The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-01
NO PEACE FOR RUSSIA now
Court cassini So Declares ia .
Recent Interview
WAR TO CONTINUE WITH WGOR

r----HF Hs-EfF.-a
Cars Ambassador at Washington Says
the Recent Disaster only Serves to
Strengthen the Policy to Struggle FOE
Victory to the Last-Army BY summer
to Number 700. ooo-Fleets to Combine
Washington, D. c.-Count CassfnE
Russian Ambassador, in an interview
spoke Of the rurnors that the fall OF
Port Arthur would hasten peace, Of re-
ports of dissensions within the Russian
empire and Of the statement from st.
Petersburg that the feet now at NADIA
gascar would be recalled.
Have any peace proposals been
made to Russia, or will they be con-
sidered if made at this time by Ja-
pan, either directly or through another
PowerT' the Ambassador was asked
mo such proposals have been made,
so far as lam aware he replied. mo
proposals for peace woSld be accepted
or considered under present conditions.
AS I have said many times, we made
it possible to avoid this war, but we
were forced to enter it. 1t is perhaps
well to repent that when war began
there .Tere in Manchuria only 10000
Russian troops, and this is the best
proof that we had no idea OF initiating
hostiIities.
.Now, we have made Immense sacri.
fees Of blood and in money, and it is
clear that Russii Is obligedsto and will
pursue this war TO- the bitter end.
There is no Russianswh6 at this mo-
ment can admit the possibility of en-
tering into discussion of peace
"Eave you seen the newspaper re-
ports that there is danger of an upris.
ing in Russia
These reports are NOT correct. There
is perhaps some demonstration Of dis
content; no country has ever been
without that in time OF stress. The
capture Of Port Arthur after such a
brilliant defense, while it saddens the
heart of Russia. can have only one eff
fect-that is. to animate the popular
patriotic feeling Of the Russian peo-5
pie. This strong feeling OF patriotism
does exist, no matter what may be
said, and the people will do all possible
|. to aid the Government In this war and
not to embarrass II, as some reports
say, The consequence Of the surrender
Of Port Arthur islto strengthen public
feeling in supporter the policy to press
the war. Despite the difficulties of
conducting operations at such a great
distance from q base the patriotism OF
the Russian people has steadily
strengthened since the war began
what OF. the report that Admiral Ro-
j~estyensky,s tfeef, now in Madagascar
on lbs way to the Far East, will be re-
called"
81 do not b~eIieye>any one has author
fly to state that the squadron will be
recalled; that is known only to the
Government at st. Petersburg. But
there would be nothing unusual In the
recall of the feet. Russia is now pre-
pairing a third squadron to proceed to
! the Far East, and 1T might be deemed
advisable to unite the three Squadr0nS.
that under ADMIRAL R~ojestyensky, that
that under Rear-Admiral Voelkersam,
now in Madagascar. and the one which
has not yet sailed from Russia, into q
single large squadron, which would
proceed to the Far East ] such
strength as to attack the japanese feet
with vigor and hope Of success. The
recall of the ships now on the way for
this purpose would not be an unnat-
ural consequence OF the loss OF a naval
base such as Port Arthur. It would
merely be in order to enable Russia to
strike the more vigorously when she
does strike,
SIN the war on land The great thing
is that General uropatkin has brought
til. Japanese, to a halt in their attempt
ed northward advance. Winter is now
on in Manchmia; and it holds greater
hardship for the Japanese. unused to
the rigors of::ttresclimate than for the
Russians. General Kuropatkin has
probably $4,000 men: The second
army Of 2O0.O00jmen, commanded by
General Grippenberg, is now OF it's
way to Manchuria. The third army.
recently organized In Russia under
General Kauibars, and which is 100000
strong, will reach 1fanehuria probably
by the beginning of summer. This
will increase the Russian force to fully
700, 900 men. and with this vast army
Russia will again be ready topfosecute
the war. with great yigor.""