Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-07-14
JAPANESE LAND
ON SAKAAL|N
Places New Aspect On Prog
ress Of Peace Nego-
tiations,
DIPLOMATS ARE INTERESTED
Powerful Levy in Hands Of Japanese
Diplomacy - General Opinion is
That Japan is Now in Position to
Dictate Terms of Peace.

st. Petersburg July "a landing
of Japanese troops on the island Of
Sakhalin was officially reported last
night and started military circles in
st. Petersburg, though it had been
realized since the defeat Of Admiral
Rojestvensky that the japanese were
able to take possession of the island
as soon as they thought fit. The
strength of the landing force cannot
be ascertained, but the garrison OF
the island is too weak to offer an
effective defense.
st. Petersburg, July "a dispatch
dated July Z from General Liapunoff,
commanding the Russian troops on
the island of Sakhalin, says: AT
8 o'clock on the morning of July Z
a japanese squadron approached the
village of Cripivan about seven miles
southwest Of Korsakovsk, and opened
fire on the shore"
Another dispatch of the same date
says: AT 3 p. m. Japanese torpedo
boats approached Korsakovsk and
the Russian batteries opened fire on
them and compelled the boats to re-
tire. During the bombardment four
of the in habitants of Korsakovsk
were killed. The bombardment had
been anticipated and the command
ant had ordered the withdrawal OF
the defenders northward.''
St. Petersburg, July 9.-The Jap
anese feet covering the landing OF
troops on the island of Sakhalin con-
sisted Of two battleships, seven cruz
sers, three gunboats, thirty-six torpe-
do boats and ten transports loaded
with troops. The Japanese landed at
the village of Meree between Shep-
hivan and Korsakovsk. The COM
mander of the Russian detachm ent at
Korsakovsk ordered the coast de-
tense TO be blown up and all the gov
eminent buildings burned before re-
firing.
st. Petersburg July 9.-The landing
of the Japanese on Sakhalin island
and it's probable effect on peace ne
gotiations is the absorbing topic OF
conversation in ali circles, the sur
render of the Kniaz Potemkine hav.
ing taken a secondary place. This
49,
indication that Japan intends TO de-
mand the cession Of that island as
one of the conditions of peace, but
this is no longer in insuperable obsta-
Gle in the way of termination OF
the war.
No further news was received from
Sakhaiin last night.
ST. Petersburg July 10.-With Jap
anese flag hoisted for the first time
on Russian soil after eighteen months
of war, the Importance of the land
ing on the island of Sakhalin Is gen
orally admitted both in newspaper
comment and in government circles.
Complete occupation of the island is
regarded as a foregone conclusion.
The Novoe Vremya voices the gen
eral sentiment in holding that control
of the Sakhalin puts powerful lever
in the possession of the japanese dip
omacy, which finally has something
tangible in it's hands to throw on the
scales with the sword in the coming
conference.
There is a divergency of opinion
with regard to the effect it will have
on the negotiations at Washln gton,
some of the irreconciliables declaring
that it makes peace, at the present
iuncture more impossible than before,
as Japan will be able to demand ces'
sion of the island and a heavy in
demnity as well, at which terms OF
peace will be too costly, but the more
prevalent view is that Japan has now
in her hands enough trumps to take
the game.
The attack on the island certainly
dissipates one of the hopes OF the
peace advocates, who have been sug.
costing that it's voluntary cession
might be an offset with Port Arthur
and the Chinese railroad, against the
payment of a large part or all OF a
monetary indemnity.
No further report Of the landing
operations has been received.