RUSSO JAPANESE WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 19

RUSSO JAPANESE WAR.

THE CZAR'S DECISION. BRITISH INFLUENCE. A RUSSIAN OFFICIAL VIEW.. JAPANESE PUBLIC OPINION. NO FURTHER .CONCESSIONS. ST. PETERSBURG, August 23. Eight GermSn transports, formerly attached to Admiral Rozhdestvensky's fleet, trill shortly discharge 35,000 tons of coal at Sebastopol. The coal will cost Russia, with commission and< demurrage, £55 a ton. August 24. A high officer on the General Staff is Teported to have said that if the war must continue Russia has nothing to lose but everything to gain by another big battle, as the army was never so good nor so numerous as it -is, now. The soldiers who are driving the trains ob the Vistula railway report that at Irkutsk, owing to the- coupling breaking, a military train was wrecked^ and that 32 men Tvere killed and 48 injured. August 26. j The Conservative press of St. Petersburg j 5s growing more arrogant, and declares that Japan is financially exhausted, and bound to agree to terms that will be satisfactory to Russia. The Novoe Vremya insolently suggests that inasmuch as Japan is in pressing need of money to satisfy her creditors, Russia might guarantee a Japanese war loan and occupy the Island of Tsushima until Japan repays her borrowing. It adds that Japan must renounce the idea of maintaining a large army. Such denunciation will prove she sincerely • desires peace. This article is typical of tne absurdities obtaining widespread circulation. The real facts of the situation are "wilfully ignored in St. Petersburg. August 27. It is stated in oSfe. Petersburg that all the officers who surrendered with Admiral Dubogatoff at Tsu-shima will be cashiered. The Admiral pleads that to surrender the chips was, in the circumstances, necessary, and that his action saved 2000 lives. LONDON, August 23. Tfceuter's *St'. v Petersburg correspondent Reports tha^t it is positively affirmed by the Foreign Office in reply to inquiries that Russia will under no circumstances pay Si large indemnity. Four thousand Russian infantry and cavalry, with four guns, who appeared at Szu-uriao-tze and opened fire, were repulsed, as also was another attack on the Japanese right wing. The Portsmouth correspondent of The Times reports that the Japanese are willing to forgo their demand for the limitation of~ the Russian naval power iif the Far East, and probably the interned warships, provided the Russians yield regarding the indemnity and Sagtalien. - _^^~'~~ . An exchange of views between Russia and Japan is proceeding, with a view to a possible compromise, the Japanese going so, far as to embody Saghalien and ithe indemnity in a single proposition. Dr Morrison adds that the reimbursefcient is more a question of- the amount to fee paid than was heretofore supposed. 'The bargain may turn on the repossession jpf Saghalien in whole or in part. The Japanese have refloated a Russian Jdestroyer which was sunk at Port Arthur. Reuter's Agency reports that only 20,000 roubles' (about £2000) worth of the new {Russian internal loan of £20,000,000 was jipplfed for. August in. The Times* ' Portsmouth correspondent reports that the prospect of peace has not improved, and declares that the payment is -not made easier by disguising that it is to be used as the purchase

money for an Island belonging to Russia. The correspondent adds that the latest instructions from St. Petersburg, which, however, are not final, are peremptory, and most unyielding. The Japanese, on their side, use the word "hopeless." They do not expect a favourable answer, and have no new proposals.

