters for several days. Admiral Rozhdestvensky's latest message received in St. Petersburg came via China. This is interpreted in St. Petersburg to mean that he is proceeding north. The steamer Segovia reports passing 42 ships of the Baltic fleet on the 15th, off Cape Varella (Cochin China). One hundred and fifty junks, deeply laden with supplies, were sighted on the 16th off St. John Cape. It is believed that these latter were attached to the fleet.

Admiral Biriloff, who takes command of the fourth Baltic squadron, exchanges posts with Admiral Skrydloff at Vladivostock.

The battleship Slava is Admiral Biriloff's only fighting vessel of any value. The departure of his squadron will leave the Baltic Sea at Germany's mercy, as all Rozhdestvensky r s and DiebogatofFs vessels surviving, whether defeated or victorious, must remain in the Far East.

Prince Alexeieff's influence is paramount with the Czar, who more than ever is resolved to continue the war, even at the

cost of Russia's interests in the Balkans.

The Japanese captured near the Pescadores the French steamer Quanquam, bound for Hongkong andi Saigon, with coal aboard, which, it was believed, was intended for the Baltic fleet.

May 19.

The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent says that Admiral Biriloff eventually succeeds Admiral Rozhdestvensky. The latter, although his nerves are shattered, is believed to be physically able to engage the foe, and once at Vladivostock is entitled to resume his post as chief of the naval staff. Admiral Biriloff is allowed ample leisure to prepare for the journey. This is interpreted to mean that a further sojourn of the- fleet in southern waters is anticipated.

The cruder Pallada has been raised at Port Arthur.

Early on Tuesday the Baltic fleet was 220 miles north-east of Kainranh, steering north.

The hospital ship Orel is expected at Shanghai. All the foreign, commercial agents ftt

' Vladivostock have been ordered to leave.

Since the battle of Mukden General Linevitch has received 60,000 reinforce- ■ ments.

Forty-three Russian and German colliers are anchored off Nhabe, and 20 more off Cape St. James, undier observation of the French warships.

The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent reports that the Admiralty considers it possible to raise and repair the Peresviet, Poltava, Retvizan, Pobieda, Bayan, and Pallada, at a cost of £150,000 each.

The Matin's war correspondent states tiiat Admiral Gregorevitch's aide-de-camp asserts that when General Stoessel ordered the sinking of tue battleships in Port Arthur, without consulting the War Council respecting the surrender of the port, they assembled a number of the best sailors with the intention of seizing and imprisoning Stoessel, but Smirnoff, fearing that the troops would revolt, refused to permit the arrest. General DragomirofF, in dissenting from General Meckels's claim that German instruction was the chief factor in the Japanese successes, declared that Generals Oyama, Kuroki, and Oku, whom Germany taught nothing, had accomplished everything. Germany was pluming herself on other men's successes. May 20. j The Russians and Japanese are in close touch along the whole line in Manchuria, and a battle is imminent. neuter's St. Petersburg agency reports that all Russian telegrams from the front indicate that the Japanese army is assuming a general offensive movement. Russia has informed China that the Japanese propose to convey the Emperor of Korea to Japan. Russia has addressed a protest to the Powers that this is in contravention of the Shimoneski Treaty guaranteeing Korean independence. May 21. The Russian line in Manchuria is 42 miles long, stretching from Yeh-ho-ching to Hsiao-sien via Su-ping-ohien, where there are good defensive positions, strongly entrenched. Three columns of Japanese are advancing from Kai-yuan, Chang-tu-fa, and Fa-ku-men.

The Russians, after retreating from Tung-hua and Shin-king, rallied at Wang-kao-tse, 40 miies north of Tung-thua. They subsequently withdrew north.

The Russians' advanced position is now at Liu-ho-ohen, northwards of Wang-kao-tse. Their main position is at Hai-lung-ching. General Matoriloff is commanding.

Tokio reports state that three Russian columns advanced south' of the vicinity of the railway on the 18fch, and that simultaneously 500 cavalry attacked the field hospital at Kang-pin. The Japanese dispersed the attackers, inflicting heavy loss on them.

Grave reports are received of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's health, and there is increasing depression at St. Petersburg.

Admiral Jonquieres, aboard the French warship Guichen, has sailedi from Saigon for an unknown destination.

There is a number of junks off St. John Island, 160 miles south-west of Hongkong. It is believed that they contemplate functioning with Rozhdestvensky. May 22. Large Japanese forces are deploying on the Russian flanks.

Owing to the premature melting of the ice on the River Sungari, many Russian carte, filled with supplies, were lost, and the drivers drowned.

It is reported at St. Petersburg tihat a strong Japanese movement has commenced against General Linevitch's right wing west of the railway.

The newspaper Russ complains that dissipation and amusements are in full swing at Harbin, where money is flowing like water.

The Times' correspondent at the Japanese headquarters states that the Russian line extends eight miles west of the railway, with General Mist<jhenko's cavalry on the right bank of the Liao-ho. The Russian left stretches from General Kaulbar's command eastwards to a point 50 miles south of Kirin, where one division is placed. The Russian left is under Ueneral Kourapatkin, and consists of five

corps. The hills north of Kirin have been heavily fortified.

The Times' Paris correspondent learns from a Russian source that Admiral Kozhdestvensky has ordered the colliers and three ammunition ships to rendezvous at the island of Balintang, in the channel north of Luzon, in the Philippines, to await the fleet's arrival somewhere on the coast of Luzon. The American fleet at Manila is wholly inadequate except to make a diemonstration.

Contradictory reports from other sources indicate that the main Baltic fleet passed through the Bashi Channel and is also off Hai-nan, waiting the return of the auxiliary cruisers sent to collect and convoy the colliers.

PARIS, May 17. Le Temps says that, without committing herself regarding the ultimate settlement of the whole neutrality question, France has relaxed her interpretation of the application of hex- own rules in favour of Japan.