Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-03-03
DARDENELLE'S NOT
OPEN TO RUSSIA

CONSTANTINOPLE, March q
Russia dare not pass the Dardanelles
with her warships. The Turkish gov
ernment, yielding to the peremptory
demands of other powers-partlcularly
EnRland-has resolved to torcibly pre-
vent Russias Black Sea fleet from
passing through the Dardanelles. The
defenses along the straits have been
strengthened and submarine mines, to
be exploded from shore, have been
laid
The reason for Turkeys change OF
front concerning the Dardanelles mat
ter is the prompt and decisive action
of England. The sultan was notified
that should the Russian fleet be per
mitted to pass through the straits a
British fleet would Immediately make
a demonstration before the sultan 5
palace here. In addition to Eng gland 5
strong protest representations that
could not be misunderstood, > and which
gave the sultan no alternative, were
made by other powers against such a
breach Of Russia's treaty with Eng
land.
London, March 2.-Up to noon to-
dav no news concerning the siege and
bonn bardment of Port Arthur has been
received. A st. Petersburg dispatch
says the claims of japanese victories
there were premature. 1t is said that
low tide disclosed one of the japanese
torpedo boat destroyers sunk III the
outer harbor. But the absence OF news
from Port Arthur presages Russian de-
feat. 1t is now evident that the re-
ported landing of japanese troops near
Vladiyostok was either teint or mere
ly the landing of small force with
arms to equip the Chinese brlgands
who are harassing the Russians. Rus
sian spies in numbers have been
caught in japanese forts. One dlscov-
cred on transport at Nagasaki jump
ed overheard and was shot IN the
water
Washington. March ,. Information
received here from japanese sources Is
60 the effect that the real Japanese
attack on the Port Arthur peninsula,
will not occur for about fortnight.
st. Petersburg, March ? 1t Is an,
nounced here that notwithstanding re-
ports to the contrary the working OF
the Trans Siberian railroad surpasses
all expectations. The transport oi
troops is going on with the regularity
of clockwork, 3, 900 men each day, with
baggage, going eastward. The Russian
plan for the mobilization OF troops III
Siberia is giving excellent results, and
troops are hurrying to the seat OF wal
BY all available routes. The Russian
plan is said to be to remain on the de
fensive until an overwhelming super
iority of forces insures the success OF
a final and complete offensive attack.
London, March 2-The Japanese
minister at Seoul has notified the
Korean government that the construc
tiou of a railroad from Seoul to VIII
for military use will be commenced
forthwith. Engineers and surveyors
have already left Seoul. This means
that the Japanese will make theil
fight along the line Of this projected
road which sweeps through the centre
OF Korea north and south to the moutl
OF the Yalu. 1t runs through Ping
Yang, where the first land clash be
tween the two armies occurred, anC
not more than fifteen miles from thu
point, just outside Anju, where Rus
sian force of 40, 900 is said to be mass
ed ready for battle. There are 100, OO'
Japanese around Seoul, and these ar
being moved northward by foIcet
marches. Across in Manchuria tn
Russians are taking every precautlol
against japanese advance from new
quarter.
London, March "A dispatch from
Nagasaki says that nearly one hundred
wounded japanese men-of- wars mel
have been landed there on the hosplt
al ship Kohemaru. Among the men ar
six engineers of the transports tha
were sunk by Russians No number o
dead in the Port Arthur engagement
is given. The large number OF wound
ed indicated that the japanese losse
heretofore denied were serious.
Paris, March 2.-Gabriel HanotauX
former minitser of foreign affairs, ha
started an agitation in favor of tn
intervention of the powers to stop tn
war between Russia and Japan
French officia! circles count much o.
the movement, as they think Russi
would be perfectly willing to accep
the good Offices of all the powers, FRO
viding it was combined effort, thu
compelling Japan to do the same.