Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-23

Toxic, May %. - In recent inter-
view Count Okuma. former premier
and Count Kato, former minister of
foreign affairs, expressed the opinion
that there is nothing in the situation
affordirG; possibility of Intervention
on the part of the other powers and
that the present war will last long
| time.
Japs Repulse Enemy.
Imperial army headquarters today
announce that several small engage
ments were fought in the direction Of
Changtu on Saturday in all Of which
the Russians were repulsed. At Tang
shed, southwest of Fakumen, the Rus
slams left 300 killed and wounded on
the field. The situation otherwise is
unchanged
Russian Officers Captured.
1t is reported that junk filled with
Russian officers has been captured. II
is presumed that they were making
4 a. reconnaissance from Vladivostok.
StoesseI Defends Himself.
ST. Petersburg, May 22.-The com.
mission investigating the surrender of
Port Arthur has finished the first half
of its labors. The investigation of the
documentary evidence presented by
General Stoessel in his own defense
tended to show that the fortress at the
outbreak of the war was nearly de-
1 fenseless.
Gar Will Direct War;
I The czar has taken the future direc
tion of the war into his own hands
By an imperial rescript, issued Sunday
he directs the creation of a council OF
national defense under the presidency
of Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaivitch
| The counsel Of defense will be direct
4 ly under the hands sf the czar. 1t viii
assume full control of the war ane
navy departments and will give ordert
to both
. General Linevitch will be retained as
commander in chief of all the ARMIES
in Manchuria and Vice Admiral Biri
left will have supreme command of the
!. fleets.
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaivitcf
} will remain in ST. Petersburg instead
of going to the front.
! Text Of Rescript.
In his rescript, which is directed tt
the grand duke, the czar writes:
In order to insure the development
of the empires fighting force in man
ner corresponding to the needs and re
sources of the state and uniformity il
the duties of the supreme naval anc
military administration, and also tt
harmonic them with those of othe
government institutions in question!
affecting the safety of the state.
have deemed it necessary to establish
permanent state defense council.
charge the special commission, con
sisting of members appointed by M
under the presidency of your imperia
! highness, to draw up according to m.
5 direct suggestion a law relating to thi
! institution"
t The rescript concludes with the ez
, preston of the conviction that tn
i commission will carry out the tasl
| conf1ded to it without delay and wit
the care and undivided attention whicl
! the high importance of the new inst
t tuition demands.
AboIishes Old Council.
The existing council of war, whic
has proved unsatisfactory, will be S,
perseded by the new body. The step
an extremely important one for whic
the events of the war in the far eas
: have shown the necessity, the war an
navy departments failing to work tt
gether to the best advantage, eve
; when actuated by the most harmon
! Gus feelings, and friction has been o
: ten manifested.
!, Many opportunities for helpful co-ol
. GRAFTON between the two arms sof th
:; service are constantly arising and,
Y Vice Admiral Rojestvensky succeed
in reaching Vladivostok and shakin
: the Japanese mastery of the sea, tn
council will play E weighty role. A
the same time, the council is create
not for the present war, but as pc
manent organism of the state, subor,
mating the war and navy department
), and even overshadowing the othe