Tne Daily Telegraph's correspondent says that the Russians so iar insist on the unconditional withdrawal of the demand for an indemnity, -which is described as the o.bstacle to a permanent peace, inasmuch as it would provoke the resentment ot the whole nation. The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the Treasury is exhausted, and that Russia must reverb to a paper currency or forcibly appropriate the wealth of the monasteries. August 25. Reuter's Portsmouth correspondent reports thai) Mr Meyer nad a long audience with {he Czar in pursuance of President Roosevelt's detailed instructions. After | the result of th© N audience had been reported, President Roosevelt on Thursday urgently made an appeal to both sides to refer the question of the price for Russia's retention of half of Saghalien to special commissioners. Count Lamsdorff on Thursday authorised Reuter's correspondent to declare officially, but in the most formal manner, that Russia would pay Japan no contribution, direct or indirect, nor make any cession whatever. The Daily Mail's Portsmouth correspondent says impartial opinion believes Russia is still playing her old bluffing game. The Japanese transport Kinj Mara, with troops from the front, collided with the British steamer Baralong in the Inland Sea and sank in three minutes. One hundred and twenty-seven troops were drowned. The Baralong has arrived at Kobe. ' ' General <* Linevitch claims three successful skirmishes in, the Hai-lung-cheng district. President Roosevelt is still in communication, •with the Czar. The Times' correspondent, says that sceptics contend that President Roosevelt would not attempt to continue the compromise quarrel if he were convinced that .Russia and Japan had said the last word. They refer to M. De Witte and Professor Maartens's published criticisms on Count Lamsdorff for his lack of pliancy on the compromise suggestion, and for ibis unwillingness to resort to arbitration. These must compel 'the serious attention at Peterhof. All the French papers encourage Russia to coinp to terms. N The*Tinies' New York -correspondent says that if Russia continues the war she will forfeit American friendship and esteem for good. Reuter's Agency reports that the Japanese popular opinion is bitterly opposed to further concessions, and harsher terms are advocated. August 26. The correspondent of The Times reports that according to the best information there is little doubt that President Roosevelt's gallant efforts to promote peace have failed. August 28. A plenipotentiary informed the New York correspondent of The Times: — "If the demand for an indemnity is withdrawn we will rejoice. Peace will then be made. But it is not conceivable that Japan will withdraw. If she offers to reduce it onehalf, we sihould still decline. This was a question of principle, not of money. I understand the Japanese expect the Czar to change his mind. We do not. His answer to President Roosevelt is decisive. But we think a stronger influence is working for peace — viz., England. We have heard that a new treaty of alliance was signed by England and Japan not many days ago. We believe before ib 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 delicacy and generosity to her alljr that Britain refrained, from urging

„ any definite course of action. Japan t knows what England wishes. That is why ; we think there will be new proposals forthcoming on Monday. We think a British views ai&o had weight at V Peterhsof." X The plenipotentiary added : " England, though Japan's ally in Asia, has in Europe k -other and far weightier interests. She 6 cannot wish to see Russia enfeebled beyond I a certain point. She mad© friends- with s France in order to keep the balance even, j specially against Germany. She knows 3 German- designs threatening England's ; place in the European system. Britain's j. and Russia's common interests clamour for peace." % The Times' New York correspondent also elicited from a Japanese authority that- the conference adjourned to enable the Russians to awake from their illusions. '' We cannot arrange peace," he said, "with dreamers — dreaming of L-inevit-ch's next battle, dreaming that the world is on their side. By then* policy of journalism the Czar relies on paid information about our army." The Russians reinforced two guard stations at Zareff and Port Lazarev, but the Japanese torpedoers destroyed both, and bombarded the lower spurs of Lazarev. The Russians^ fear a fresh landing. The rainy season at Kura-chu-lhig has ended. . PAULS, August 23. The Temps' St. Petersburg correspondent reports that the Council of the Empire, by a slight majority, favours peace, and has. ordered M. De Witte to make a fresh proposal regarding indemnities, but not to conclude an unfavourable peace inasmuch as the army is assured of victory. . BERLIN, August 24. The Krupp Company has contracted to supply the Japanese navy with two and a-quarter millions sterling worth of guns, sheet iron, and other material. August 27. German Army Surgeon Schaefer, who was sent to study the war from a surgical standpoint, reports that the Japanese bullets are as harmless as needles. WASHINGTON, August 22. President Roosevelt's suggestion to Baron Rosen resolved itself into a hint of the possibility of forming a commission of competent, disinterested men to examine the question of an indemnity, but it fell on deaf ears. Both, sides remain immovable on all the disputed points. Count Kaneko visited President Roosevelt. _ August 23. The protocols are "" incomplete, and the conference has been postponed until today. It is- understood that the real reason for adjourning was that !M. De Witte has not received final instructions. August 24. Baron Komura introduced a written compromise, which M. de Witte described as an old enemy in a new uniform. It is nncferstood that £120,000,000 has been asked for the repurchase by Russia of the island of Saghalien and to cover the cost of the maintenance of prisoners of war. This, with other features, including what was cabled yesterday, is intended to spare Russia's susceptibilities. The plenipotentiaries have signed portion of the protocols, and have adjourned until Saturday. There is a consensus of opinion that Presiuent Roosevelt's tactful intervention vvvvied an immediate rupture. Beyond saying that the proposal to divide Saghalien came originally from the Russians, the Japanese envoy refuses to discuss any Russian statement that has appeared. August 25, The Czar Informed Mi' Meyer that on the indemnity question concession was impossible. The Japanese plenipotentiaries definitely affirm that the suggested Saghalien compromise, was Japan's ultimatum. Upon one ' of them reading Count LamsdorfFs statement he exclaimed 1 , " Then the sooner we get away the better. We have done all that was possible,. The world will do v? justice*'* J

