RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 19

RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR.

A STORMY MEETING. THE CONFERENCE ADJOURNS. STRUGGLE ON VITAL ISSUES. THE ISSUE DOUBTFUL. NO PRECEDENT FOR AN INDEMNITY. VIEWS OF AN EMINENT JURIST. TALKING TO GRAVEN IMAGES. RUSSIA STANDSi FIRM. FURTHER CONCESSIONS IMPOSSIBLE MOMENTOUS- INTERVIEW. JAPANESE TERMS LOWEST POSSIBLE. ST. PETERSBURG, August 17. General Lineyitch reports "that the Russians occupied Kopingean (Korea) after some fighting. August 18. A ukase authorises a Russian internal loan, of £20,000,000 at 5 per cent.' The " drawings will take place yearly, beginning in- November, 1906. A sinking fund is r -(established. LONDON,, August 15. The Japanese report a reconnaissance m force' along the railway, near the Kirin road. They drove in the Russian outposts, killing 11 and capturing 10. The Japanese outposts repulsed the Russian counterxeconnaissance. When discussing the evacuation of Manchuria, the Japanese yielded to M. De Witte's demand that the obligation be mutual. The Times says that the conference may linger on, but peace is impossible if Russia persists in resisting, as S M. D& Witte has indicated, the cession of Saghalien, the payment of an indemnity, the limitation of Russian naval forces in the Far East, and the yielding up of Russian warships now interned in neutral ports. The above points have not yet been discussed, as the conference is taking the others in their order. The Daily Mail's St. Petershurgh correspondent states that General Linevitch is renewing Ms pressure against peace. He telegraphed the Czar that the Japanese, instead of attempting to influence the peace negotiations „by a decisive blow, had adopted a waiting attitude. He considers that this is a sign of weakness, and that the demonstrative occupation of Saghalisn counts for nothing. August 16. The Times' correspondent with General Nogi states that the end of the rainy season is imminent. The Japanese are impatient to advance. There is no faith at the front in the conclusion of peace^ and if it is arrangea there will be deep disappointment throughout the Japanese army. Indications point to any future operations being restricted to the neighbourhood of the railway, v/ith minor movements in the. Kirin region. It is improbable that any great military results will ensue this year. The senior officers generally consider that the military progress is not yet sufficient to justify the expectation that Russia will conclude terms ■which are indispensable to Japan. The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent states that the occupation of Kamechatka will be shortly announced. A destroyer operating on the east coast of Saghalien attacked the Russians, who were holding the telegraph office at Raioro, on the 13th. Eighteen men were captured, besides some arms and the telegraph apparatus. Admiral Katooka reports that a detachment of his squadron was attacked by the (Russians at Lazaref, in the Tartar Strait, on the 13th. The enemy was hidden in the forest, and suddenly attacked the marines when they were landing. One Japanese was killed and four wounded, the gnemy being finally dispersed. August 17. Official advices from lokio state that

