T HE news from the Far East may be summed up
in a sentence. The Czar and his advisers have decided that the war must go on till " a great Russian victory " has been obtained, and the Mikado and his advisers have accepted that challenge. On the Russian side immense efforts are being made to reinforce General Kuropatkin, whose men, it is said, are terribly disheartened by the news of the fall of Port Arthur, which was communicated, not from St. Petersburg, but by Marshal Oyama. On the Japanese side, all the regiments that can be spared from Port Arthur are marching to strengthen Marshal Oyama, and carrying with them the huge guns which, according to General Stossel, "terminated the resist- ance " of the great fortress. The Japanese meanwhile are rebuilding the forts in Port Arthur with the aid of Chinese labour, clearing the harbour and its neighbouring waters of sub- marine mines, fortifying the harbour of Dalny, and providing for the prisoners and the sick. The strength of the garrison proves to have been greater than was expected, and owing to the number of effectives who surrendered and their appearance, severe criticisms have begun to be passed on General Stiissel. He has given his parole, apparently under orders from home, but nearly half the Russian officers have refused it, preferring to share the fate of their men.
