RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 29

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

A JAPANESE SURPRISE.

EARLY ISOLATION OF VLADIVOS-

TOK PROBABLE

INTERNED AT MANILA.

THE THANKS OF THE CZAR.

THE PEACE

RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY.

MOBILISING TWO ARMY CORPS,

PEACE EXPECTATIONS NOT

SANGUINE.

JAPAN'S ATTITUDE UNCHANGED.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTS NOTE.

PEACE PLENIPOTENTARIES APPOINTED.

JAPAN'S SUPPOSED TERMS.

LINEVITCH VIRTUALLY SUR-

ROUNDED

AN ARMISTICE ANTICIPATED.

.RUSSIA'S CONDITIONAL ACCEPT-

ANCE.

ANXIOUS FOR JAPAN'S TERMS

TO BE REFERRED TO THE GOVERN-

MENT.

DISTRUST OF RUSSIA.

JAPANESE OPINION.

ST. PETERSBURG, June 6.

The Novoe Vreyma admits that Admiral Rozhdestvensky was defeated in a fair and square fight, and that Japanese seamanship and gunnery completely eclipsed those of the- Russians.

Russia has cancelled the contracts made with German seamen engaged for the fourth Baltic squadron. This is interpreted to mean that Russia will send no more ships to the Far East.

June 8.

General Trepoff, interviewed, ridiculed a Zemstky Subor, or People's Parliament, determining peace or war. It was impossible to assemble it under three months. It would take another three months to understand the problems. The Czar must decide. No Assembly convoked under an Imperial manifesto has a voice in such matters. Russia possessed ample forces to continue the war, with a prospect of final success. General Trepoff insisted that the bulk of the workers were indifferent to politics.

The riuss accuses Germany of fermenting and encouraging the war for the purpose of weakening Russia, and in order to secure a freehand and to settle the destinies of Austria Hungary and the Balkans.

LONDON, June 6.

A 12in shell penetrated the Ural's engine-room and smashed everything The deck bombardment was so terrific that the flesh and bones of 500 dead were scattered in all directions. Thirty-four survivors drifted in boats to Nagato, after 15 hours' exposure at sea.

It is denied that the Japanese intended to execute Admiral Rozhdestvensky while he was aboard the Biedovy. They determined to commit " Hari-kari " if Rozhdestvensky were recaptured.

The Times' New York correspondent states that the frequent interviews between President Roosevelt and the Ambassadors indicate a continuous and concerted effort for peace, though an immediate or definite result is not expected.

Count C:issini, the Russian Ambassador at Washington, has stated that if General Lineviteh is defeated Russia will not pay an indemnity, but will withdraw her army to her own frontier and maintain a passive war, thereby hoping to weaken or compel Japan to make more favourable terms.

June 7,

The Daily Mail's St. Petersburg correspondent says that the naval defeat has convinced the Manchurian army that it is hopeless to expect success. General Linevitch, in order to save provisions, has directed a gradual retreat of the transport.

Admiral Enkvist, in an interview, stated that after his flag was transferred to the Aurora, being unable to see the main Russian fleet and believing it defeated and dispersed, he retired in the interests of humanity. The Jemlchug and Aurora are coaling.

It is officially stated from Tolvlo thai submarines iiere used in the battle of Tsu-shima.

Th-e Japanese battleship Mikasa ap proacbed the Russians rearer than any other waiship, and her masts find funnels were repeatedly hit. A splinter of a shell enteied the canning tower while Admiral Togo was the>re, wounding a lieutenant at his side.

The Japanese destroyer Shinanome entered Shanghai, and circled around the interned Russians. This is evidently a hint of the dangers if an attempt is made to escape. While the Japanese were convoying the Orel to Sasebo, 10 Russian engineers tried to explode the magazine. Eight were shot. Twelve Russians, badly wounded, implored their comrades to throw them overboard. This was done without Japanese know, ledge. The captain of the Orel, before expiring, apologised to the Japanese *or his crew's cruelty and mulinotis behavicur.

The Russian Admiralty admits that the Japanese destroyed or captured at Tsushima vessels worth 18£ millions sterling.

Count Lamsdorff is urging that peace negotiations should be opened before the Japanese develop their impending operations.

The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent says an early peace is no longer without the bounds of possibility. During the Tsu-shima battle a shell shattered iron cover of the Mikasa'si compass, and a fragment of the cover struck Admiral Togo, but not seriously, on the thigh. He continu-ed unconcernedly with his observations.

The Smolensk stopped the British steamer Cilurnum, bound from Shanghai for Kobe, and threw overboard 411 bags of beans, 125 bales of cotton, and a dozen boxes of antimony. They suddenly released the vessel, their hurried departure being attributed to an ethergram announcing that the Jax^anese were nearing.

Jane 8. The Rnsskns on Monday attacked Man-chia-tun, but were repulsed.

The Japanese on the same day expelled the Russians from Sha-ho-tze, nine miles east of Chang-tu. They also cantured » Russian position at Chi-chis-tzu, 15 miles north of Quang-ping.

Admiral Rozhdestvensky reported to the Czar that he engaged on the 27th 12 large Japanese, battleships and armoured cruisers and 12 smaller vessels. Within an hour it was necessary with his staff to shift their quarters to another part' of the Kniaz Suvaroff. In another hour Admiral Rozhdestvensky, who was unconscious and wounded, was transferred to the Boning, the supreme command passing to Admiral Drebogatoff. The Boning separated from the fleet during the night, and met the Dmitri Donskoi and the destroyers Biedovy and Cromky on Sunday morning. Admiral Rozhdestvensky was transferred to the Biedovy. He learned on Sundayevening thai the Biedovy had surrendered^ to two Japanese torpedoers.

The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent says the Council of Ministers at Tsar-skoe-Selo on Tuesday failed *to pronounce definitely for war. This, combined ' with a mysterious visit to Tsarskoe-Selo fay M. Meyer, the American Ambassador, is considered to strengthen the possibilities of peace. Suspicion of Germany- is growing in Russia.

Reuter's St. Petersburg correspondent states that after the meeting of Ministers at Tsarskoe-Selo the Ambassadors at Washington and Paris were instructed that Russia was desirous of learning Japan's conditions of peace.

The Pope thanked the Mikado for granting privileges to Catholic missions in Manchuria.

Field-marshal Oyama has five armies, each on exceeding 100,000 men. It is reported that General Kuroki has commenced a great turning movement.