The San Francisco call., 1904-02-27
Mikado's Troops to Besiege
Two Russian Strong
holds in Orient.
Cabegam 1904 by
NevVY YorkH Herald

|
I LONDON. Feb. 27.-So much i'm
portance is attached to the report in
the Russian Herald that the Jap
anese had made a landing at Possiet
Bay that the London newspapers OF
this morning print detailed maps of
the district to illustrate the suggested
movement.
! 1t is. of course, recognized that the
report may be incorrect. As caoled
/ by the Chefu correspondent OF me
| Call, it was given as a rumor, and the
authority cited by the Newchwang cor
respondent of the Daily Mail was
missionary. whose testimony might be
/ of the hearsay order, while a Reuter-
dispatch which came later quoted ma
tive testimony.
Still it is believed by military and
naval experts in London that there are
a good many chances of the reported
Japanese landing at Possiet Bay Delng
an accomplished fact. and one who IS
usually a good judge went so far as TO
predict that ere long simultaneous
attack would be made on Vladlvostok
and Port Arthur. That. he said, would
be coup de theatre quite in line with
the declaration made on Thursday by
Japan's Premier, Count Katsura, that
Japan was resolved to strike hard and
strike fast. if only that the agony
might be as brief as possible.
There has been, according TO this
view, a lifting in two places Of the
veil which shrouds Japan's prepara-
tions for land operations. One was the
d. he nfI fe
contained in a dispatch from Bennett
Burleigh respecting the landing of
troops in the vicinity Of Dalny. Bur
leigh had been at Nagasaki for several
weeks, but, firing of enforced inaction
there, left Japan recently and yester-
day turned up at Shanghai, whence he
sent the important news in question.
Berlin advices state that German
tacticians discredit the report of
Japanese landing at Possiet Bay.
which. they say, is strongly defended,
and they utterly reject the statement
that the Russian garrison retired with
out having fired a shot.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph asserts that the Rus
SLAMS are evacuating Dalny. The Rus
slams boast that they have mined the
breakwater, Wharves and railroad sid
ings at Dalny in order to prevent the
japanese making use of these facilities.
This correspondent repeats that the
Russians have supplies for only five
months at Port Arthur.
RUSSIAN EXPERT OPINION.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 26AThere
is a difference of opinion among the
military and naval officers in regard
to the purpose of the Japanese move
ments at Port Arthur, but the pre-
vailing opinion is that it is to effect
a diversion to cover their movement
elsewhere. A high naval officer, speak
ing of the attempt to block the chan
mel, said:
II cannot understand what the Japa-
nese hoped to accomplish. They forget
that the days of wooden, infammable
ships are past. If their object really
was to block the channel it was equally
futile, as it would be easy to clear the
entrance by blowing up the wreck. We
believe the Japanese activity at Port
Arthur was feint to engross our at
tention while they continue their dis
embarkation of troops in Korea. I do
not believe that at this time they will
attempt a landing in force on the Lao
tung peninsula"
1t is said that the battleship Retvi-
zan, outside the mouth of the harbOr. is
acting as a guardship. The remainder
of the Russian squadron is inside to
avoid torpedo attack
The idea that the Japanese seriously
contemplate a bombardment of Port
Arthur, inviting the exposing Of their
ships to a plunging fire from the guns
on Golden Hill. is regarded by military
experts as absurd.