TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1904

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1110, 4 October 1904, Page 2

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1904

The scarcity of news from the seat of war has been greater for the last few days than at any previous time since the war began. The only information to hand for tho past week has been that obtained from refugees arriving at tho neutral port of Chifoo, or from tho official roports of the leaders of the amiieß; and neither side has furnished information that is very recent. The most we havo learned respecting the forces is that tb.9 Russians are retiring from Mukden towards Tiehling, north-east ot the former place and that the Japanese are creeping up slowly from all points on the Russian trail, but with no sign of offensivo operations, That Kuropotkin has resolved upon making a stand at Tiehling is shown by his order for the removal of all women and children from the township, Tho retirement from Mukden is owing perhaps to the fact that tho city is perfectly useless for defensive purposes, and also that tho Russians may desire to respect the potition of the Chinese that the sacred city would not be fired on or tho temples within it destroyed, it would seem from the hfpst cables that both armies are fortifying with great energy and purpose the positions they now hold, and that the Russians i.ro puzzled as to the Japanese intentions. The fact of tin; Russians being puzzled is nothing now. The. enemy's intentions have puzzled them from tho first, and we suppose will puzzle them to the end of the war. Up to tho prcfent stage of the campaign the Russians have perhaps been treated to morosur. prises than all tho surprises together in tho previous history of Russian warfare. It is by these surprises as much as anything that the Japanese have prospered and the Russians have suffered, But for tho tintu being both armies havu apparently'

eallod a halt for the purpose of getting ready for tho next groat batttle, Reinforcements are said to be pouring in both for Knrolri and Kuropalkin, and as the forces are at close quarters tidings of the conflict.may arrive at any moment. The Russian mobilisation and the forming of a second Maiiclmriau army for service in a few months' time engenders the belief that Russia has no intent ion of throwing up the sponge with the fall of Port-Arthur; but how the troops are to reach Manchuria when the capacity of the railway in taxed by the conveyance of pioviaious for tho troops already i here is a problem. It is out of the question lo imagine that Port Arthur will be able to stand the sioge much longer. It is now over a month since the Japanese decorated Tokio in the certainty that the port, would fall in ii day or ' two ; but still it holds out, and its brave defenders are fighting with valour almost unparalleled. Them seems 10 be a strong feeling, in wellinformed circles that with the fall of the port and the conquest of Southern Manchuria a proposal will be made by Japan for peace, and the hope is general that in .the event of tho proposal Great Britain, the United States, and the Uoiitinent'al Powers will use their influence to close the war The fall of the port would relieve ao vast a number of Japanese from duty there as to enable reinforcements to be sent to Manchuria that would give linroki tho power to sweep all before him. That the proposal will come soon is greatly to be wished.

Wo regret to loam of the indisposition o' Mr D, W. McArthur, Borough Engineer, who in consequonce is confined to his bed to-dav.

To-morrow (Wednesday) Mr. Samuel % Whitohouse, secretary of the Thames Land, Building and Investment Society, will pay his usual periodical visit to Waihi. Mr. Whitohouso will be accompanied by Mr, C, J. Brown, Land Board Commissioner, and Mr. J. Read. By an advertisement elsewhere Mr, J, E. A. Tolmer intimates to tho public of Waihi that ho is now supplying tho best of rata firewood at 10a por ton'nnd taw* nt 7s. Ordors posted to his address Vaitcto Greek, Waihi, will have his prompt attention,

Wo avo pleased to learn that Mr. C. Lloyd's little three-old son, who received serious injuries iu tho abdoroon from a horao last wook, is proprejsing favour. ably, For a few days utter the accident the child's condition was very oriiica).

To-morrow ovening tho Y.M.I.C. will debate tho question "Is novel readiug beneficial." Two well-known debaters will take tho leading parti, and an interesting discussion should result. After the dobato the meoting will consider the question of forming a criokotclub in connection with tho Y.M.I.C. All interested are invited to bo present, White at Groymouth tho Premier was waitod on by tho miners of tho State coal mines, who asked thst tho torminal chargo on coal from tho State coal mino should bo incroasod, and that a special rate and a roynlty should be paid on coal from the Stato mine. Tho Premier said lh.it tb:. mattor must bo regarded in a broad-minded manner, Tho mine was an experiment fraught with great possibilities to tho colony, and it should not bo overloaded with charges, Why should thcro bo a special rate, or why should tho Government pay itself a royalty on its coal ? The capital set apart for tho mino was already expended, so that new work would haye to be paid for out of revenue, and he thought that Greymouth should consider itself fortunato in being so close to the mino.