The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-02
War IN FAR EAST TO co ON.
POSSIBLE MEDIATION BY ITALY
WOULD BE INEFFECTUAL.


Czsr Now Recognizes japan as a Great
Power. and His Plans Indicate q Fight
10 the Death NJ the Risk OF ReyoIu tion
No Authentic War News for Week.
Special Cable Despatch 20 THE sun
LONDON, Oct. There has been prac-
hcally no authentic news from the Far
East In the past week. The latest 'tnfor-
nation remains the same that the attack
on Port Arthur grows fie-cer and fieroer,
butts still unsuccessful, while Field Marshal
Oyama is still preparing an enveloping
movement for Gen. Kuropatkin, who is
still strengthening Mukden and preparing
10 retreat to Telling.
The quid nunos have devoted much specu-
stion to the reason for the sudden visit
Of Signor Giolitti, the Italian Premier, to
Chancellor Won Buelow at Homburg. Il Is
obvious that the Italian statesman would
not quit Rome when his duties there were
very severe, owing to the general strike
which has just ended, unless he had been
summoned.
There has been a gener al tendency on
the Continent to ascribe the meeting to a
project for mediation in the war. Italy,
being the least interested Of the great
Powers In the Far East, Is presumed to be
the ikeliest go-between, but for reasons
often explained in q is correspondence the
idea OF mediation may be safely dismissed
These reasons against Intervention re-
main as strong as ever; indeed they have
been fortified by the change announced
at St. Petersburg. The appointment OF
Gen. Gripenberg to command a second
Manchurian army Of a quarter Of million
men which will be ready to take the often
sive In the spring is an event of the highest
significance.
Military belief in st, Petersburg ascribes
the appointment to an intrigue having for
Its object the sighting Of Gen. Kuropatkin.
I his is probably, however only part Of
the truth. The Spectator, dealing with
the Cars letter appointing Cen Gripen-
berg, suggests wider view. It says:
s1he Gar is not dealing with the present
but is preparing for the future. He has rid
himself completely, and in publishing his
letter rids his subje Of the delusion that
Japan is a small presumptuous Power.
He acknowledges publicly that she is a great
one, but he remains undaunted and warns
his enemies, his ow n subjects and the world
at large that he " i'll go on unfinchingly.
He has not much confidence in the pres
at Mulden or telling, but the only effect
of that doubt, as he assures Gen. Gripen
berg, is that he " i'll employ a second army
20 large that it will require a fresh CON-
mander- in. chief and at ali events ne will
fight on.
The arrangements whatever they are.
with the German Emperor which will enable
the Gar to remove legions from the West
ern frontier. the desperate effort to for
ward a new feet to the Far East in time,
II not for Gen. Kuropatkin which is nearly
impossible, then for Gen. Gripenberg the
call to all reservists. especially reserve
officers Of the empire, and the decree plac
ing more than dozen great governments
OF provinces under martial law, all point
to the same tting-that the House Of
Romanoff, for the Grand Dukes are all
on this side. has resolved to risk revou-
ton rather than give way to this power
whose 81 ccess would terminate Russian
dreams of ultimately mastering the world,
and in terminating them would bring the
autoo acy, perhaps even the dynasty, to a
melancholy end. = 80.
Every resource of the empire shall be
strained, every subject and nationality
conoiliated, every irritated class, even the
jews, eidu Oe soclHca ny ictiShp Coutioi'
but there shall be no peace which Russia
shall not visibly dictate. That is the re-
solve which led \ to the appointment OF
Gen. GripenberJ.'
Official contradiction of the statement
that Admiral Alexieff is returning to st.
Petersburg has come as surprise. The
desirability of his recall is 80 universally
recognized that the truth Of the report W as
generally accepted. The fact that he Is
to remain emphasizes more clearly than
ever the ascendanoy Of the Grand Ducal
party.
It Is still not clear what the exact position
IS which the Grand Duke Nicholas will
have at the front. Apparently, both Gen.
Gutenberg and Gen. kuropatkin will be
under Generalissimo, either Grand Duke
Nicholas or Gen. Dragomirof, the latter
being described as the most determined
enemy Gen. Kuropatkin has.
There is no wonder. therefore, that this
division OF important commands between
men Of divergent opinions is criticised both
here and on the Continent as suggesting
confusion of varying counsels at head
quarters most injurious to the prospect OF
Russian success. Military opinion at st.
Petersburg regards It, according to the st.
Petersburg correspondent Of THF Sun, as
"A great blunder. while the Vienna corre-
epondent Of the Times declares that the
news has created as bad an impression in
political and military circles aswould the
news of q fresh disaster to Russian arms
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