Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-16

Chinese wounded.
The Russian Warships sustained no
damage and there was no loss OF lie
on them.
London. April 15.-The japanese le-
cation has received the following ac-
count OF the fire which destroyed the
| imperial palace at Seoul, last night:
THE fire broke out ut 10 o'clock on
the evening of April IA. With the eN-
ceptiOn of the Kuiseiken building,
| which is in the European style. all the
other palace buildings We're consumed.
The Emperor took refuge in the library
| of the Kiuseken building.
IT is believed that the fire originated
| in the heating apparatus OF the kau-
veui palace, which was undergoing re-
| pairs.
japanese soldiers took a prominent
part in guarding the person of the En-
peror as Well as in eXtinguishing the
fire. and this producedan excellent
feeling among the court circle. our
troops also did their best to guard the
foreign legations and the foreign rep
resentatives afterwards expressed to
us their sincere thanks"
| Other reports say that all the ar
| chives, treasures and jewels We're de-
Stroyed.
The fact that the palace buildings
We're vigorously walled caused their
utter destruction. according to the cor
respondent of the Daily Chronicle. be-
cause palace guards prevented the en-
try Of the Japanese fire brigade which
was early on the spot and which might
| have prevented the spreading of the
| fire but for the obstinacy of the
| guards.
| Apparently there We're no fire APP
planes within the enclosure. and
therefore the fire spread with furious
rapidity.
Japanese soldiers and other legation
pickcts kept order in the constantly
Increasing crowd. While the japanese
We're parleying with the Corcan guards
| tn" fire began to spread in the direc-
ton of the legations. At this junctura
| ErltlSh and French marines effected
an entrance by the back gates. but it
was too late to save anything. The
| correspondent continues:
| ''Th" Emperor behaved with remark
able GOODNESS and personally superin-
tended the escape of his rctinue. 1t is
doubtful if the palace will ever be re-
| built"
| Later Seoul dispatches say that all
is quiet
| the Emperor received the members
OF the diplomatic corps. Thursday af-
'rrhoon' III Il stone house outside the
palace.
| London, April 1.-THE st. PETERSBURG
| correspondent of the Standard sends n
rumor to the effect that vice-aIrnirol
| Togo'S fleet escorted Il Japanese land
| ing of troops to the westward of the
falu river When 1900 men had been
landed the Russian troops. which Were
| lying concealed, suddenly attacked
them. driving them back TO the ShipS
with heavy losses in men and guns.
London. April 16-The Times this
morning prints Il despatch from its cor
| respondent at sea off the coast Of
| corea. The despatch is dated yesterday
and in it the correspondent says he
believes that the entrance to Port Ar
| thur is now sealed.
Port Arthur. April 14.-Seven torpedo
| boats comprised the japanese notilll
| which was attacked by the cruiser
| Bayan. The fight occurred fourteen
versts from Port Arthur.
New Chwang. April l5.-The sinking
If the Russian battleship Petropav-
lovsk. and the attendant great loss of
life at Port Arthur is regarded here
us the most profound event of the
present war. The news apparently has
made n most profound impression on
all foreigners in the war zone. There
are in circulation uncertain rumors of
Japanese attack on Port Arthur last
Sunday but the rumorS are without
confirmation and are denied by some of
the RUSSIAN officials. Communication
with Port Arthur as well as with other
centerS is substantially closed Abo% Il
score of press correspondents now IN
New Chwang We're informed today of
the Willingness of Viceroy AleXeff to
| admit them To the Russian lines under
| regulation which apparently will gov
ern all branches of their conduct.
London. April 16.-The Times cores
pendent at sea off the coast of Corea.
under yesterdays date. gives the fol
lowing story of recent skirmishes on
| the Yalu river:
On April 3, Japanese cruiser sent
TO reconnoitre the mouth of the Yalu
| found the enemy holding both banks
of the river. Recommending by steam
| launch was abandoned, and last sun
day night. Lieut.. Kyagvchi with five
| men disguised as Corean fishermen in
a native junk. surprised a Russian
post at village on the left bank. The
Russians retired without resistance.
A quarter of an hour later two
Squadrons of Japanese cavalry from
Cheng Ju arrived and DESTROYED the
Russian post. Lieut.. Kyaguchi then
determined TO reconnoitre the right
bank of he river toward Antung. and
met in midstream a junk engaged in
Il similar reconnaissance for the Rus
slams. The junk drew off and tsranded
on n sand bank One of the Russians