Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-04-27
Sink Japanese Troop Barge.

ST. Petersburg, April 25.-Oficial dis
patches regarding the fighting south of
the River Pamokua, reported last Friday,
i'll which n Russian detachment had three
men killed and two officers and thirteen
men wounded, say a japanese troop laden
barge and other boats emerged from the
mouth of the Pamokua and attempted to
cut off the Russian retreat. The barge
was sunk by the Russian guns.
Capt. SmeiZin, who commanded the de-
tachment, has died of his wounds. Lieut..
Pushkin was the other officer wounded.
Impeding the Jap Crossing.
Further details concerning the skirmish
say that in following UP the general plan
to harass and impede the japanese cross
ing the Yalu the Russian outposts on the
river seEt a detachment of volunteers in
boats On the night of April q for the
purpose Of setting fire to the Japanese
pCntoons and other bridge material
The boats grounded on a sand bank
near the Korean side and drew the fire OF
the japanese outposts. There was a
sharp fusillade at close range.
Japs to the Attack
The position of the boats was highly
critical owing to the appearance of q
number of large barges filled with Japa-
neSe coming out from a small tributary
stream called the Pomakua, which is un-
general staff.
The intention of the barges was to cut
off the retreat of the Russians This
was noticed from the other bank, two
miles distant, and couple Of field guns
opened fire. a lucky shot sank one Of
the barges and the others withdrew
The japanese casualties are not known
Guess at Jap Plans.
Information i'll the possession of the
general staff leads to the belief that the
objective of the Japanese campaign does
not involve the ambitious invasion of the
interior of Manchuria with the purpose
of reaching and overwhelming the main
Russian army.
If the Japanese ever entertained the
hope Of accomplishing a task similar to
that which Napoleon set himself present
advlces INDICATE that they have aban-
doned 1t, and have adopted much more
cautious and less hazardous programme
If this information is correct there
Will be no advance upon the army con.
centrated at Iiao Yang and MukdeE
with it's attendant constant lengtheninp
and weakening Of the japanese line of
communications. Instead, there seems
to be a determination to stick as close
as possible to the sea, where lies Japan's
natural base Of communications she hay.
ing established herself in Korea.
To Cut Off Port Arthur.
The general staff reports says that the
japanese still have three other ohioc
tives-the occupation of a line across the
Lao Tung peninsula for the purpose OF
cutting off Port Arthur. the isolation Of
Tladivostok and the establishment of y
junction between the army of Korea and
the force at the head of the Lao Tunc
peninsula. The last mentioned move
ment might be accomplished by land
ing near the mouth of Ia Yang river
which, by threatening the flank of ths
Russian position at Fenghuanchenr
might render it untenahle and make the
advance of a column from Korea com
paratively easy.
If these plans should succeed the If,
OF both Russian sQuadrons in the Pa
cifc would be menaced and, with the
sea and feet back of her at every
point, Japan could fortify the positions
thus gained, and, with tho tables turned
compel Gen. Kuropatkin to come for.
ward and attack.