The Latest.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 13, 16 January 1904, Page 3

The Latest.

BU9SIAN TKANSPOIITS I'ASS THE DAIiDANELRKS. TERMS OF JAPAN'S NOTE. • Received 15, 10.32 p.m. LONMOX. Jan. l.'i. Two ships of the Russian volunteer fleet, full of troops, have passed the Dardanelles, hound to the Fas East. The Japanese Minister, resident in England, Viscount Hayashi, slates that the Japanese Note was pacific, and though perfectly firm was in no sense an ultimatum, it reiterated the original conditions as regards Manchuria and Korea, and eniphasised the necessity of the preservation of China's sovereignty. Berlin advices declare that Japan offers to neutralise Northern Korea' if Russia neutralises an equal portion of Manchuria, making the present Korean border (including the Yalu Riwr) the middle line of the neutral zone. It is further stated that Japan demands a definite reply to questions in dispute, otherwise it reserves the to break ofl negotiations. THE PORTE AND THE DAKDAXELLES. RUSSIAN SHIPS PROVISIONING. THE MUSCOVITE HOLD ON 'MANCHURIA. Received lfi, 0.11 a.m. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 15. The Porte has refused llussia free egress througti the Dardanelles. It is reported th."t two cruiser" and /our battleships at O. )ms: ojiol are shipping amm*nition and j rovjsionß. WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 . The Japanese Minister in Washington has assured Mr Hay that Japan's reply refused all Russia's important proposals, while submitting Counter proposals which Kus&ia is alnioßt certain to reject. LONDON, Jan. l.">. Russia is increasing the Niuch.waug garrison by two thousand li t !'. TheNe* York correspondent of tiie Times states that Itnssia recen'ly unofficially but plainly threatened to annex Manchuria outright lather than allow China to grant freedom of trade in territory which v.ai| not altogether hers. v THE CZAR'S DESIRE FOR PEACE. Received 16, 0.54 a.m. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan 15. S.pea4riflg at the New Year reception at the Winter Palace, the Czar said : "I desire antd inte«iJ to do all in my power to maintain peace." THE SULTAN PREVENTS JAPAN'S PURCHASE OF WARSHIPS. THE GATHERING OF THE IRONCLADS. BRITISH CRUISERS PRESENT. CONSTANTINOPLE, Jan. 15. The Sultan has paid the Auso Mo Company, ship runi'.iers at Genoa, a quarter oi a million iioiinils to aivert the transfer to da|>aii of several modernised r l\irkisii cruisers. LONDON 7 , Jan. 15. The Jafiajiese cruisers Nis-shin and KaßUga, and the Russian battleships l>imitri Donskoi and Aurora, the latter aecoaiipßidad by sewn toi[p\o liestroyers, are coaling at Suez. The Russian battleship Oslabva, with u cruiser anil several torpodo boats, is at Port Said. The British cruisem King Alfred and Diana arc also at Suez, it is sujiyosi'd to prevent any violation of interests. Japan has <mk'ivJ a 16,000 ton battleship in England. Jtatianese citizens are offering to ccmtiiibute to liie war fund. Spealkinjg: at Kaitai »'ata yesterday Sir Joseph Waijd, referring to the situation in the Far East, remarked that if the worsl came to the worst he hopiad tliere wais not a ISritis'h.'r in any piai't of the world wbn«c synipathies woukl not be with Japan.