p. 7 | THE WAR IN THE ORIENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 25, 1905

THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.

THE Japanese are industriously clearing away mines from the harbor and harbor approaches of Port Arthur. They report that mines had been laid over a radius of forty miles. Prisoners are being removed to Port Dalney and thence to Japan. Sixteen hundred Russian prisoners have already reached Nagasaki. The army of Oyama now facing Kuropatkin has been re-enforced by 368 siege guns and 33,000 men, bringing the army of Oyama up to 388,000 men with 1,254 guns. Among the trophies of war received by the Japanese at Port Arthur are 546 cannon of large and small caliber, 82,000 shells, 60 torpedoes, 30,000 bushels of powder, 35,000 rifles, 2,266,000 rounds of small ammunition, and a great amount of miscellaneous war paraphernalia.

There have been a few small attacks and counter attacks between the two armies in northern Manchuria, but no real engagement or change of positions. It is anticipated that the heavy siege guns now being taken north from Port Arthur will enable the Japanese to harass the Russian lines severely.

In Russia there is much reluctance on the part of the reservists in joining the colors. At Moscow, on January 11, 3,000 reservists started a riot which was only quelled by the regular soldiers opening fire. As a result, 200 of the reservists were killed, and the hospitals were filled with the wounded.

One of the Russian cruisers of the Baltic squadron has been compelled to return to Kronstadt, being seriously damaged. The cause of her injury is not known to the public.

Russia has notified the powers that China has broken her pledge of neutrality. This state of affairs, the Russian notification declares, will bring the country into perilous paths, and it concludes by saying that Russia now claims the right of acting in her own interests. While it is improbable that Russia will declare war against China at present, this is a notification that she will at least demand indemnity from China when the present war is concluded.

Premier Balfour of Great Britain declares that the two problems now before that country are the defense of Afghanistan and re-armament of the British army. This, he declared, would involve a cost as great as any continental power was able to bear; but it must be done for the safety of the nation.

China has cancelled a concession which was to permit a British company to construct a railway from Swatow to Chou Chou, and has granted the same to a Japanese company. This is interesting as showing the increasing influence of Japan in the affairs of China.

Riots continue in the Baku (Russia) oil fields in connection with the strike of workmen. Many great oil tanks have been burned, wells have been set on fire, and deadly clashes have occurred between rioters and police.

Former Governor Peabody of Colorado has filed notice that he will contest the election of the newly-elected governor of that state. He claims wholesale fraud in six counties, and has demanded a recount.

M. Bertillion, the inventor of the system for the measurement of criminals, has now invented an apparatus for determining accurately the size of objects represented in photographs.

A report by a New York philanthropist to the commissioner general of immigration states that there are now in New York City 100,000 idle men.

A report from Africa states that there has been a massacre in the region of the Upper Kongo, and that all whites there have been killed.

Irving B. Dudley, United States Minister to Peru, has been appointed to succeed Minister Bowen at the capital of Venezuela.