Friday's papers contained some interesting figures as to the materiel
captured at Port. Arthur, which showed that the surrender of that fortress was not caused by the failure of ammunition. Over eighty thousand shells have been given up, as well as a quantity of minor explosives. The Japanese have also secured five hundred and forty-six guns, and it would appear from their report that they hope to utilise the sunken battleships, with the exception of the Sevastopol.' We may note that the correspondent of the Echo de Paris reports, on apparently good authority, that a month ago General Kuropatkin had no more than one hundred and seventy-five thousand infantry, which is very different from the usual estimate of half-a-million. "The army in Man- churia," says the correspondent, " is literally melting away." This is probably exaggerated, but if the figure is correct, it explains the Russian inactivity on the Sha-ho, quite apart from the general Fabian policy which we understand Kuropatkin favours. The ultimate destination of the Baltic Fleet, we may add, remains uncertain. Admiral Rozhdestvensky's squadron has, according to authori- tative statements from Paris, not yet actually entered any port in Madagascar, and will not stay longer than is prescribed by the rules of neutrality as enforced in the Spanish-American War. Meanwhile Admiral Botrovoskr's
division of seven ships has passed through the Suez Canal, and it is stated that a third squadron will start early in February. A writer in the Russian journal Slow estimates the loss to Russia by the destruction of the first Pacific squadron as twenty-two vessels, of the value of £10,000,000; but his list does not include the Varyag ' and Korietz,' or allow for the terrible damage done to the cruisers 'Diana,' Askold,' Bogatyr," Russia,' and Gromoboi.'
