The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-19
TWILL end WAR
Kaiser William Sends a
Prince to Russia.
ON HIS WAY HOME.
Probable That He Bears Import
ant Message from the
Gar.
BELIEVED THAT WAR IS OVER
Effect Of the Recent Tragedy in Russia
Believed to Have Had an import
ant Bearing on Bringing the
War TO q Close.

st. Petersburg. Feb. 1S.--Prince
Friedrich Leopold OF Prussia, who had
been visiting the emperor previous.
according to advises from Berlin. to
going to ManchurIa as an observer
representing Emperor William, with
the Russian army, started for Berlin
at midnight. as
1t was announced from Berlin yes
terday that Prince Friedrich Leopold
was to go to the Ear east by steamer
from Genoa, owing to the difficulties
in sending the princely train quickly
over the congested Siberian line, and
that he would first pay a visit to En-.
peror Nicholas. A dispatch from st.
Petersburg early this morning, how
ever, threw a different light on the
princes visit to st. Petersburg. 1t was
intinlated that the prince was tae
bearer of personal representations
from Emperor William on the subject
Of peace, and it was added that 1t was
positively known that the question Of
peace was discussed between Emperor
Nicholas and Prince Friedrich Leo
pold yesterday. though 1t was impos-
sible to ascertain what. IL any, con-
clusions were reached
The official explanation of Prince
Friedrich Leopold's return to Berlin il
that he has decided to go to Manchuria
by water, but there is high authority
for the statement that the prince was
a bearer of letter to Emperor william
In diplomatic circles there exists a
suspicion, which amounts almost to a
conviction. that Emperor William has
undertaken peace negotiations in some
form. although the few persons in a
position to know. naturally declined
to furnish any information on the sub
ject. II
In diplomatic circles the opinion is
quite generally expressed that yester-
days tragedy may be followed by the
decision of the government to conclude
peace. For some time, despite the Off
cial attitude maintained by the govern
ment, there has been growing apprecia-
tion of the difficulties of prosecuting
the war In the midst of increasing
complications at home, and, as an
nounced by the Associated Press yes.
terday, the matter was actually the
subject Of formal consideration by the
emperor and his ministers, February
16, Strong influences which, in spite
of denials. are headed by M. witte,
president of the committee OF minis
ters, have been working quietly in this
direction.
General Gripenbergs revelations, fol-
lowed by the murder of Grand Duke
in the opinion of some of the
ablest diplomats, are not unlikely to-
lead the emperor definitely to decide
upon peace. In this connection the
war Office is considerably alarmed by
The new danger threatening the Man
ehurian army from the sympathetic
attempts making by Japanese and Chi
nese bandits to cut the line Of COM
back of the army. Ac-
cording to reports about 10000 men
split up into bands Of several hundred
each, are operating from Mongolia and
are striking at the railroad. A Rus
sian detachment following up the jap
anese band which cut the road below
Harbin, fell into an ambuscade of two
regularly organized japanese regi-
ments. and was almost cut to pieces
losing half It's men ana one gun,
The fear is that II the bands move
further north or west they might IN