Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-03-02
WAR NOTES.


that the Russian government had decid-
ed to reject all advice and overtures re-
garding ending the war.
Saturday morning the attack made
by the Jap centre on Bernseneff hill de-
veloped into desperate battle; the Japs
were, at first, repulsed, but finally carri-
ed the hill with the bayonet, though
at great loss of life.
The decision of the North Sea Court
al. Paris, last Saturday, sustains the
statement of facts as presented by Great
Britain, but it let's the Russian Admir-
al down easy.
1.-THE commissioners. the decision
says recognize unanimously that the
fishing fleet committed no hostile act,
and the majority Of the commissioners,
being of the opinion that there were not,
neither among the fishing boats or in
their vicinity any torpedo boats, the
opening of fire by Admiral Rojestven-
sky was not justified.
"In any event." tho decision contin-
ues, 1.-The commissioners are glad to rec
ognize unanimously that Admiral Re-
jestvensky personally did all he could,
from the commencement to the end, to
prevent the trawlers from being the OBJ
ject of fire by the Russian squadron.
Concerning the squadrons proceeding
without assisting the damaged trawlers
the decision says,
1.-THE commissioners are unanimous
that under the circumstances proceed
ing and following the incident, there
was such uncertainty concerning the
danger to the squadron as to warrant
Admiral Rojestvensky in continuing
his route. However, the majority re-
grets that the admiral did not inform
the neighboring maritime powers of
what had occurred"
The decision concludes as follows:
THE commissioners declare that
their views, as formulated, are not of a
nature to cast any disrespect upon the
military valor nor upon the sentiments
of humanity of Admiral Rojestvensky
and the personnel of his squadron.
The closing session of the commission
presented brilliant scene. The spa
cious salon of the foreign Office was
crowded with members of the diplomat
ic corps, officers of the army and navy
and judges of the highest French courts.
Admiral Fournier, president of the COM
mission, read the decision and closed
the commission with a speech of thanks
to its members.
On Monday the Japs were reported to
be shelling Mukden with their long
range guns, also to be attempting to
turn both the Russian fanks, and a
general engagement was considered inn
minent.
Yesterday there was fighting all along
the lines of the two great armies in
Manchuria Kuroki was reported as
having turned the Russian left and as
threatening Mukden, while the Russians
were reported as having the best of it
at the centre and Jap left. If the lines
of the two armies are as extensive as
they appear on the maps they are now
over eighty miles long.
Gen. Strossel reached Moscow, Friday
and was '1ionized.' The difficulty
which Russia is experiencing from in
adequacy of transportation facilities TO
Manchuria Is illustrated by the fact
that the Fortieth rifle brigade, which
left Odessa two months ago, has just
reached Omsk. about 5000 miles west
of Harbin. 1t is estimated that the brig
AIDES modified last year will not
reach Manchuria until April.
Terror reigned in Baku and other oil
towns of the Caucasus region of Russia
last week; the stores were closed and
the banks were doing business under
guard
A refugee from Batoum said the
authorities there were powerless, and
that the strikers numbered forty -thous-
and. In the whole region between the
Black and Caspian seas lawlessness,
murder and rapine prevailed, the Ar
menians and Musselmans weaking their
private vengances.
At Warsaw. the authorities were
agitated and did not know what to do,
the Vienna railroad was at stand still,
and the city was threatened with coal
famine. On Saturday the first train
from Vienna arrived in three days.
Maxim Gorky, the Russian novelist
will be sent to Siberia