Despite a repulse south of Tie Pass, the Japanese continue a rearguard attack on the retreating Russians. March 15.—A Japanese fleet of twenty-two warships going westward is sighted off Singapore, India. March 17.—The Czar curtly dismisses General Kuropatkin from his command, and promotes Lieutenant-General Linevitch, heretofore at the head of the first army, to be Commander-in-Chief of all the forces in Manchuria. The Russian War Council decides to place a new army of 450,000 men in the field, and orders the Baltic squadron to proceed on its way to the East. The Russian army, having abandoned Tie Pass, continues its flight northward, harassed by Japanese attacks from all sides. March 19.—The Russians are still retreating and Kai-Yuan and Fakoman are occupied by the Japanese. March 21.—General Kuropatkin returns to the front to accept a subordinate command under General Linevitch. March 22.—All the Russian ministers but two are now said to favor peace. March 24.—The Russian troops halt for a short rest at a point seventy-four miles north of Tie Pass. The Japanese armies are believed to be executing another flanking movement. March 25.—It is given out from St. Petersburg that the Russians have sent 800,000 men to the front since the beginning of the war. March 28.—The Japanese again attack the rearguard of the retreating Russians. General Oku reports that the spring thaws make the movements of both armies difficult. It is no longer denied that the Russian Government is moving for peace. March 29.—A court-martial is designated to try General Stoessel, it being customary in Russia to so try any officer that surrenders. All Europe shows eagerness to invest in the new Japanese bonds. March 30.—Both Russia and Japan deny that they are making any efforts to bring about peace. General Linevitch issues an address to his troops, closing with the words, “May God help you in the coming battle.” The Japanese continue their flanking movement and skirmishes occur between them and the Russian outposts. March 31.—General Sakharoff, former Chief of Staff, quits the Russian army because of a quarrel with General Linevitch. General Stakelburg also leaves, the reason assigned being ill health. The Russian Baltic fleet, which left Madagascar on March 16, is reported in bad condition. April 3.—A bomb explosion at Harbin destroys seventy-five persons and an immense amount of Russian supplies. Prince Ouktomsky, deposed from the command of the Port Arthur squadron, reaches St. Petersburg and demands a court-martial. April 6.—Both the Russian Baltic fleet and the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo are reported approaching each other in the vicinity of the China Sea. _General Foreign News_ March 7.—Practically half of the workingmen of St. Petersburg are on strike. The situation continues grave, though quiet, at Warsaw and at other points in Russia.