THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 16 February 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

RUSSIA AND JAPAN. WAR UNPOPULAR IN RUSSIA. The Daily News states that Count Benckendorff (Russian Ambassador) asked the .Marquis of Lansdowne (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) to sanction Russia requesting the Porte to allow the passage through the Dardanelles of the Black Sea fleet. It is reporte(l that Russia asked permission for fifteen of the Baltic fleet to pass through the Kiel Russian cruisers prevent the Japanese steamer Karaagagawamaru from leaving Malta. War is decidedly unpopular in Russia despite efforts to galvanise patriotism. Tokio accounts staid that the captain of the Varyag remained and exploded his ship after the crew had escaped by swimming either to the French ship or ashore. The Russian naval department asserts that six Japanese ships were slightly damaged at Port Arthur, and that 50 Japanese were killed and 150 wounded.

Two Japanese warships are waiting for the Russian gunboat Majur at the mouth of the Yang-tse-kiang. Accounts that have reached Tokio show that under a heavy fire the Japanese fleet on Monday night attacked Port Arthur. The torpedo boats crept unperceived close in shore between the Russian ships and the harbour. - When the ships began to give way and tried to re-enter the harbour, the torpedoers ftiiDk three at the entrance, cutting ofl’ iI IP retreat of the others. American accounts state that tbrea torpedo boats sank. HOW THE JAPS ATTACKED. The New York Herald says the Russian warship Pallada was on the outer edge of the fleet when the chief artillery officer noticed four torpedoes approaching. They were using Russian signals and he informed the captain they were Japanese. The captain angrily demurred, but the officer, nevertheless, prepared for action. When a torpedo was launched the Pallada retaliated immediately. The Russian cargo steamer Sungari was sunk daring the Chemulpho fight. Japan is concentrating troops at many points in Korea for an advance on the Ya!u river. THE JAPANESE PROCLAM ATION. THE APPEAL TO ARMS. Thu Japanese Consul has received the full text of the Emperor’s proclamation. It is a stirring appeal to all loyal subjects. After pointing out that he had always striven to promote the pacific progress of the Japanese Empire in civilisation and to strengthen the friendly ties with other States and that the relations with other Powers were? steadily growing in cordiality, the proclamation says it was, thus, greatly against our expectations that we have, unhappily, come to open hostilities against Russia. The integrity of Corea was a matter for constant concern to this Empire. Not only because of our traditional relations with that country, but because the separate existence of Korea was essential to the safety of this realm. Nevertheless, Russia,

in disregard of her solemn treaty pledges to China and her repeated assurances to other Powers, is still in occupation of Manchuria and has consolidated and strengthened her hold upon these provinces, and ia bent upon their final annexation. Since the absorption of Manchuria by Russia would render it impossible to maintain the integrity of China and would, in addition, compel the abandonment of all hope of peace in the extreme hast we determined, in these circumstances, to settle the question by the conduct of negotiations and secure thereby a permanent peace. Russia, however, never met such proposals in a Spirit of conciliation, but by her wanton delays put off a settlement of the question by ostensibly advocating peace on one band, while ahe was, on the other, extending her naval and military preparations and thus sought to accomplish her own selfish designs. W. cannot in the least admit that Russia had, from the first, any serious or genuine desire for peace. She has rejected our proposals for the safety of Corea and endangers interests of our Empire, The guarantees for the future which we failed to secure by peaceful negotiations we can now only seek by an appeal to arms.

RUSSIA’S INJURED WARSHIPS. Admiral Alexieff reports that the Tsarevitch and Pallada have been brought into the inner harbour. The Retvisan’s leak has been temporarily stopped. The repairing of ironclads is a complicated work and it is difficult to indicate when the repairs will be completed. The Pallada and Novik will be successively docked for repairs in about a fortnight. It is hoped the others will be ready within three days. The majority of the wounded belonged to the Pallada. They were affected by poisoned melinite gases. An extra vigilant watch is kept at night, but without result. RUSSIANS CAUGHT NAPPING. The Daily Mail's Chefoo correspondent says that on the night of the Bth a special performance was held, at Port \rthur, of a circus. The audience was chiefly naval and military officers. The performance lasted until early in the morning of fcha 9th,

Official circles in Berlin profess ignorance with regard to the passage of the Russian squadron through the Kiel eanal. RUSSIAN WARSHIPS SINK A JAPANESE STEAMER.

Four Russian warships, belonging to the Vladivostock squadron, off Hemashi on the 11th, surrounded and attacked two private Japanese steamers, the Nakauouramaru 1084 tons and the Yenahomaru 319 tons, bound from Sakatonzen to Otaru.

The larger vessel was sunk, but the smaller escaped safely. JAPS ATTACKED TWICE.

Admiral Togo reports that the Japanese advanced in squadron on the Bth, and attacked the Russian advance squadron outside Port Arthur, when the Poltava, Askold, and two other Russian vessels were apparent!/ torpedoed. The fleet attacked the Russians at noon on the 9th in the offing of Port Arthur.

In 10 minutes the enemy was greatly demoralised and stopped fighting, one vessel apparently retreating into the harbour. The Japanese fleet suffered very slight damage, and its fighting strength was not decreased. Four Japanese were killed and 54 wounded. The officers were as cool as during ordinary manoeuvres. INDIGNITY TO THE BRITISH FLAG. During the Century Celebrations of the Poet Runeberg at Helsingfors, Finland, the British flag hoisted at the Consulate, was lowered by command of the Russian police, while the French flag was allowed to fly over the French Consulate. The British Consul protested to Geuaral Bobrikoff, who permitted the re-hoisting| The Chief of Police subsequently apologised to the British Consul.