THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 18 February 1904, Page 3

THE WAR.

RUSSIA~AND JAPAN

JAPAN’S NEW CRUISERS

SEARCHING FOR RUSSIAN WARSHIPS.

The cruisers Kasuga and Nisshin, Which Japan purchased from the Argentine Government, and which were manned by British officers and sailors, have shipped their fighting crews, aggregating twelve hundred. They will rendezvous in the Dutch Archipeligo, and are now searching for the cruisers of the Russian volunteer fleet.

Toltio reports state that 00,000 troops have been landed at various Korean ports. Military critics expect it will be some weeks before serious land fighting takes place along the Yalu owing to the difficulty of concentrating a sufficient Japanese force. The Japanese have occupied Chingheiwen, a Russian coaling station near Masampho. The Japanese have captured a German steamer named Yokohama. Her cargo included dynamite, intended for Port Arthur. The Japanese have also captured six Nor wegian vessels chartered by a Russian naval coal contractor.

RUSSIAN STEAMER CAP-

TURED

The Daily Mail’s Yokohama correspondent reports that the Russian steamer Kotik, bound to Sydney in ballast, was captured and taken to Sesabor. A Berlin-Frankfort financier, who lost five millions sterling owing to the slump as a result .of the war, accuses the German Government of deluding them by false hopes of peace and then suddenly changing. Viscountess Hayashi has appealed to her countrywomen resident in Britain to subscribe to the Japanese soldiers’ and sailors’ widows and

fund. Many British are subscribing. A similar fund has also been opened in France for the benefit of the Russian wounded. BRITAIN WILL BE DRAWN INTO THE WAR.

General Sir llobert Low, Commander of the Forces at Bombay, interviewed by a representative of the Auckland Herald on Monday, said he believed England would be drawn into the Russian-Japanese affair in two months’ time. This was apparently inevitable whichever side wins. He regards the war as a serious misfortune for the world at large, whatever the final issue may be ns between the two combatant nations. DATT.i-: IMMINENT.

General Pllug, Admiral Alexieff’s Chief of Staff, telegraphs that according to reports from Yiagkow, the Japanese are preparing to land atChangwanhao. A mounted patrol is believed «to have seen the Japanese on the Suiminting post road. Similar reports have been received from the Sujatun station. During a patriotic demonstration at Warsaw Count Derabsky became demented on the balcony and fired into the crowd, killing three and wounding 20. He then attempted to commit suicide, but was arrested. WHAT WAR COSTS. The Yenesei wak loaded with explosives and was laying a mine. The accident revealed Admiral Alexieff’s intention to keep the vessels in the inner harbour of Port Arthur.

There are two thousand Russians at Nieuchwang with three batteries of artillery. The Daily Chronicle estimates the damage done to the Russian warships in the Port Arthur and Chemulpho engagements at seven millions.

The Japanese did not use torpedoes in the Chemulpho fight. There is great indignation at Tokio over the torpedoing and sinking of the Nakanora Mam with 38 of the crew and passengers, after the flog had been hauled down, and no attempt at rescue made. BRITAIN AND RUSSIA. A Blue Book issued shows that Britain repeatedly urged the execution of Russia’s pledges in regard to Manchuria.

Lord Lansdowne, in an interview . with Count Beckenedorff in January, 8 that Russia should have found it impossible to take a single step in pursuance of the evacuation policy, and he added that Britain was looking for some concrete evidence of Russia’s intention to fulfil her promises.

Smalley says Russia’s assent to

olonel Hay’s note may be inferred from the fact that M. Delcasse was pleased at Colonel Hay’s proposal that the belligerents should respect China's neutrality and administrative entity. The latter phrase was used instead of territorial integrity out of deference to French susceptibilities,

It is understood that although Manchuria is accepted in the scope of neutrality, China’s rights under the existing treaties are not prejudiced.

England, without refusing her assent, desired more explicit definition proposals.