The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-07-26
ARMIES MARK TINE.
PRACTICAL ARMiSTlCE SEEMS
TO EXIST IN MANCHURlA.
Grave Rumors in Washington Diplo-
matte Circles that Peace Plans May
Miscarry-v~ ladivostok Reported Sur
by Jap Army and Navy.

The Japanese report that they have
possession of the southern half of tho
island of Sakhalin. They will be mas
tiers of the whole of it soon. for there
cannot be a 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
for Russia apart from its proximity TO
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
been driven steadily backward during
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 V~ladivostok.
The state of affairs in Manchuria IS
such as to create the impression that
I.inevitch 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 grow ing
strength of the Russian army ana its
makes no forward move. General
Oyama sends in no reports of prog
ress, and presumably he is simply
marking time and refraining from sac
riticing the lives of any of his men. 1t
may be that without any formal agree
mcnt there is a practical armistice 50
far as the Manchurian armies are con-
cerned.
Meanwhile, it is reported that a Jap
aneSe army has been landed north Of
N~ladivostok and the complete %envelop-
ment of the fortress is imminent. Thus
Japan carries the war into undiSputed
Russian territory on the mainland.
Undoubtedly, too, a strong Japanese
foot iS pt+Si1n TInI;yn.tn1- Ia,A.ns,
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 VI. Witte,
the head Of the Russian peace COM
mission, the pOrtent of which is that
lle pcdCp pdIicSS VIII result III Il pro-
longation of the wal 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 a 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 N work for
nothing. Still. let us hope that. VI.
White has been misquoted."