The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-15
Russians Annoyed by Sugges-
tiOns of Foreign Mediation.
.Unfriendly Feeling Is Attribut-
ed to President Roosevelt.
ENGLAND SUSPECTED.
Feared That She Will Try to
Stop the Baltic Fleet.
Car Is Urged to Mobilize Troops
on Indian Frontier.

ST. Petersburg, Nov. 15.-The forth
provincial zemstvos is absorbing public
provincial zamstvos is absorbing public
attention to the exclusion of other ques-
tions. The continued suggestions from
abroad regarding peace are treated like
their predecessors as unworthy of seri-
Gus consideration. The mere mention
| of mediation arouses the ire Of those
| in authority. The reiteration of the
statement that President Roosevelt
having the support of Great Britain
and France had already been approach
ed by Japan and was ready to offer his
offices in view of Russia's position, is
not considered to be a friendly act.
Russia will pursue the war on an ever
increasing scale and preparations to do
SO are being made everywhere. Trouble
with the army reserve men continues In
various places especially in Poland, but
the authorities are making efforts to
allay the causes of discomfort and
many of the abuses complained of have
been corrected The problem of caring
for the families of the reserve men,
many of whom are left almost desti-
tute is receiving earnest consideration.
The members of the revolutionary
party naturally are doing everything
possible to foment discomfort among
the reserve men, urging on them that it
far east, but the war office is seemingly
convinced that the troubles will not
spread to a great extent
The progress of the Second Pacific
squadron in which so much of Russia's
hope is centered, is followed with in
tense interest. The cruiser Oriel, the
cruiser Jemtchug, seven torpedo boat
destroyers and six transports are 1eaV-
ing Libau this week to join the squad
ron. In the public mind deep seated
suspicion exists that if the squadron
arrives close to its destination in an
efficient condition Great Britain Will in
some way find a pretext to block its
further progress and some of the news
papers refer to the necessity for mobl-
izing troops on the Indian frontier,
where Russia has now two army corps
as a counter there to- guarantee the
safe passage of the squadron Unfort-
unately the utterances of the press of
both countries are constantly tanning
the feeling of mutual distrust.
There May Be a Hitch.
St. Petersburg, Nov. ia difference
has developed between Great Britain
and Russia over the language of the
article in the North sea convention rel
ative to the question of responsibility. |
At the foreign office it is said that
Russia does not desire to in any way
recede from the basis of the agreement
but she proposes a. modification of the |
language submitted in England's text. |
The admiralty, it is understood contend |
ed all along that the international COM |
mission should confine its INQUIRY to |
the establishment of the question
whether torpedo boats were off the
Dogger bank and whether in any event
the Russian ships were justified in fir !
ing.
The Associated Press learns that Vice |
Admiral Rojestvensky' detailed report |
shows that some shots from the battle |
ships hit the Russian protected cruiser
one of the shells entering the
wardroom and wounding a priest who |
died at Tangiers from the
injuries which he sustained. The Rus
sian admiralty contends that this is ad-
ditional proof of the good faith of the
vessel which fired on what they)be-
lieved to be torpedo boats, not having
seen either the fishing vessels or their
own ships of the cruiser division Lieut..
OFT one of the Russian witnesses will |
swear positively that he saw flames
rising out of four tunnels of low ly-
ing ship.
Lieutenant Ellis, another Russian wit
ness who was in turret of Russian
battIeship Alexander III, sighted gun
boat but did not fire. He declares that
he is positive he saw a torpedo boat
destroyer. Captain Clado, also one of
the witnesses insisted that he saw two
torpedo boats and the dispositions of the
officers of the Russian transport kam-
tchatka say they saw four boats re-
sembling torpedo boats