THE WAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1455, 16 May 1905, Page 2

THE WAR.

GENERAL NEWS.- ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 14. It is stated that tho Kaiser, in a speech at Strasbourg, added: “My son Adalbert told me that Russian officers bought all the champagne at Kiaoohau. Young soldiers must bo exercised as much as possible, thereby they will be glad to rest, instead of participating in enervating pleasures.”

General Linevitch reports a determined effort to roll up the Russian left at Chiminotsi.

Aftor hearing Baron Kataura’s explanation of the Government’s action in connection with French neutrality, the Japanese Constitutional party expressed satisfaction. A resolution, given notice of in the Tokio Chamber of Commerce, was withdrawn.

New York, May 14. The ’Frisoo Customs authorities discovered, and ordered the removal of, 2500 cases of uncharged 4.7 shells aboard the British ship Deepdene, bound to Japan. The shells were from Hamburg, via New York.

THE WARSHIPS. A RUSSIAN TALE.

By Telegraph—Press Assooiaifon—Copyright

Received 10.15 p.m., May 15.

London, May 15. Information has been received at Tokio of the presenee at Honkohe Bay on the 12tb of seven Russian battleships, Reven cruisers, two destroyers, and four converted eruisers.

Advices have been received at Hongkong that 17 warships were off Three Kings, near Hongkohe, on the 10th. A number of transports were 70 miles north of Kamranh.

Advioes have been received at Tokio that the first olass destroyer Habasimo was launched at Yokoshuka.

Reooived 10.40 p.m., May 15,

The presence of dust storms explain the inactivity of the armiee in Manchuria.

The Russian Admiralty has heard that Admiral Togo’s vessels will be unable to be completely repaired owing to the overorowding of tbe S sebo dockyard ; also the absence of certain fittings to replaoe those. Hence it is not expected they will quit their bases in Japan.

SPLENPID CONDITION OF TOGO’S FLEET.

WHEREABOUTS OF RUBSIAN VESSELS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 11.36 p.m., May 15.

London, May 15. The Paris correspondent of the Times learns that Admiral Togo’s ships were cleaned and repaired and are in splendid eondition. Well informed friends tel L him that Admiral Rosbdestvensky’s fleet can neither shoot nor steam.

A steamer which has arrived at Saigon reports that two Russian warships were southwards of Hainan on Friday. They convoyed fourteen cargo boats, all an chored later at Ynlin Bay. The same steamer later passed the main Russian squadron steaming northwards. The British steamer Carlisle entered Saigon and. declared it had commercial cargo, but M, Rodier, lieut. governor, ordered an inspection, disclosing a quantity of war stores. The Carlisle was detained.

MEDICAL OFFICER’S OPINION.

[(Per Ventura, at [Auckland. San Francisco, April 27. Surgeon-Major Louis L. Seaman, late of the United States Volunteer Engineersi and a, leading authority on military surgery in this country, Is in San Franeisoo en route to the Orient to continue his observations of the medioai aspect of the Russo-Japanese war. “If America had to go to war tomorrow,” Dr Seaman said, “there is absolutely nothing to prevent a repetition of the miserably wretched condition of affairs that existed in 1898, when during the short campaign of six weeks in Cuba fourteen men died from preventable disease to every one that died from Spanish bullets."

I Major Seaman is deeply disgusted with the failure of the United States Govern--1 ment to take advantage of the splendid lessons in military surgery and sanitation I which the Japanese are impressing on the world. “ Those lessons are simply going to waste,” he Baid. “ Our general staff sent five officers to observe the war. All these were connected with the killing department of the army, and not one had anything to do with the three great lifeI saving departments—commissary, trans- [ port, and medical. And yet it is just here that the Japanese are peculiarly fitted to give us many points. The nauseating conditions in Cuba amounted to nothing less than a Governmental crime. General Oku has just reported that of his army of 100,000 men onlyjforti died from preventable disease. How’strikingly does tbis compare with, our miserable failure in Cuba and in tbe Philippines ! We have able medical men in onr army, but their bands are tied. I am going to Japan again, and hope to join the staff of Mar. Btaal Oyama.”