Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-10

Portsmouth, Aug. s.-with one for
eign peace envoy within It's gates and
the other three practically at the har-
bars mouth, Portsmouth today awoke
to the realization that one of the most
important days in its history Is actu-
ally at hand At an early hour the
streets began to fill UP. as steam
trains, trolley cars and private con-
veyances brought visitors from all
parts OF southeastern New Hampshire.
The famous old seaport is deliberately
draped with flags and uniting.
The fleet was off the harbor en-
trance shortly after o'clock and half
an hour later the vessels dropped an
Choir off the navy yard.
Witte Wants Peace.
At the hotel Wentworth M. WHITE
rose early and began the work of pre-
p-ring dispatches for his government
In answer to those which reached him
during the night. He said that he
was more than ever animated by a
desire to do all in his power to con.
clude peace but that will all depend
on what the Japanese expect to OBJ
tain. However, he will leave nothing
uninterrupted to reach the desired OBJ
ject and In case of failure the world
will be the judge as to whom shall
shoulder the responsibility.
Program Carried Out.
The program as officially mapped
out by Third Assistant Secretary Of
State PIERCE, Rear Admiral Mead
commandant of the navy yard, and
Governor McLane for the official re
ception of the peace ENJOYS, was car
ried out without modification or hin
drance.
Though the sessions of the peace
conference will not begin until tomor
row, there is much talk about the
probable results. The Russians claim
they have precedent for demanding
that Japan shall make allowance fol
the ships destroyed at Port Arthur
and captured In the sea Of Japan, bu
what 1t is they are keeping back ant
will use 1t in their representations tt
ithe Japanese ENJOYS.
Y There were no Japanese connected
with the peace commission at the Ho
tel Wentworth last night but represen
y tatives of the Japanese newspaper!
who accompanied the commission
from Toxic say that their countrymel
never would permit the government t.
make any allowance for the ship!
sunk at Port Arthur in order to pre-
vent their capture and those which
were taken as a result of the fierce
fight in the open sea-
Had the Russians taken the honor
able course they would not, in thu
opinion of these journalists, have
sunk their ships at Port Arthur, bu
would have turned them over with
the other property to the conquerors
They add that had it not been fol
the quickness of the Japanese officers
and men in boarding the battleshil
Orel and the two coast defense vessels
which were captured in the sea of ia
pan they, too, would have been sunk
Consequently, Japan, they declare, ha
no reason to make allowances for tn
ships.
All Depends on M. de White.
The willingness of the Russians t.
cede half of Sakhalin island and t
search for means to reduce the in
demnity has given stronger peac
tinge to the discussion here than ha
yet developed.
M. Witte alone knows the exten
of the terms which will be acceptable
to the car" said Russian diploma
last night eff the terms are to-
harsh he will reject them. 1t is quit
true he must then support the car il