THE WAR IN THE ORIENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 15, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 11.

THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.

In the bitter cold, through the night, as well as through the day, the soldiers of the mikado and the czar are fighting and perishing on the plains, in the forests, and on the mountains of northern Manchuria. A month ago it was not thought there would be any more fighting until spring. But now lumbering cannon and siege guns, ammunition wagons and commissary supplies, are being dragged through snow-drifts and over frozen rivers, and thousands of men are perishing day and night—all in the cause of war. So intense is the cold in which these men are fighting that when even a slight wound is received, the pain is almost unbearable. The amount of suffering being endured now by the poor wretches that are falling in Manchuria is beyond the power of pen to describe. Nevertheless, the war must go on lest national pride should suffer.

The czar is determined to continue the war until victory is achieved or honor is satisfied, and the forces of Japan must continue the struggle until Russia yields. Something over two weeks ago the opposing forces began to push at each other, minor positions were taken, and retaken. The Russian right wing made a demonstration in force, and was checked by the Japanese left, after considerable fighting. About the time this movement was ceasing, the Japanese right began to attack the Russian left, forcing it steadily backward, and seriously menacing the Russian line of communications. This movement gradually developed into an attack along the front, covering a distance of about one hundred miles. For days this battle has been raging with only occasional periods of cessation. Positions have been relentlessly attacked, and stubbornly defended. No estimates have been given of the number that have fallen; but it is known that the losses have been heavy on both sides, and the suffering intense. So far the results seem to have been in favor of the Japanese, and the Russians at home are expecting a retreat of Kuropatkin to Tie Pass, leaving Mukden in the hands of the Japanese.

Mrs. Jane Lathrop Stanford, widow of the founder of Leland Stanford Jr. University, died in Honolulu on March 2, as the result of taking a dose of poison. Who placed the fatal drug in the chloride of soda which she was in the habit of taking, is not known. Something over thirty millions left by her husband had been placed at the disposal of the university named for her only son, and for many years she had held an official position upon the managing board of that institution. In January last an attempt was made to poison Mrs. Stanford while in San Francisco. She leaves an estate valued at more than three million dollars.

Venezuela and the United States have been drifting farther and farther apart during the last few weeks, and reports indicate that a grave crisis is impending. The latest act of Venezuela to which the United States takes exception is the sequestration of the property of the American Asphalt Company in Venezuela. This is said to have caused considerable excitement in the American colony at Caracas. The State Department is pressing the matter through the United States representative there.

The people of Kansas, through their attorney-general, are making a direct attack upon the Standard Oil Company. That official claims that the company is without authority to do business in that state, because of having paid no charter fees in the state. He will ask that a receiver be appointed over the company’s interests.

The Senate, on March 1, passed the following appropriation bills: the Post-office bill, carrying $181,526,643, the pension bill, carrying $138,000,000, and the river and harbor bill, carrying $38,350,899. On the following day the sundry civil bill was passed, carrying an appropriation of $68,000,000.

The national government has accepted the Yosemite Valley Park, and made an appropriation of $25,400 to be expended this year in its improvement.

Flames swept the docks and dock warehouses of New Orleans on February 27, destroying property valued at from $5,000,000 to $6,000,000.