RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7707, 9 January 1905, Page 3

RUSSIA AND JAPAN.

~ THE MEETING OF THE CHAMPIONS. Stotssel Returns to Russia. LONDON, Jan. 6. Generals Stoessel and Nogi have had a two hours' interview in a cottage in Shinshi village. ■ General Stoessel is granted parole, and is returning to Russia via Nagasaki. STOESSEL'S CHARGER PRESENTED IX) NOGI'S ARMY. (Received Jan. 8, 5.53 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The Daily Express correspondent states that during the interview at the cottage at Shinshi General Nogi expressed his admiration of General Stocsscl's charger. The latter thereupon instantly begged Nogi's acceptance of the animal, but this was declined as a personal gift. Nogi, however, said he would' gladly accept the charger on behalf of his army, assuring the Russian leader that it would always be regarded as one of the proudest possessions of the service. WITHIN PORT ARTHUR. SALVAGING THE BATTLESHIPS. LONDON, Jan. 6. Russian officers declare that of the casualties requiring treatment at Port Arthur, at least eight thouf. sand arc Japanese. There are indications that only , parts of the battleships above the water-line have been destroyed at Port Arthur. There are no signs of interior explosions, and the Japanese hope that repairs will be possible. THE BALTIC SQUADRONS. VESSELS AT MADAGASCAR. LONDON, Jan. 6. The Paris newspaper Le Matin implies that the authorities at Madagascar are less alive to the necessity of observing neutrality than the French Government. Some German colliers following the Baltic fleet experienced mishaps. Russia is trying to obtain coal and facilities for repairing the fleet at Madagascar ; also maps of routes and anchorages in the Indian Ocean. It is serai-offlciatly stated that the Baltic fleet remains outside French territorial waters, French advices state that Admiral Foelkersahm, with the first division '■ of the Baltic Fleet, is off Tama■tave, Madagascar. It is stated that two cruisers of the squadron are useless owing to breakdowns of their machinery. (Received Jan. 8, 6.3 p.m.)' LONDON, Jan. 7. Lloyd's agency reports that it is unable to detect any evidence that Russia is arranging to obtain coal or provisions for the Baltic Fleet at Diego Saurcz ; but says she has cancelled two lai-ge shiploads o/ arms and ammunition from Libau to the East Indian Archipelago and Saigon. THE CZAR'S OPTIMISM. "ALL MEASURES TAKEN TO AS- ! SURE VICTORY." LONDON, Jan. 6. The Times' Vienna correspondent ; reports that the Kaiser on the eve of the war urged the Czar to reflect before rejecting the Japanese terms,, adding that in view of his exact information regarding the respective forces he feared the result. The Czar replied that all measures , had been taken to assure victory. A PRIZE CODRT DECISION. " AND SOME RUSSIAN PROTESTS. LONDON, Jon. 6. The Prize Court coudcnnud the steamer Nigretia, recently captured by the Japanese, to be confiscated because the captaiu and lieutenant of the Russian destroyer Raztoropni, which took refuge in Che-foo, were on board trying to escape. Russia has protested to the Chinese Government against Chinese detachments participating in the fighting at Tai-ling Pass ; also against the Japanese using the Jlraotao Islands as a naval base. CHANGING HMDS. l JAPAN'S OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO PORT ARTHUR. ■ (Received Jan. 8, 5.33 p.m. DelayI cd hi transmission.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The Japanese have now taken posI session of all the-Port Arthur ports. j Eighty-six officers were released on I , parole, while 82 prefor to remain in captivity. These are accompanied .by 5000 men of the Russian regulars, who marched out and proceeded ' to Dalny. ; A Japanese force has entered Port Arthur to keep order. Non-combat- < ants were given the option of re- ■ maining. Japanese sailors arc clearing the harbour of mines, and removing the Japanese hulks from the channel to ' the entrance. * ' THE POSITION-IN MANCHURIA. y NO IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS PENDING. (Received Jan. 8, 5.53 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The Times' military critic declares that there is no of important movements on the Sha-ho, unless necessitated by a desire to distract attention from the internal situation in Russia. The estimate of General Kuropatkin's force does not exceed a quarter ,of a million, including fifty thousand reinforcements arrived since the battle of Sha-ho. (Received Jan. 8, 6.3 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. The Japanese arc bridging Ihe Yafu, linking the Korean and' Chinese railways, and strengthening CjJeneral Kuroki's new field railway established southwards of the Japanese lines at Sha-ho. \ Russian batteries at the' Sha-ho were silent for two days following the fall of Port Arthur'; but thereafter many heavy guns bonnbarded the Japanese positions almost incessantly, though there are no indications of cither side, takingv the offensive. X General Sakharoff reports Ahat Russian patrols damaged an (embankment ten miles north of H&icheng, derailing an engine. PEACE SUGGESTIONS FLOUTED. RUSSIA MUST MAINTAIN HER DIGNITY, \ (Received Jan. 8, 6.3 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. At a meeting of the Council of Ministers at St. Petersburg it was decided that any suggestions of peace -were incompatible witn the maintenance of the dignity of Russia. JAPANESE FORTIFICATION. L KEY TO THE YELLOW SKA. LONDON, Jan. '■ The Japanese ate now fortifying Qulpart, a large island sExty miles south of Korea, commanding both tile Yellow Sea and the Straits of Korea.