Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-01-12
WAR NOTES.


Arthur they have been busy surveying
Notifications. examining the sunken
vessels, removing mines, and putting
the place in condition.
The remnant of the Russian garrison
were taken to Dalney, and viii be sent
to Japan. About.one half Of the Russian
officers refused to give their parole, and
will 60 with their men as prisoners OF
war.
The Japs think they can raise and re-
pair some of the sunken war-vessels.
Part of Gen. Nogi's army has already
been sent. by rail, to Lao Yang, to re-
inforce the army there, and the next
move of the Japs will, probably, be an
effort to again defeat Kuropatkin's
army. This will be one of the most
desperate battles of history.
The Russian Baltic feet is hiding
somewhere the Indian Ocean. There is
talk of its being ordered back to Russia,
or waiting until the third squadron
combines with it, and of the organiza-
ton of another squadron Russian
supply of vessels seems to be unlimited.
In the meantime tremendous con-
nict is going on in Russia between the
forces of autocracy and the forces OF re-
form. The weak and vacilIating czar
is the center of contending influences
and the probability is that he will take
the course which is apt to be preferred
by weak natures in the presence of an
emergency, that Of trying half measures
and pursuing a temporizing policy.
This is the worst thing that could be
done in a situation which requires de-
cision aud energy. So convincing is the
evidence of the czar's incompetency to
deal with the situation that there IS
grave apprehension throughout Europe
as to the fate of the Russian empire.
The French press, which has oppor-
tunities OF information as to Russian
affairs not possessed by the press OF
other countries, is publishing some in
teresting details of the conflict which is
going on in the czar's circle Of advisers.
The Paris Matin recently published an
account of the proceedings at minis
terial council which must have been
obtained through one OF the ministers
present. From this account it appears
that u. Pobiedonostzeff, who has an
important position in the direction OF
ecclesiastical affairs and who took part
in the education of the present car. is
energetically opposing any introduction
of representative institutions in Russia.
In this he ls supported by two OF the
czar's ministers and Koko-
vzov. The leading advocates of liberal
reform are Prince Sviatopolk- Mirsky,
the minister Of the interior, and NJ.
Witte. at one time minister of finance,
but who was superseded ia the czar's
confidence by the clique whose policy
brought on the war with Japan. Pobi-
edonostzeff is known to the Eogiish-
speaking world by translation of his
Reflections Of Russian Statesman" /"
in which his views of modern tendencies
are given with indisputable force and
eloquence He regards democracy as a
process Of decay in the constitution of
the state, and thinks that to set up
representative institutions in Russia
would introduce malady from which
western Europe is suffering and which
will eventually bring its existing in
stitutions of government into ruin. The
working of parliamentary institutions
in various European countries affords
material for pessimistic predictions of
which he makes adroit use.