Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-08-03
WAR AND PEACE NOTES.


ret face each other, both suffering from
neat and disease. The lines there, those
ike at Mukden, run from the mountains
10 the river, but the Japs are said to have
headed division through the valleys !
from Kirin, with the intention of cut
ling the railroad between Harbin and
and the latter place is
preparing for a siege.
The peace plenipotentiaries are now
due to meet at Portsmouth navy yard,
any day. And the terms which Japan
will insist upon are stated to be as
follows
1. Japan will ask an indemnity OF
/ 300, OO0, 600 yen. which is practically
$500, O0O. 900. In addition she will in
sist upon the surrender of all interned
vessels OF war of whatever class they
NAV be. Also she viii demand pay
ment for the care of the Russians
prisoners now in Japan or elsewhere
and the cost of sending them home to
Russia. No charge will be made for
medical or surgical treatment of pris-
oners.
2. The return oe Manchuria to China
will be imperative. The surrender OF
all right or title in the Manchurian ex-
tension of the Trans-Siberian railroad
will be unconditional, and Japan will
take over that lease from China.
3. The argument to dismantle the
Notifications of Port Arthur will be
made, but all the guns and munitions
of war will be removed to points on the
Korean strait and the Tsu islands,
where the most elaborate Notifications
will be constructed and the strait pa
trolled by Japanese scout boats always
within wireless telegraphic communi-
cation of Sasebo. This seals the fate OF
Vladivostok as naval base. The mas
sive forts at Port Arthur that cost
Japan 100000 lives will be leveled.
Dalny, after Japan dismanties the
mushroom city that cost Russia a
hundred millions. will belong to China.
A. Korea will cope under the abb
solute protection" OF Japan. Neither
Russia nor China can have any part in
its government Japan will complete
its railroad system, and very likely in
sist upon special coaling privileges at
Chemulpo.
5. Nothing will be said about the
retention Of Wei-Hai-Wei by Great
Britain. If the matter should by raised
by Russia under the joint convention of
1894 Japan will insist that the question
is one to be arranged with China and
England.
6. Saghalien island must be restored
to Japan, because it was unworthily
obtained from her; the opening OF
Vladivostok as free port must be con-
ceded
The smallness of the indemnity
which is little more than half what was
anticipated-is not less remarkable than
Japan's willingness to surrender all con-
troll over Port Arthur after it shall
have been completely dismantled. The
latter concession to Russia, made
in advance. amazes every American
army engineer officer with whom have
had speech. They zee in this concession
something SO deep-some surprise in
modern warfare-that present exper-
ience cannot fathom it. Can it be that
before Japan leaves Port Arthur it will
be turned into place of desolation Sc
enduring that there never can be any
rehabilitation? Will the great noun
tain at the eastern side of the harbor
entrance be toppled over into the narrow
cnHnnEr Hnu rrr hnr bur ecuicd UP fur
ever? Can it be that the historic "Tiger
Tall peninsula will be twisted until il
closes the narrow entrance to the once
famous harbor? Who knows2 TIE
Japanese engineers of today are the
equals of any alive, and it is bet of
1000 to that Port Arthur never will be
given up again unless it can be rendered
commercially and strategically worth
less.
Meanwhile let France hustle up Q
navy, because she will have to defend
Tonkin before many months.
This Jap-Russ war may yet lead tc
European complications. The Russian
government now fears that the Japs
will send their fleet around the world
and into the Baltic, against which il
has no defense. The recent meeting Of
the Gar and Emperor has been con
strued to mean an effort to declare the
Baltic "a cloeed sea-" Germany, Russia
Sweden and Denmark to join in thu
movement; and England's answer Il
this has been to send her Home ol
Channel fleet into the Baltic for ma
neuvers and target practice. Besides
this the alliance between Germany ant
Russia has become 80 plain that the
French are sulking and may not lend
the Russians any more money.
At the headquarters of the Japanes,
peace commission last Friday Aimal
Sato. Minister Resident to the Emperor
Of Japan, who Is the official spokesman
for the commission, said concerning the
attitude OF the japanese on the question
Of an armistice:
Japan Is perfectly willing to agree
to an armistice after the credentials OF
both commissions have been examined
and verified.
THE examination Of credentials mus
necessarily be the first duty of the peace
delegates to ascertain that all are quail
fled to act in the capacity to which they
are represented In the negotiations
for peace that ended the Chinese war
remember there was much delay be
cause the credentials Of one of the
Chinese plenipotentiaries did not beal
the Emperor's seal granting him plenary
powers.
However, think an armistice will
enter formally upon their ork. 1t has
been the custom in all peace negotia-
tions to cease hostilities during the con
vention Of peace plenipotentiaries."
Mr.. Sato was asked as to the definite
powers of the members of his commits
sion, and he said:
They have power to reject any pro
posal and commit the Japanese Govern
ment to any document they may sigr
| subject of course to the sanction of the
Emperor"
The reports that China intended ask