The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-01-14
CAR SAYS FIGHT
RESULT or EXTRAORDINARY COUN-
Gil or WAR.
Utterly Regardless OF Cost War Is
to Be Carried On to Bitter End.
Predicted That Within r.u..h
Great Revolution will Be Start.
ed Throughout the Empire.

ordinary council of war called by the
ear Immediately upon his return from
Minsk to Tzarskoe-Selo has been held,
and as result the world is to know
that peace with Japan has been re-
moved into the remote future. With
more determination than before, with
the exertion Of every energy, and ut
terly regardless of cost, the war is to
be carried on to its bitter end. Two
hundred Thousand additional troops
will be sent to reinforce Geu. Kuropat-
kin's army before February ends, and
every suggestion calculated to strength
en- the Russian position and to increase
the Russian chances of success in Man.
churia will be acted upon.
The council began at an early hour
in the afternoon and lasted several
hours. 1t was attended by the car,
who presided; three Of the grand
dukes; M. Witte, representing the min.
isteria1 council: representative of the
minister Of finance; number belong
ing to the general military and naval
stats and several other high officials.
Very few Of the details of the con-
ference have become known, but the
announcement Of its results in the pa
pers called forth an outburst of popu.
lar wrath, which manifests itself both
in guarded editorial comments and pri-
vate opinion of considerable weight.
People Want Peace.
It is an undeniable fact that ever
since the fall Of Port Arthur the peo-
pie have cherished the hope that the
calamity would make the GEAR more
amenable to advice inclining toward q
cool headed confederation Of the terms
which it is known here Japan is ready
and even anxious to offer. In view of
this hope, what might have otherwise
become the occasion for great mourn
ing among loyal Russians was received
with sigh of relief. Moreover, ON
nous indications are in evidence that
the radicals are making ready to strike,
and that this thine the blow they will
deal may become effective.
1t has been pointed out with great
snrewdness by the leading journals
that these radicals are utilizing the
popular dislike of the war as pretext
for their agitation, and every one Of
their recent proclamations, both public
and secret. has been issued under the
mask of demand for peace. The No.
voc Vreyma and the Russ have there
fore urged that the conclusion of the
war would either silence the revolu-
tionaries or else throw the majority of
the population to the side of the gov
eminent. In this manner, these papers
said, those who threaten the safety OF
the dynasty today could be disarmed.
Need Every Soldier at Home.
That no heed has been taken of these
warnings and councselings; that the
hope of peace has gone down before
the stubbornness of those whom the
czar chooses to gather around him as
his most intimate advisers has come as
a blow to the Russian people which
can only be appreciated by the cars
subjects. If the opinions OF those who
claim to have their ear to the ground
are to be believed, then Russia will
need every soldier at home before an
other month has gone. Bloody revo-
luton is predicted by men who until a
few weeks ago scoffed at the idea OF
serious local outbreaks even, and there
are those who say that the catastrophe
will come even sooner. So far as can
be learned, only very few Of the con-
ferees at yesterdays council spoke in
favor of peace. Some, however, are
reported as having suggested that after
Roussia has won the first decisive vic
tory, Japan's proposals might be con-
sidered. The czar, it is stated, re-
marked that this was matter for the
future, and not germane to the ques-
ton at issue.
1t is positively known that great i'm
provements in both the track system
aud rolling stock Of the transsiberian
railway were decided upon. New
cars are to be installed, the construc-
ton of which will be peculiarly adap-
ted to the climate. The ezar has been
Informed that the troops have had to
suffer much from cold in the trans
ports, 80 modern heating apparatus Is
to be installed as an addition 60 the
equipment of the new cars.