Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-21
WAR NorEs.

l.
ficting reports from the seat of war.
One report had the Russian army I'M
der Kuropatkin entirely surrounded by
the japanese, with a great battle ex-
pected at Ta-tche-kiao, a small town
near Lao Yang, and not down on the
maps.
The other report had the Jap army
and navy brought to a stand-still by the
spread of the cholera; Admiral Togo,
being one of the first victims; but neith-
er of the reports were confirmed.
Last Saturday night or early Sunday
morning division of Russians attack
ed the Japs at Motienling pass, and
drove in their outposts, but the Japs
rallied and gave the Russians terrible
beating. The Russian General ac-
knowledged that his losses exceeded
thousand men. The battle lasted till
8 p. m. of Sunday The Japs reported
| their losses at but II men.
Some Russian war vessels on the Red
Sea have been over-hauling British and
| German merchantmen, looking for
goods, contraband of war, and trouble
is expected.
| What is called the Volunteer Flee"
consists of ten or twelve or perhaps
more merchant vessels which are so
constructed that they can in case OF
need be readily converted into cruisers
capable of doing effective service in the
capacity Of commerce destroyers. In
time of peace some of them ply be-
tween Odessa and Vladivostok, while
others are engaged in the tea trade and
in carrying passengers between China
and the Black Sea. They are also
employed by the Russian Government
as transports for the conveyance OF
troops. In war times they are liable TO
be pressed into the national service, but
as the transit Of warships through the
Dardenelles is prohibited by treaty OBJ
lligations which are binding alike upon
the Russian and the Turkish Govern
ments, some difficulty has been en-
countered in placing them where they
would do the most good.
This difficulty was overcome in the
case of the Petersburg by an ingenious
but beautifully simple expedient. The
vessel was taken through the forbidden
water upon the claim that she was to
be dedicated to the Red Cross service
and while making the passage she bore
an eminently peaceful aspect. Nothing
was allowed to indicate any other than
a purely humanitarian mission. But
as soon as the Red Cross ship emerged
from the jurisdiction of the Sultan and
entered the high seas a radical change
was effected in her appearance. The
guns which had been concealed in the
hold were hoisted to the surface and put
in place and in less than no time, 80 to
speak, the hospital ship was transform
ed into privateersman. Since then it
has been busily engaged in halting and
searching British vessels in the Red Sea
and in looking out for Japanese COM
merce upon which to prey. Its most
recent exploit was TO hold up the P. and
10. boat Malacca while its colleague, the
Smolensk, stopped the German steam
ship Prince Henry and took from it a
lquantity Of Japonese mail.
In spite of the Kaiser's desire to be
pleasant with the Car and cheer him
up, German sentiment will hardly al
low this outrageous and un justifiable
proceeding to pass without protest and
rebuke. Contraband of war consigned
to the enemy may be seized on neu
tral vessel and confscated, but that
mail is contraband has not yet been
seriously contended. The whole bust
ness il thoroughly discreditable. 1t
will be remembered that during the
war in South Africa an organized body
of recruits intending to fight for the
Beers got away from the United States
upon the strength of the Red Cross
badges they wore. That was generally
denounced as paltry and contemplate
deception, bnt how much worse is it
for government to stoop to such low
despicable trick. The Russians seem
to be doing their utmost to get them
selves despised and disliked all round.
The lack of common sense which they
display at every turn is no less painful
than illuminating. Their volunteer
fleet with its high-handed proceedings
won't do the Japs much harm, but it
will make lots of Russian enemies.
GRAND-DUKE BORIS of the Russian
Imperial family, who cut such a dash
through this country, year or SO ago,
is now under arrest and ON his way
army, he was sent to the front, and he
went with three palace cars, filled with
provisions, liquors and sporting women.
Their orgies scandalized the army and
had bad effect ON its discipline. Gen1
Kuropatkin ordered him to send the
women home, and Boris struck him.
Then the Commander-in-C Chief reported
the affair to the Gar, and Boris, arrest
followed. There are some two dozen
of these Grand Dukes in Russia; their
income or birthright is 100000 a year
from the public treasury, ami it was
the doings of just such fellows as Boris
that brought about the French Revolu-
tion over hundred years ago.
Butler County Schools.
One more school year has now passed
into history Some of the school events
which occurred in this county during
the year lust closed will long be remem-