The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-02-24
SERCIUS' Death
MAY END conflict
THE ASSASSINATION OF GRAND
DUKE MAY HASTEN PEACE
MOVEMENT.
NEW DANGERS THREATEN
ARMY IN THE FAR EAST
Enemy Is Making Desperate Efforts
to Cut Line of Communications
Rumored Purpose of Prussian
Princes Visit.

st. Petersburg, Feb. 20.-In diplo-
matte circles the opinion is quite gen.
orally expressed that Fridays trag-
edy may be followed by the decision
OF the government to conclude peace.
For some time, despite the official at
titude maintained by the government,
there has been a growing apprecia-
ton of the difficulties of prosecuting
the war in the midst of increasing
complications at home, and, as an
nounced Friday, the matter was act
ually the subject of formal considera-
ton by the emperor and his ministers,
February Is. Strong influences,
which, it is understood, in spite of de-
malls, are headed by NJ. White, presi-
dent of the committee of ministers,
have been working quietly in this di-
rection. Gen. Gripenberg's revela-
tons, followed by the murder of Grand
Duke Sergius, in the opinion of some
ly to lead the emperor definitely to
decide upon peace.
War Office Alarmed. >
In this connection the war Office is
considerably alarmed by the new dan
ger threatening the Manchurian army
from the systematic attempts making
by Japanese and Chinese bandits to
cut the line of communications back
of the army. According to reports,
about 10000 men, split up into bands
of several hundred each. are operating
from Mongolia, and are striking at the
railroad. A Russian detachment fol-
lowing up the Japanese band which cut
the road below Hardin fell into an am
buscade of two regularly organized
Japanese regiments, and was almost
cut to pieces, losing half it's men and
one gun. The fear is that if the bands
interrupt communication to such an
extent as to make it impossible to sup
ply the army. This danger has al
ready compelled the triple reinforce
ment of the railroad guards below
Hardin.
Kaiser May Be Aiding.
Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia,
who had been visiting the emperor
(previous, according to advices from
Berlin, to going to Manchuria as an OBJ
server representing Emperor William
with the Russian army has returned
to Berlin. Now a different light has
been thrown on the princes visit to st.
Petersburg. 1t was intimated that the
prince was the bearer of personal rep
reservations from Emperor William on
the subject of peace, and it was added
that it was positively known that the
question of peace was discussed be-
tween Emperor Nicholas and Prince
Friedrich Leopold, though it was i'm
possible to ascertain what, if any, con-
illusions were reached. In diplomatic
circles there exists a suspicion what
amounts almost to conviction that EN-
peror William has undertaken peace
negotiations in some form, although
the few persons in position to know
naturally declined to furnish any in
formation on the subject.
Activity in Russian Ranks.
Toxic, Feb. 20.-According to reports
from the Shakhe river, the Russians
are showing increased activity on both
TANKS and are extending and strength
ening their right. They also seem to
be concentrating a heavy force on their
left in front of Gen. Kuroki. Fushun
is the base of the late operations, and
it is estimated that the Russians there
number six divisions. The impression
exists that Gen. Kuropatkin is pre-
pairing to assume the aggressive The
Russians shelled portions of Field
Marshal Oyama's center and left on
Thursday, February 16 On Friday the
Russian cavalry. in retiring from a
recent attack upon Field Marshal
Oyama's left, halted at Liuchiengfang
Large bodies of Japanese cavalry are
reported to be moving toward Goudz-
hou Pass from Mongolia
The foreign Office pronounces as un-
founded the st. Petersburg report that
Japan has unofficially informed Russia
Of the terms of peace she would be will.
ing to accept.