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Star (Christchurch), Issue 8101, 29 August 1904, Page 3

NOTES.

"Our victory is certain. Russia cannot be defeated. Her historic <lestiny cannot be arrested by Japan. The -world will o-ne day be divided between America and the 91av races, led I>y the Russian people." — General Demianenkoff. If Russia should seed out her Baltic fleet in August, then' it will consist, as far as new battleship tonnage is concerned, of one unit, the Alexander 111., which was launched from the Baltio yard as far " back as 1301!— " Times' 6 " Kronstadt correspondent. General Kuropatkin complains in hia despatches to St Petersburg o£ the want of training and general ability of the officers, but praises the men. — Russian correspondent in the "Times." The St Petersburg correspondent of the "Petit Parisien " states that at the time of the outbreak of war Russia was in the process of traosfonrdug her artillery from ths leas modern type of guns to quick-firera. Most of the quick-firers to hand were at onco despatched to Manchuria, while the heavy guns from Kronstadt and Warsovile fortresses were fonrarde-d to Port Arthur. So many have been already sent, to the front that the Frst Army Corps leaves without its artillery, which, (however, did r.-ot consist of quick-firers. The arsenals are turning out barely sixty guns a month. The Russian military authorities have commandeered the services of all the native bakers of Mukden to make biscuits for the Russian forces at Liaoyang and vicinity. The flour used is mostly of American wheat with a moiety of the .native mills. The output of these biscuits, or, as the Chinese call them " popo," are said to be at the rate of over four thousand a day, each biscuit weighing about six Chinese ounces. A Saselio newspaper relates the diligence of Admiral Kainimura during his search for the Vladivostock Squadron- On -Tun.? 15 he was starling on the bridge of his flagship all day, through the heavy storm. Ho was so excited that he commanded his men to destroy the Russian cruisers with all the shells' in stock if they found them within range, and declared he would not hesitate to act as a gunner himself in that event. As he returned to his base, after his fruitless search, lie kept repeating "Zannen, Zannen." (Regrets.) It may be remembered that at close quarters at Port Arthur on March 10 the men of the Russian and Japanese destroyers fought each other with lumps of coal. On land a similar incident is now reported to have taken place during the battle of Tehliszß. When the battle was fought it was so foggy that the belligerent forces could hardly see each other. A certain company of the Japanese right wing occupied a position during the fog, and when the fog cleared up they found about three hundred of the enemy almost face to face with them. Both parties were naturally surprised, and when the rifles were emptied a stonincr duel ensued. The Japanese company finally drove away the Russians, killing many, at the cost only of a corporal. General Kuropatkin's army in -Manchuria is facing worse foes than the Japanese, according to a r.pecial cable received in London from ft staff correspondent. Starvation, disease and revolt are rife, and the knout is even being used on the troop? to prevent irregularities. This correspondent says the great encampment of the Russians at'Liaovang, where Kuropatkin has fixed his headquarters, is especially stricken with amall-pox, one hundred or more fresh cases being reported each day. Liaoyancr is a °.mall town, and the huts are insufficient for the occupation of one-third of the troops. Pneumonia is tragically prevalent, and this disease, arkWl to the small-pox epidemic, has taxed the measre capacity of the hospital corps, so that all conditions lead towards consternation and death. More than this, formidable Lake Baikal is still causing an ugly, congestion of provision trains, and starvation is literally lacinc the troops. Desertions are common. Deserters are shot before the men as a cnecic to the military sin.