THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, 22 March 1904, Page 2

THE WAR.

FOUR THOUSAND SICK AND

WOUNDED,

IN PORT ARTHUR

It is stated at Brussels that Russia has bought, at Antwerp, twenty transport steamers and insured each for fifty thousand. The Standard’s St. Petersburg correspondent states that a private telegram from Port Arthur reports that the greatest difficulty was experienced in furnishing proper accoramodation and attention for 4000 sick and wounded, owing to the great destruction wrought by the bombardment.

The Times reports that the Japanese are holding An]U. Russian and Japanese scouts are only separated by a river at Ohengchengf. ~ Russia is negotiating for iuG con struction within a year of twelve torpedo destroyers, some in Germany, An additional battery and 150 scouts have arrived at Niuchwang. ALLEGED INTERCEPTION OF DESPATCHES.

A French newspaper correspondent, in an interview with Baron Von Rosen, Russian Minister in Japan at the time of the outbreak of hostilities, at Port Said, elicited that Russia’s 'reply to the last Japanese Note, though dated February sth, was delivered at Tokio on the Bfch, with despatches which had also been intercepted by the Japanese. Admiral Alexieffs telegram warning the cruiser Varyag. of the rupture of relations was also intercepted, con verting the Chemulpho incident into a regular slaughter and ambuscade. Baron Von Rosen was convinced the Japanese fleet had sailed for Port Arthur long before the rupture was announced. Other sources of information confirm the idea that Admira' Togo sailed on t,he morning of the 6th. Baron Von Rosen asserts that Japan declared war in order to avert a Chauvinist revolution.

Russia has established naval prize courts at Sevastopol, Liban, Port Arthur, and Vladivostok. The Russians require seventy-five thousand tons of coal at Port Arthur but are reluctant to pay the famine blockade prices. British shippers hesitate to contract at lower rates.

Suyematsu, the Japanese representative in London, interviewed, Stated that he welcomed the AngloFrench entente cordials and considered it a powerful factor towards localising the war. Japan was really fighting for the political and commercial interests of the civilised world, its object being to prevent Russia absorbing Manchuria, Rorea, and the greater part of Northern China. Japan was proud of the British alliance, but had not the remotest idea of seeking armed Asiatics from anyone. Probably Japan was better aware of Russia’s weak spots than Russia herself. Her naval weakness had already been exposed. He was confident her weakness on the land would soon be revealed.

A telegram from St. Petersburg published in Paris, states that General Kuropatkin telegraphs there are 280,000 Russian troops between Kharbin and Port Arthur.

CHINA REQUESTED TO RE

CALL TROOPS

The Czar has agreed to the enlistment of five hundred Servian and five hundred Bulgarian volunteers against Japan. Russia protests against the despatch of Chinese forces outside the great wall, and if persisted in Russia will treat China as belligerent and march on Pekin. It is understood China has refused to recall her soldiers. Admiral Alexieff is at Mukden.

Russian reports state that Japanese infantry, with some guns, have occupied Ping-yang. Few cavalry are visible, their horses being poor. Russian patrols discovered Japanese at Chong-hong-ang river, five versts (between three and four miles) from Anju.