THE FAR EAST.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1168, 1 February 1904, Page 5

THE FAR EAST.

Russia to Reply this Week.

Japan's Decisive Attitude.

Puts Russia in a Quandary.

Japs Fire at Russian Steamer.

Preaa Association.— Telegraph.— Copyright Received January 31, 9.58 a.m. LONDON, January 30. Count Lamsdorff has intimated that the reply will be transmitted next week. Great care has boen bestowed in drafting, and Prince Alexieff's views will also be awaited before the drafts arc finally submitted to' the Czar. The Times' Paris correspondent says that an interview with prominent Russians, published in Paris, and utterances in other directions, show that Japan's decisive attitude renders it extremely difficult for her to frame a- reply which shall be neither provocative of war nor involve a complete surrender.

The Daily Mail's Chefoo correspondent states that a Japanese warship in the vicinity of Chemulpho fired thrice across the bows' of the Russian steamer Argun, bound from Nagasaki to Dalny. In response to the frantic appeals of the passengers, the captain of the Argun decided to stop, but no further challenge was made.