The report that General Kuropatkin is preparing to assume the offensive is believed here to be well-founded, and should the Russian Commander-in-Chief actually pursue this plan, both armies will have to fight in the open, or in what may be called undefended positions with the result of advancing the military situation, The clearing of Talienwan Bay has been going on steadily of late and a few scores of the Russian mines have been already discovered and exploded. If I rightly gauge the position, the Japanese operations against Port Arthur on a grand scale will probably take place early in July.
Promotions.
The promotion of thirteen higher executive officers was announced yesterday forenoon. The ceremony for officers promoted to full General and full- Admiral +was performed at the Palace in the presence of the {Emporor. Those promoted before the throne were: Lieut.-General Baron Okazawa, Chief Aide-do-Camp to the Emperor;' Lieut. General Baron Hasegawa, Commander of the Guards Division Liout.-General Baron Nishi, Commander of the Second Division Liout.-Gon. Baron Kodama, Vice-Chief of the Gonoral Staff; and Lieut.-Gen, Baron Nogi, Commander of the Third Army Adinival Becon Yamamoto, Minister vt Corps—each to be full General; Vice-
the Navy, and Vice-Admiral Togo, Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Squa-rons—to be full Admiral, Among others promoted were: Rear-Admiral Dowa, Divisional Commander of the Third Squadron; Rear-Admiral Uriu, Commander of the Fourth Squadron; and Admiral Saito, Vico-—to be Vice-Admiral.
Ohiof Staff Officer of the Yokosuka A miralty; Captain Yamada, in command of the battleship Asahi; Captain Shina-mura, Chief of Staff of the Combined Squadron,—to be Rear-Admiral. Captain Yamada was at the same time appointed Divisional Commander of the Third Squadron.
Fire at the Varsity.
A fire broke out at, the Engineering College of the Imperial Tokio Univer-on Saturday at 0.10 am., and destroyed two buildings, one containing the Marine Engineering and Ordnance Departments, and, the other the Otel] sat in process of construction. The neering Department. The latter was
damage is estimated at about 30,000 yen. The cause is so far unknown.
The Sunken Ships.
The depth of the water where the Japanese battleship Hatsuso sank on the 15th inst. is said to be about thirty fathoms and the raising of her in her al form is difficult, but the guns and some machinery, &e., are expected to be saved. It is also reported from Saseho that the cruiser Yoshino will certainly be salved in toto.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.