The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-03-16

q Result OF the Cars War Council.
Washington. Special - When the
Gar calls his war council he will be
able 10 inform them that Japan viii
welcome peace On reasonable terms,
and VIII promptly name her condi-
lions. provided she receives trustwor-
Thy assurances that they will be SER
1ously considered This the Emperor
has learned from friendly chancellor
les In Europe as well as the general
terms acceptable to Japan. These, IL
Is said, will be retention by Japan of
Port Arthur, Japanese protectorase
over Korea, and an indemnity. A high
official states that Russia has recalled
her second Pacilic squadron. An at
tache OF Russian embassy in Ed
rope is quoted as expressing the be-
lief that kurOpatkins recent defeat
VIII force Russia to ask for peace.
Briefly, these were the reports current
III the diplomatic corps Monday. and,
as result OF this important infOrma-
ton, Official Washington believes that
Russia and Japan are on the verge Of
peace. If it be true that the second
Pacific squadron has been recalled, ev-
en the most optimistic of Russia's
friends admit that this is a strong in
dication that Oyama's mighty blow
has made for peace.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambas-
sadOr, is the notable exception in the
group of foreign ENJOYS here How
ever generous the terms which Japan
might offer" the ambassador said,
Russian prestige is not among them.
That is the one thing for which the
war will be fought to the end. Vic
tory for the Russian arms will alone
make for peace. If not at Tie Pass,
then at Harbin Russia will assemble
another army mightier than before,
and with that army she will settle the
issue. 1t may. be six months, year
or perhaps two years. Time will be no
consideration
At the Japanese legation, it is de-
clared that st. Petersburg, and not
Toxic, is the capital from which the
world must hope for peace proposals.
Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese minister,
said in the most emphatic manner that
Japan had not directly proposed peace.
He did not deny that neutral powers,
through their ENJOYS, from time to
time had sounded Japan as to the
terms Cn which she would accept
peace; but these, he said, necessarily
changed with the progress of hostili
ties, the intimation being that Rus
sia could have obtained better terms
after the fall of Port Arthur than af
ter the capture of Mukden.
If the Japanese governme Mt were as
sured that peace proposals would be
considered by Russia, there is author
ity for the statement that Japan
would respond Immediately.
&l,~l
day ST. Petersburg will have fully com,
pretended the extent of Oyama's vic
tory, and then will make known it's
decision regarding the continuance Of
the war in the face OF Mukden's fall
$4,000 Wounded Recently.
ST. Petersburg, By Cable.-General
Kuropatkin, in dispatch dated March
IL, says $4,000 Russians were wound
ed during the last few days fighting.
General Kuropatkin says: According
to reports from the rear guard, a Jap
anese force consisting of a division
and a half is within a short distance
of the Russian guard. The Second
Army is marching continually under
the fire of the enemy. who is adyanc-
ing from the cast and west.
General kuropatkin adds that the
rear guard advanced in perfect order,
but that the movement of the trans
port along the mandarin road was
very difficult, owing to the Japanese,
cannonade. The country between Tie
Pass and Mukden is intersected by
rivers and steep banks, and the Rus
sian wagons were obliged to halt and
await their turn, causing much delay
General kuropatkin compliments
the Japanese intelligence department.
He says: Thanks to the organization
CT their intelligence department and
their reconnoissaEces, the Japanese
always knew the Losltions occupied
by our army
The first regiment of Siberian Ri
f1es had the> most fighting. They
marched under the Japanese fire from
east and west almost continuously.
Col Lcesel succeeded i'll eXtricating
three officers and $50 men of the regi-
ment With its colors and one battery.
in the battle of March the regi.
ment lost over 1000 men.