The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-24
RUSSIAN ARMY'S ONE CHANCE.
LINIEVITCH THINKS THAT THE
JAPS CAN BE WHIPPED.
That Has Had Great Eject on tho Feeling
At Home About the Conference at Ports.
m Outh-NOthinE to Lose and Every.
thing to Gain by An other big Battle.

thing to Gain BY An other Big Battle
Special Cable Despatch 70 THE SUN
LONDON. Aug. 24.-The correspondent OF
the Times at st. Petersburg says:
THE prospect Of peace. which yesterday
had almost vanished. was considerably i'm.
proved to-day by optimistic messages from
Portsmouth in this mornings Russ and
other PAPERS. Later when 1t became known
that Ambassador Meyer had gone to Peter
hof hopes OF settlement again rose.
Exactly what occurred at the audience
. is not yet known. Mr.. Meyer will probably
decline to say anything until statement
has been made by President Roosevelt.
Conjecture is rife. 1t Is claimed that
the Ambassador conveyed to the Imperial
ears suggestions touching on the allied
questions on indemnity and Sakhalin,
enabling Russia without loss Of dignity to
avoid both issues by purchasing the island
or by ceding it to America; hut no serious
importance is attached to these surmises
in fact even the optimists who believe
that peace will come are at a loss to explain
haw- It is gossibls t. rec9n.s,iyla -tba -.iaxs.
Of japan and Russia on these two vital quee-
tons. The mouthpiece Of Count IamsdorlY,
we have already made such enormous
concessions that it would be folly to grant
more. II it Is remembered that Japan will
receive liberal indemnity from the cost Of
maintaining the Russian prisoners, which
is expected to run into tens Of millions
Of pounds sterling, that still larger sum
will accrue to her from the purchase by
China Of the Manchurian railway, that
properties worth enormous sums will come
into the hands Of the japanese by the
surrender Of the Liaotung Peninsula, it will
be agreed that Russia has gone as far on
the road Of concession as possible for an
unconquered country.
Russia is just as willing to conclude
peace as Japan claims to be, but Russia
wants lasting peace. which is impossible
II one side is subjected to humiliating con-
ditions. The payment Of an indemnity
would constitute q two fold obstacle to
permanent peace first by provoking the
resentment OF the whole Russian nation and,
by furnishing Japan with the
means to resume the war
"As regards Sakhalin l can only repeat
that Russia has already made the utmost
Japan has been offered
fishery rights and the choice Of several
stations on the island. To offer more
would not materially benefit Jsran, but
would imperil Russis's position
on the mainland
According to this authority the final
SUCCESS or failure Of the negotiations is
not likely to be decided before Tomorrow.
He declined to talk about to-day's audience.
but expressed the conviction that President
Roosevelt is offering neither advice nor
arbitration and not even action as an inter-
nediary between the Gar and the Mikado.
Outside Of diplomatic circles there arc
lew who believe that peace will 90 mo.
These few stake their hopes on the finan-
,ial pressure which they claim IL being |
exercised upon Japan by American and |
British creditors. Military circles are even
more warlike than ever. A high officer OF
he General STAFF said:
1--WE have nothing to lose and everything
o gain by another big battle. The quality
u the troops and the commanders IL vastly
since the war began, whereas the
,est Of Japan took the field at the outset.
The army has since been reinforced by
Inferior troops. We know that 5000 japan.
we officers have been promoted from the
anks Our army was never 80 good or
numerous. Gen. Linievitch has not far
hort Of 10000 men, including non-oom-
,atants.
Il frankly confess the morale Of the
roops is not all 1t should be, but how about
he Japanese3 They have not advanced
single yard within the last six months.
t is true We cannot hope to win a decisive
ictory without the command of the sea
nut we might score a partial success. Even
hat will suffice to diminish Japan's prestige
nd compel her TO reduce her demands"