Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-17

nonade of siege guns, throwing fifty or
sixty shells hourly against the Japan
csc position in the legion of the
Shakhe station began early this morn
ing and ended at night fall when more
than half thousand big contact shells
had been thrown into the Japanese
army's strongest position in the plain.
for the purpose of demoralizing the
work Of Notifications concentrated at
| that point for the past four weeks.
Small Guns Useless.
Today's bombardment was the most
serious attempt yet made by the Rus
slams large guns and it was made on
account of the apparent determination
of the Japanese to make the Shakhe
station an impregnable defense of the
railway behind. Both sides have SO
dug themselves into the ground, night
and day. that artillery fire is practi-
cally ineffective and the ammunition is
nearly wholly wasted.
Both sides, recognizing this, are re-
sorting to competition of the big
guns and the regular field artillery is
only occasionally engaged.
"Peace is Impossible"
Washington, D. c., Nov. 15.-"Peace
at the present time is impossible. Rus
STA will pursue the war to the bitter
end-that is. until she has conquered.
We will not suspend in any case our
military operations in the far east.
Reports of the probable success Of
the Japanese overtures are started to
convince the public that Japanese
loans are a good investment. Russia
can no more admit of interference
than Great Britain could in the Trans
wall or than could the United States
in her war with Spain. Where the
prestige of country is at stake all
other considerations are and must be
put aside"
These were the words of Count Cas-
SIM Russian ambassador today. He
was emphatic in his denial of all pos
sibilities of an early healing of the
breach between his nation and the orr
entails.
VIII Brook no Interference.
/ Several times recently he, in the
name Of his government, has categor-
lically denied the possibility of inter
q vention, but the recurrence of rumors
that the powers contemplated media
ton led him to take this positive
stand, officially announcing to the
world that Russia will brook no inter
ference of any kind or from any
source. He said:
II deem it my duty to reiterate what
have so often said. that Russia will
not suspend in any case her military
operations in the far east All rumors
and reports regarding the possible
success of the direct overtures fol-
peace which Japan is said to have
made to Russia and regarding the me
diation Of the powers, in my opinion
are started for the purpose of convinc
ing the public that the end of the wal
is close at hand.
In this it is hoped that the public
, may be led to believe that japanese
loans offer attractive investments.
Russa's Resources Unlimited.
:. Some people think that financial diff
hostilities. Such an opinion is based
nancial resources
i There is no doubt whatever that
} Russia cannot be influenced in her at
by the amount Of war expenditures
1t is altogether out of the question
that Russia. who did not expect war
should in the moment when she has
modified her army and is sending
corps after corps, in fighting readiness
to the far east, suddenly call halt or
hostilities, particularly after she has
for nearly year, without any diff
Guilty or recourse to extraordinary
measures, been able to carry all the
extra expense.
ut is not within my scope to com
ment upon the new Japanese loan
That is an affair for the bankers, ant
for the public who are able to inves
to decide what advantages or disad
vantages the investment offers. But
there can be no necessity for com
menting upon Russia's credit Any
one acquainted with the Paris ex
: change is able to convince himself O.
the solidity of Russia's finances"
Subscriptions Close.
London, Nov. subscriptions tt
the Japanese loan closed at noon to
day. 1t is stated that bids for $50,
100000 offered in London aggregate
S300,000,0vu.
Japanese G-in Meats.
> Headquarters, Third Japanese Army
8 in the Field Before Port Arthur, via
; Fusan, Nov. 15.-The Japanese gained
: the moats of the principal forts as