early on the 14th inst. a battalion cf Russian infantry and two eotnias of cavalry, with eight field -pieces and six quick-firers, attacked E-ish-ih-li-pn, North of Chang-tu, . but were immediately "epuked, losing 35 men. The Japanese had one casualty. Simultaneously the Russians attacked a point eight miles north- west of Chang-tu, but were repulsed, leaving 10 killed or wounded. Dr Morrison, who is now at Portsmouth (United States) waiting on the Peace Con1 ference, telegraphs The Times that the conference will seemingly fail. Its holding, however, will have, been justified, as it will pave the way to a subsequent conference, when a favourable issue may be expected. August 18. Field -marshal Oyama and all the generals at the front have memorialise-! the Mikado, stating that the forces ard anxious to deliver a crushing blow, and that stronger terms ought to have been imposed on Russia. I The Telegraph's Tokio correspondent says that M. D© Witte has conceded tha demand for a grant of fishing rights to Japan in the waters of the Siberian littoral northwards of Vladivostock to the Behring Sea. The Standard's St. Petersburg correspondent says the Czar has ordered two additional army corps to the front. August 19. i Professor Mortens, interviewed, said there was no precedent in history where a country whose territory had not been occupied wholly, or partially by the enemy paid a war tribute on signing peace. He instanced the cases of Napoleon and the peace of Tilsit and the Hispano-American Treaty, where America, although victorious, paid Spain 20 million dollars for the Philippines. Hoping that Admiral Rozhdestvensky would recover the command of the sea, ; the Russians at Port Arthur did not injure the vessels that were sunk, but merely sank them after greasing and otherwise protecting the machinery. Four battleships and two cruisers will shortly form serviceable additions to ;he Japanese fleet. August 20. The Times says that Professor Maarten's view overlooks the fact of the occupation of Saghalien by the Japanese and the huge indemnity which Russia squeezed from China after the Boxer troubles by manipulating figures to suit her purpose. It is stated that King Edward, President ' Loubet, and the Kaiser are urging the Governments at St. Petersburg and Tokio respectively to avoid a failure of the conference, but there is no sign of concession in regard to tne indemnity. M. De Witte is said to have remarked that perhaps between now and Tuesday some foreign Power may use its influence. Talking to the Japanese Avas like talking to graven images. The Atlantic and Pacific cables are overwhelmed with Conference messages. It is stated at Oyster Bay that before inviting Baron yon Rosen to visit him President Roosevelt secured the active and cordial support of Britain, France, and Germany, and also communicated with the Mikado through Mr Grisconi (American Minister at Tokio) and Count Kaneko. i Baron yon Rosen spent an hour with President Roosevelt on Saturday, and three I hours with M. De Witte yesterday, and thereafter a message was despatched to the Czar. The Times Portsmouth correspondent reports that a telegram received there in the evening dclares that the Council, under the presidency of the Czar, is apparently unanimous, and finally decided that further concessions are impossible. WASHINGTON, August 16. Tne peace plenipotentiaries were unable to agree on the question of the cession of Saghalien, and they have postponed consideration of that clause. They agreed to the clause arranging China's administration, in Manchuria and to another surrendering the Russian lease of Liao-tung Peninsula and the Blonde and Elliot Islands. August 17. The peace plenipotentiaries have- agreed to Russia's retention of the railway connecting the trans-Siberian line with Vladi- ' vostock. Considerable discussion took place at yesterday's sitting regarding the Chinese eastern railway, which the Japanese throughout resolved to transfer to China

when she is reimbursed die expenses of repairs and of altering the gauge. M. .vitte contended that the railway was the Russo-Chinese bank's private property. The indications are that Russiawill be willing to compensate the bank i if necessary owing to the cession of the ' railway. 1 August 18. The delegates to the Peace Conference have been \uiabl© to agree on the indemnity or interned ships clauses, and both have been shelved temporarily. The discussion on the limitation of Russian naval power in the Far East foreshadowed a disagreement, but the question 1 was resumed" to-day. All the papers report that Thursday's session of the peace plenipotentiaries at ; Portsmouth was stormy and embittered. It is stated that M. De Witte declares that Russia will reimburse Japan for maintaining Russian prisoners, but will not pay one copeck of indemnity. August 19. The Peace Conference has agreed on the clause giving the Japanese fishing rights from Vladivostock to the Bearing Sea. A deadlock lias taken place with regard to the limitation of the Russian navy in the Par East. The conference adjourned till Tuesday to permit in the meantime of drafting protocols recording the business heretofore. The final struggle on vital issues opens on Tuesday, j August 20. At President Roosevelt's invitation Baron yon Rosen has arrived at Oyster Bay to consult President Roosevelt, who apparently acted on the suggestion of Count Kaneko. Opinion at Portsmouth (U.S.) is pessimistic. It is believed Russia will yield Saghalien if promised that it will not te fortified, but insistency on an indemnity bars progress. TOKIO, August 18. j The feeling in Tokio is buoyant in view of a belief in the resumption of hostilities, August 21. The Japanese Cabinet has met. Count Katsura (Prime Minister) received Sir Claude Mac Donald (British Minister at Tokio), with whom he had a long interview. i Count Katsura, after the interview with j Sir Claude Mac Donald, the Mikado, and prominent Japanese, informed Dr Morrison that when the conditions of peace were drafted Japan brushed aside proposals the nation regarded as essentials and reduced the terms to the smallest possible, the most reasonable, and most obvious. A squadron sent to Kamschatka captured the Russian, transport Australia in Petropavlovsk Harbour. The- Japanese newspapers urge- the Government, in the event of a rupture in the peace negotiations at Portsmouth, to seize the maritime province before the tainy season has ceased.