The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-25
Authority Says vIadiVOsfOk is a
 Hard Nu to Crack
IS THE EMPEROR IAFLEXIBLE2
Proposition That an inaemnlty Will Never Be Paid Seems to Be Ac- cepted By the Russian
 Public as Final.

St. Petersburg, August 25, 3:15 a. m.- With regard to dispatch that has been received here saying M. Witte was await Ing instructions. the foreign office says 1t is daily in constant communication with M. Witte, and that he will be fully able to go ahead on Saturday.
 The latest developments clearly indicate that the Associated Press dispatches de- claring that Russia will never consent to the payment of an indemnity In any form, represent Russia's last word with refer ence to the principle of monetary compen- sation, and the expenses of the war.
 Principle Accepted as Final.
 The authoritative statement made to the Associated Press at Portsmouth, which is in the same tenor, was followed last evening by a declaration from an official spokesman of the foreign office, which was made almost with the force of for nal communique. that under no cir cumstances and no disguises would the principle of indemnity be admitted, and this decision Is accepted by the Russian public as final. It was declared at the foreign office also that Russia's sincere
  spirit of concession shown by the Russian mission on the other disputed points and that if Japan was willing to waive this demand, which was consistent in- volving neither the honor nor the dignity of Russia, there would be no trouble In arranging peace. Japan's insistence on indemnity being the only barrier to the termination of the war.
 Army In Good Trim.
 The Emperors infiexible determination to continue the war. rather than yield to a demand which Is regarded as warrant able only in the case of a yanquished na- ton, is strengthened by the later dis patches received from General Lineeitch, in which he reports the strength of the Russian position and speaks favoraby of the spirit and condition of his latest re- Inducements. and the morale of the entire army.
 Achievements for the front are report ed as steadily arriving. The Thirteenth corps Is now en route, and the war min istry is preparing to dispatch composite corps in case negotiations for peace fail. Only regular troops and not reseryists are now being forwarded, and it is re- ported that the city of Moscow grena- diers have received marching orders.
 vIadvostok Ia Hard Nut.
 A competent military attachee of an Eu- ropean power. who is acquainted thor oughly with the defensive facilities at Vladivostok. has informed the Associated Press that the Japanese will find that fortress a harder nut to crack than Port Arthur, If they decide to break off ne- gotiations. This authority declares that the Japanese feet will not be able to CO., operate with the attacking army except In the way of an ineffective bombardment of the sea front as the mine fields and heavy artillery make 1t out of the ques- tion for sig ships to run by the fortress and get in touch with the besiegers on the mainland.
 This attachee noticed during trip through Russia. from which he has just returned, that the southern fortresses were practically denuded of heavy ar- tillery which has been emplaced at the approaches to the fortress at Vladivostok.
 .'Viadivostok," he said, Ifs years task at least and more exhaustive than Port Arthur"