THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 23 February 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

ICE LAKE COLLAPSES. RUSSIANS PALL IN.

A telegram published in the Narodini Listy, a Vienna .journal, states that the ice on Lake Baikal cracked two hundred yards at a spot where the lake is four thousand feet deep, and engulphed two Russian regiments of Sappers, and another regiment.

China has notified that she intends to maintain an armed neu trality. Japan has replied that the mausoleums and palaces at Mukden and Haigkaing are secure from any injury not attributable to Russia’s action. Japan, she repeats, has no intention to acquire territory at the expense of China. The Morning Post’s Chefoo correspondent states that only three Russian warships at Port Arthur are intact.

It is officially announced at Tokio that contraband of war is divided into two classes. The first includes military weapons, explosives, materials used in making them, uniforms, and other goods intended solely for use in war. The second class includes provisions, drink, horses, harness, fodder, vehicles, coal, timber, coins, gold, silver, bullion, materials for construction of telegraphs, telephones, and railways. These are contraband of war when they are destined for the enemy’s ftntyTAnd MTjr.

RUSSIA’S PREPARATIONS. The export of Russian Germany has ceased owing to a dr® version in the rolling-stock for the conveyance of troops and war material, Victoria’s trade with Japan last year in imports amounted to £137,000 chiefly in rice and silk, and in exports £26,700, wool being the principal article. Russia refused to grant an exequatur to allow Mr Morgan to act as American consul at Dalny. Colonel Hay’s view is that the decision cannot affect Messrs Cheshire and Davidson, and has decided that China be asked for exequaturs in their case, inasmuch as Manchuria is a province of China, and another Power is not entitled to intervene.

A storm brought some mines to the surface. The cruiser Boyrin was sent to secure them, but was caught in the storm and wrecked on the rocks.

It is believed that the ship torpedoed on the 14th was the Russian cruiser Bayan. BIG CASUALTY LIST.

The Daily Mail states that 190 were killed aboard the Yenesei and 90 saved.

[The transport Yenesei, on the 11th, while lying on the lint of the submarine mines in Talienwan Bay, was sunk by an explosion. The Yenesei attempted to secure a mine which was floating on the surface, when she was carried on to a neigh* bouring mine which exploded under her bows. There was no time to launch the boats.] RUSSIAN BARBARISM. The Japanese Consul at Sydney has received official information that the Russians, on the Bth inat., prevented all the Japanese from leaving Port Arthur.

From the Bth to the 14th they were kept aboard the British steamers Wenchow and Henchow and not allowed to reland or depart. Those on the Henchow, numbering over 800, endured indescribable hardships owing to the shortage of water, the Russians ignoring the request to supply provisions which also were short.

On the 13th, 103 Japs, who arrived from Harbin, were robbed of all their money and luggage by the Russians en route.

The steamers were allowed to depart on the evening of the 14tb,and arrived at Chifu next day. JL American and Continental newjjl " papers declare that it is too late for Russia to pretend that she was unprepared for war, and accuse Japan of treachery, after she herself was building railways, collecting stores, and massing troops and warships. Many Russian newspapers accuse Britain of causing the disaster, Reuter’s agency reports that Russian official circles believe Germany will ultimately assist Russia. Admiral Rozhoistens, Chief of the Navy Staff, declares that Russia is unable to send all the officers who are wanted at Port Arthur, as, possibly, they may be needed in the Baltic.

The Japanese domestic loan of ten millions sterling, to be issued in March, has already been covered two-fold.

'1 he captain of Coreetz, writing a month before the Chemulpho fight, declared that Russia was ready for a tussle. He expected that Japan would attack before there was a declaration of war.

The Times’ Tokio correspondent states that the Russian shells break up against the Japanese armour; while the Japanese shell, with Smimose powder, are efficient and destructive.

A rigid censorship is maintained and there is no war news. The war correspondents are still at Tokio, not a single permit having been granted. General Ma telegraphs to Pekin that he has great difficulty in restraining his troops at Hsinnimting from crossing the Liao river and attacking the Russians at Mukden,