Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-30

them to drift below the surface ana
thus causing the loss Of the Russian
battloshlp PctrOpayloysk
4 prominent diplomat said;
"The Russians are fully JUSTIFIED IN
using mines 10 repel the Cnemys lnVa-
sion OF their coasts. There Is no law
to prevent that country from doing
anything 70 ploasos 10 keep OF the en-
envy from its shores, " Great Britain
were AT war and she chose 10 MI the
channel with floating mines for the de-
fcnse Of her coast no power could
raise amy objection
possible 10 obtain official opinion re-
gardiug the announcement made today
by the Tien Tsiu correspondent OF the
Daily Express OF london that the RUS
sian minister at pekin. NJ Lessar, had
Informed the Chinese government that
PRUSSIA viii finally cyacugte New
chwang provided China grants "a COM
cession OF "a railroad across Chinese
Mongolia, and that Russia VIII eNacu-
ate Manchuria outright II CHM leases
the M or Kooldia territory to Russm.
But I'm diplomatic circles the report Is
regarded as absurd II is pointed out
that Russia already owns the greater
part Of the III territory ana that threr-
fourths of the course OF the river,
which empties into lake Balkash, flows
through Russian territory. The upper
waters OF the IN are OF no commercial
or strategical Importance and the
only real value OF such an agreement TO
Russla would be the acquisition OF a
portion of Chinese Central Asia COM
prisng Kaspgara and Yarkarand IL Ia
impossible 90 suppose that Russia,
while the war is proceeding Is making
offers to exchange Manchuria for this
region.
OBJECTIVE OF THE JAPANESE.
Lao Yang, May 3O-The impression
at headquarters Is growing that tho
main objective OF the enemy Is Port
Arthur, and It would not be surpris-
ing II the actual assault on that fort
ress began within a fortnight
No important movement Of Gen. Ku.
roki had been received up to the time
this dispatch was fled.
RUSSIANS ABANDON POSITIONS
Toxic. May 30, 3 p. m.-Gen, Oku, In
command of the japanese armies oper-
ating against Port Arthur, reports that
the Russians have abandoned Chenk
10 Chen Pau. Huang Shan and Liu
Shu Tun No Russians have been
seen east of chen no Chen Pau
Gen Nakamuras detachment, which
occupied Lu Shu Lun Friday cap
tured four Russian guns.
ANOTHER ARMY DEPARTS
Washington, May So.-Adyices re-
ceived here report the departure from
Japan Of an other army division. While
It's destination Is not stated, II Is con-
jectured that these troops are about
to close IN the Russians rear IN north.
east Of Feng Wang Cheng, Saturday
The engagement began at 1880 ana
ended at 80 a. m. The Japanese lost
four men killed and eight wounded The
Russian casualties are not known.
There are no less than $4,000 soldiers
In the expedition.
The reported offer OF Japan TO China
to surrender to her so much OF Man
churia as already has been taken by
the Japanese troops Is viewed here with
interest because OF the possibility, N
the offer Is accepted 10y China that
Russia viii hold that the Celestial em-
pire has thereby violated her pledged
neutrality thus affordlug ground for am
attack upon certain parts OF Mongolia
that would be Of great strategic value
in the war. Although the state depart
ment has consistently Insisted upon
recognizing the sovereignty of China
b over Manchura, as evidenced by the
appointment Of consuls under Pekin
eXequateurs to that province. 1t also
has agreed to admit the existence of a
field OF war I'm that section, which was
under Russian control at the outbreak
Of hostilltles. The alternative said "a
be presented by Japan OF an admins
tratlon OF the captured territory by an
international commission Is not likely
TO meet with much favor I'm Washing
ton, as the experience of the govern
ment in the Boxer uprising and the
subsequent difficulties In getting clear
OF the obligations incurred IN conjunc-
ton with European nations have not
encouraged further concurrent move
ments Of that kind.
RUSSIAN LINES OF DEFENSE.
che Foo May 30, p. m.,-From Chi
nese sources II Is learned that the Rus
SLAMS have four lines OF defense between
Nanshin and Port Arthur.
DEFENSE ONLY DEMONsTRAT1VE
St Petersburg, May S0,--A semi-of-
fical telegram from Mukden, dated t.
day, says
lowing TO the impossbllty Of de-
Tending The position southwark Of Kin
chou without the aid of the fleet, tbs
Russian defense at that point was only
OF demonstrative character The de-
tending force was armed with gurs
taken from the Chinese In 1900 and had
little ammunition. The occupation Of
the position by the Japanese at great
cost TO themselves does not alter The
situation"