Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 99, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1904 — War News in Brief. [ARTICLE]

War News in Brief.

Many Japanese have been withdrawn from the positions near Tatcheklao to re-enforce Kurokl, who is believed to have turned the flank of Keller’s army. Orders have been issued to the Russian cruisers St Petersburg and Smolensk to cease interfering with foreign shipping in the Red Sea, and it la expected they will join the Baltic squadron. A basis of settlement Is said to have been reached with Great Britain, and the Gen

man liner Scandia has been released at Port Said under orders from St Petersburg. A Chinese merchant, who was among the last of the foreigners to make his way from Port Arthur, arrived in Victoria, B. G., and describes the plight of the Inhabitants of the besieged city. The troops levy on all stores, he says, and only five of the warships are seaworthy. Great Britain’s bill for damages against Russia for demurrage and other indemnities connected with the arrest, detention and shelling of British ships In the Red eea will probably bs very heavy. Already it is roughly estimated at $6,000,000. A Toklo correspondent says he believes the object of the Vladivostok squadron is to Interrupt trade between the United States and Japan and that steamers on the way from Canada and San Francisco are in serious danger. He says another aim of the squadron is apparently to seal Toklo bay. Russia’s Vladivostok squadron sunk the American steamer Knight Commander, from New York, off the province of Izu, after transferring the crew of the Knight Commander to the steamer Tsinan. The Vladivostok squadron also captured a German vessel, believed to be th* Arabia, with a cargo of flour and an unknown British steamer. The two vessels were sent to Vladivostok In charge of prize crews. According to Washington authorities any action which may be taken regarding the seizure of the British ship Ardova, carrying stores destined for Manila, bf the Russian volunteer fleet steamer Smo lensk Is a matter for the British government. It does not in the least concert the United States. No shipments of Philippine stores or other supplies are made by the army or the navy in other than American bottoms. Congress by special enactment at its last session expressly prohibited such shipments in foreign vessels. John Bassett Meore, authority on International law, in discussing the seizure of merchant ships by Russian war vessels, holds that food and cotton cannot be considered contraband, and defines the position of ths United States, as indicated during the Spanish war. The, presence of a large number of Japaneee transports at the head of the Gnlf of Liaotung and nine gunboats in a nearby port is held to Indicate that the plan is to take Ylnkow next. Kuopatkln seems to be nearly surrounded, for 80,000 Japanese are reported advancing on Mukden.