August 27. The Peace Conference sat for an hour and a-half, approving and signing the protocols. M. de Witte states that at Baron Komura's request the Conference has adjourned until Monday, when, it is- presumed, the Jpanese will have something to submit. Other Russian accounts state that the Czar has refused to permit- a counter proposal of a Japanese compromise. Count Lamsdorff has reiterated to President Roosevelt that the Czar forbids the cession of part of Saghalien, also the payment of any indemnity. August 28. President Roosevelt's appeal to the Czar was framed on broad humanitarian lines. The Czar, through Mr Meyer, American Minister at St. Petersburg, conveyed his final and unqualified refusal to entertain the demand for an indemnity. Saturday's sitting of the Peace Conference threatened to be the last. Though the secretaries were excluded in order to secure the strictest secrecy, one of the Russian plenipotentiaries supplied the New York correspondent of The Times with many details. The Japanese seemed to expect a new proposal, " No," said the Russians, "-half of Saghalien and no indemnity ai-e our la^t words." _ ,M. de Witte's quiet firmness convinced the Japanese of the unalterableness of the resolutions. TOKIO, August 27. Admiral KataoTca reports that the Okaolsk fleet captured a gun at Postagon, and seized the British ship Antelope near Saghalien. . The Kamschatka squadron seized the Russian transport Montara. The Japanese fleet is sounding the mouth of the Amur. August 28. 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 stopped. The Prime Minister, Count Katsura, has received hundreds of memorial telegrams urging him to insist on Japan's original peace terms. BRISBANE, August 23. Passengers by the Taiyuan from Japan state that the Japanese recently suffered great losses of transports. Several struck mines while entering Port Arthur, but the Government hushed the matter up. Great secrecy is observed in transporting troops and guns, which is chiefly done at night. I'here is considerable distress amongst, the poorer classes owing to the war. The people are confident of victory, and the military authorities are opposed to peace.

the operation of the Braddon section, at, the States' proposal to borrow only througll the Federal Government would lead to interminable trouble. The estimated naval! and military expenditure was £824,000, including £200,000 as a full year's contribution to the navy. The defence forces generally were engaging the serious attention of the Government. A very much larger amount was required to place the forces in a thoroughly efficient condition. The Government was fully alive to the position, and proposed to epend £40,000 on new drill halls and rifle ranges. By the end of next year the land forces would: be placed on a. complete war footing. The Treasurer added that when Australia was willing to pay she would be given a voieq in Imperial defence affaire.

August 23.

Sir John Forrest, the Federal Treasurer, hopes before long to bring the negotiations for the transfer of the State debts to the Commonwealth to a successful conclusion^ Australia's trade last year was £94,500,000.The imports were £37,000,000 and the exports £57,000,000. Seventy-four per cent, of their total trade was done with* the United Kingdom and British possessions.

The proposed expenditure includes £3000 for a telephone between Melbourne and Sydney, and £140,000 for special defenc* material.