The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-09
COUNT CASSINI
 IS NOT FOR PEACE Says His Country Will Accept
 No Proposals MUST BE TO BITTER END Great Sacrifices Have Been Made and No Russian Will Now Dis
 cuss Peace-No Danger
 of an Uprising.
MUST BE TO BITTER END

New York, January S.-(special. )--when interviewed by the Washington corres- pendent of the Herald yesterday Count Cassini spoke of the rumors that the fall of Port Arthur would hasten peace, of reports of dissensions within the Rus sian empire and of the statement from St. Petersburg that the fleet now at Madagascar would be recalled.
 Have any peace proposals been made to Russia, or will they be considered If made at this time by Japan, either direct ly or through another power?' the am bassador was asked.
 No such proposals have been made, so far as I am aware" he replied. No pro- posals for peace would be accepted or considered under present conditions. As l have said many times, we made 1t possible to avoid this war, but we were forced to enter it. It Is perhaps well to repeat that when war began there were in Manchuria only sixty thousand Rus sian troops and this Is the best proof that we had no idea of initiating hos- tilities
 Great Sacrifices Made.
 Now we have made immense sacrifices of blood and in money, and 1t is clear that Russia is obliged to and will pur- sure this war to the bitter end. There Is no Russian who at this moment can ad- init the possibility of entering into dis cusslon of peace.'
 Have you seen the newspaper reports that there is danger of an uprising in Russian"
 These reports are not correct. There is perhaps, some demonstration of discon- tent; no country has ever been without that In the times of stress The capture of Port Arthur after such brilliant defense, while it saddens the heart of Russia can only have one effect-that Is, to animate the popular patriotic feel ing of the Russian people This strong feeling of patriotism does exist, no matter what may be said, and the people will dc all possible to aid the government in this war, and not to embarrass 1t, as some reports say. The consequence Of the surrender of Port Arthur Is to strengthen public feeling in the support of the policy to press the war. Despite the difficulties oe conducting operations at such great distance from a base. the patriotism Of the Russian people has steadily strength ened since the war began.
 What of the report that Admiral Ro- jestvenskys fleet, now in Madagascar on its way to the far east, will be recalied?
 Recall of Squadron Possible.
 q do not believe any one has authority to state that the squadron will be recall ed that is known only to the govern ment at St. Petersburg. But there would be nothing unusual in the recall of the fleet. Russia is. now preparing third squadron to proceed to the far east, and 1t might be deemed advisable to unite the three squadrons, that under Admiral Rojestvensky, that under Rear Admiral Voelkersam now in Madagascar, and the one which has not yet sailed from Russia into a single large squadron, which would proceed to the far east in such strength as to attack the Japanese fleet with vigor and hope of success. The recall of the ships now on the way for this purpose would not be an unnatural consequence of the loss of naval base such as Port Arthur. It would merely be in order to enable Russia to strike the more vigorously when she does strike.
 Tn the war on land the great thing is that General Kuropatkin has brought the Japanese to a halt in their attempted northward advance. Winter Is now on in Manchuria, and it holds greater hard ship for the Japanese, unused to the rlgors of the climate. than for the Rus sians. General Kuropatkin has probably $50 900 men. The second army of 100000 men, commanded by General Grippen- berg, is now on its way to Manchuria. The third army, recently organized in Russia under Geenral Kaulbars, and which is 100000 strong, will reach Man churia probably by the beginning of summer. This will increase the Russian force to fully 70.000 men, and with this vast army Russia will again be ready to prosecute the war with great vigor."