Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-07-27
ARMIES MARK TIME.
PRACTICAL ARMiSTICE SEEMS
TO EXIST IN MANCHURiA
Grave Rumors in Washington Diplo-
matte Circles that Peace Plans May
-Vladivostok Reported Sur.
rounded by Jap Army and Navy.

The japanese report that they have
| possession of the southern half of the
| island Of Sakhalin. They will be mas
| tiers of the whole of it soon, for there
| cannot be large Russian force on the
| island. Therefore one of the Japanese
| conditions of peace will be that Russia
shall relinquish all claim to Sakhalin.
Probably the Russian plenipotentia
| ries will not spend much time over the
proposition. The island has little value
the Siberian coast. 1t has been used
| only for the confinement of the most
| dangerous criminals. Another convict
settlement will have to be established.
The island was once held by Japan, but
Russia laid successful claim to it in
the days when she did much as she
pleased in northeastern Asia.
If peace is not concluded speedily the
Japanese may lay claim by right of
possession to Russian territory on the
main land. 1t is reported that the Rus
sian forces in northern Korea have
the last month, and hold only two po-
sitions south of the Tumen River,
which forms the boundary between
Korea and Siberia. 1t cannot require
much of an effort On the part Of the
Japanese to drive the Russians across
the river as far back as Vladivostok.
The state of affairs in Manchuria is
such as to create the impression that
Linevitch and Oyama have an under
standing that there is to be no serious
fighting while the peace negotiations
are on. Reports come occasionally
from St Petersburg of the growing
strength of the Russian army and its
desire to take the offensive, but it
makes no forward move. General
Oyama sends in no reports of prog
ress. and presumably he is simply
marking time and refraining from sac
rificing the lives Of any of his men. 1t
may be that without any formal agree
ment there is practical armistice so
far as the Manchurian armies are con-
cerned.
Meanwhile. it is reported that Jap
anese army has been landed north Of
Nladivostok and the complete enve!op-
ment of the fortress is imminent. Thus
Japan carries the war into undisputed
Russian territory on the mainland.
Undoubtedly, too. q strong Japanese
fleet is outside VIadivostok. Japan's
navy has nothing else to occupy it at
the moment
At least five battleships which the
Russians tried to destroy before sur
rendering Port Arthur will be added to
Japan's navy. A naval officer return
cd to London from Port Arthur reports
that the damage done to the vital parts
Of the vessels by the explosives the
Russians applied is much less than
was anticipated.
There are grave rumOrs in Washing
ton official and diplomatic circles over
the interview accredited to NJ. Witte,
the head Of the Russian peace COM
mission, the portent of which is that
the peace parleys will result in pro-
lcngation of the war instead of peace.
What gives this feeling strength is the
assertion that Witte has been instruct
ed by the Car personally not to enter
into any peace arrangements that will
lessen the prestige of Russia or one
that will be further burden to her
people.
In the Japanese legation Minister
Takahira shook his head gloomily
when he was told Of Whites declara-
ton
"Ah" he said "This looks as
though we might have our work for
nothing. Still, let us hope that NJ.
Witte has been misquoted."