Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
DEARTH NO SURPRISE
st, Petersburg Not Disturbed
Over Lack of War News.
ONT " NGTNOD ut CHCN
ONLY MINOR CLASHES
NAVAL EXPERT SAYS KOREA
WILL PROVE A MOUSE TRAP.
Russian Officer Declares That Japs
Made Use of False Lights
at Port Arthur
IN TWO PARTS.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 5.-The con-
tinued dearth of war news from the front
does not occasion surprise here as the Rus
SLAMS are proceeding deliberately with their
plans. serious land operations not being ex-
pected for several weeks. However, minor
collisions in north Korea may occur al any
time.
The report of Major General Plug, chief
of staff of Viceroy Alexieff, that the stacks
of a Japanese cruiser sunk near Chemulpo
have been seen confirms the theory enter
tertained from the first that the Japanese
are following their traditional policy of
concealing their losses.
The disappearance of the Japanese feet
from Port Arthur after its failures is Great
ing merriment here, one paper remarlling
that it has ''donned the invisible cap, strad-
died the carpet and may land in the ice in
front of st. Petersburg
Russian Papers View.
The Gazette this morning attributes the
less unfrendly attitude of the United
States and Great Britain toward Russia to
the fact that they are commercial nations
and realize that the war will cost a tre-
mendous lot of money, and that Japan will
not have the walk anticipated
Madam Pausep of Riga. who desires to
be enrolled in Cossack regiment, is here
years of age was reared under the pat
ronage of the late CZar Alexander Ill, is
a fine horsewoman, good shot and
handles rifle, revolver and sword equally
well, often taking part in the cavalry
maneuverS of the NyaZensky regiment.
Madam Pousep is also qualified Red
Cross nurse, but she says there are
enough women nurses, and she wants to
show that a woman can fight. If her pc
tition is rejected she will go at her own
expense and serve as a daughter of the
regiment"
Korea Mouse Trap.
A naval expert writing to the Novosti
predicts that Korea will prove mouse
trap to the Japanese, adding that mot
one-hundredth part of the yellow Ma
poleons will get out alive"
The weather at Port Arthur during the
last few days has been much warmer,
awaiting the approach of spring.
Many fast locomotives are being sent
from European Russia to Siberia.
Denies Officers Were Ashore.
A letter from an officer of the Russian
cruiser Pallada has been received here de-
scribing the first attack by the japanese
upon Port Arthur The writer denies the
story that the officers of the Russian fleet
were ashore, and confirms the statement
that the Japanese made use of false lights.
He asserts that al IL o'clock at night a
was executed, and that toward midnight
four Russian torpedo boats, which simu-
lated the enemy, headed back toward Dali
ny, from which place they had come.
The crews of the fleet had retired only
the watch remaining on deck. The ships
were in the outer harbor, and the captain
of the Pallada, which vessel occupied the
advance position, having descended from
the bridge for last look around before
going below, when he perceived lights ad-
vancing.
Used Russian Lights.
The ships lights shown were white above
red. being those of the Russian warships
when entering the harbor.
The captain of the Pallada supposed the
approaching vessels were the Russian tor
pedo boats returning from Dalny, and his
suspicious were only aroused when upon
drawing nearer they covered and uncov-
cred their lights at irregular intervals.
The signal tower sgnaled that the lights
were not understood.
AT that moment the Palladas captain
through the thick night, made out the out
lines of the torpedo boat destroyers' smoke
stacks, in pairs, amidShfps. AS the stacks
of the Russian destroyers are in line fore
and aft, the crews of the Russian ships
were instantly called TO quarters
Fierce Fire Opened.
In less than three minutes the Pallada's
men were at their posts, orders were given
that the guns be charged with grape and a
fierce fire was opened on the oncoming
japanese.
The battle ships Cesarevitch and Retyf-
zan, which were in the first line a short
distance astern of the Pallada, also opened
fire almost Immediately
Terrible Explosion.
terrible explosion occurred under the
hullof the Pallada, raising a torrent of
water. which submerged the cruisers deck
but did not stop her firing or maneuvering,
which now, however were complicated by
the measures taken to close a breach amid
ships. below the water line, made by the
explosion of the torpedo.
Soon afterward two other torpedoes ex-
ploded almost simultaneously one under
the bow of the Retvizan and the other un-
der the stern of the Cesarevitch This
double explosion ended the attack the
japanese vessels retiring at full speed.
PRESS UTTERANCES NO INDEX