Berlin, 15th December.
The British steamer "Zdas" brought machine oil for the Russian ships to Tangier.
No such steamer is to be found in "Lloyd's Register."—Ep. "N.-C. D.N."
The efforts of Mr. Thomas Barciny, the well-known British publicist, to bring about © German-English reconciliation have had very favourable results in German commercial circles.
17th Decemb The Russian Admiralty is convinced that the Bultic Squadron cannot now avert the fate of Port Arthur, The possibility that the journey will be interrupted is drawing nearer.
The " Morning Fast" states that while Japan has purchased in England only th very best coal, 150,000 tons altogeth Russia is satisfied with second-class ship coal.
The anchorage of the oncin: being close to the shore and in shallow water, it is dificult exactly to assert the damage to their ships, but se torpedoes were distinctly seen to hit and explode. "According to the reports from our observation station next morning, the bow of the Sebastopol was more submerged than on the previous day and she does not now move with the tide and wind, At night on the 15th inst. our torpedo-boat flotillas attacked the Sebastopol, the Otvajny, and several of the enemy's destroyers. "The Seki flotilla in spite of a heavy snowfall reached the ezemy's anchorage and rushed between the Sebas-topd and the destroyers. Every boat discharged torpedoos at short distance against the Sebastopol and the Otvajny, and distinct explosions were observed. The flotilla, fighting with the enemy's destroyers ut 100-metres range, did them some damage, a torpedo seemed to have hit one of the destroyers. Out of this brave attack every boat came safely spite of a hot fire at short range.
The torpedo flotilla under Lieut. Commander Jinguji followed and observed at least throc explosions from the shots directed at the evening's ships. They came out to the middle of the roadstead fighting and exchanging a hail of bullets." In this engagement on one boat Sub-Lieutenant engineer Watanabe ightly wounded and on another boat two men were killed. One torpedo-boat was undergoing repairs when the command for the attack was received, and hurried on its repairs in consequence. Lieut. Commander Ezoe was on board, but could not join the other boats as the start delayed. However, he came in close contact with the Sebrstopol and made a very bold attack on her. Commander Ezoc himself met an honourable death and one man was wounded, but the boat herself came back safely to the rendezvous. As in the foregoing state-lieut our torpedo flotillas kept up on many consecutive nights their brave and fierce attack and observed certainly " great many effective explosions: but the real coniiition of the enemy's damage cannot be ascertained. However, according to a report from an observation station on the 18th December, an enemy's des was seen with broken masts and agri near the shore; its hull and prop ter were exposed above water at ebb-tid 19th December.
It is officially stated that a Mediterranean trip of H. M. the Kaiser has so far not been planned for this winter.
At Moscow the anti-government demonstrations are being continued, Siberian Plague has broken out amongst the labourers of the fur factories in the districts of Vjatka and Slobodskoi. 247 cases have been reported so far, 20th December, At Odessa o rifle brigade has been mobilised for East Asia, Coun Wolff-Mettornich and Baron Spee von Sternberg, the German Am-bass: dors at London and Washington, have arrived in Germany on Christmas leave. Their visit has nothing to do with mediation questions, in which the English Press sees the reason of their being summoned by H. M, the Kaiser to Berlin.
The United States Government has add: essed a new circular note to the Powers wherein further questions for the second peace conference are discussed and a programme has been made up by the Hague peace tribunal. Now the Datch Government will issue formal citations to the Powers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.