Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-25
Regarding the Conditions
at Port Arthur.
No Dispatches Given but at
st. Petersburg.
Gar Issues Manifesto on Occasion Of
the Christening of His Son and
Allows Many Benefits to All the
Russians.

st. Petersburg, Aug. 24.-In spite of
the anxiety which is felt regarding the
fate of Port Arthur the War Office and
the Admiralty We're practically closed.
today. ON account of the christening of
the royal infant and no official dis
patches were given out.
So far as can be ascertained no
further news of the progress of the
ress has been received except that con-
tanned i'm reports from foreign sources
Thcs" latter are conflicting, Some of
, them representing that the Japanese
assault has become exhaustive and
others claiming that the Japanese have
captured Eptselian fort. belonging to
the western line of offences IL this 20
Sition has been taken and occupied Il IL
realized that unless the Japanese are
| ~ once disludgcd the chain of the forts
Will be preached and the position. OF
| Port Arthur rendered critical. The re-
port, however, is considered as requir-
! in:3 confirmation.
The simple fact that the day to which
l a large population looked forward with
dread has passed without the fall Of
the fortress. and IL has suddenly en-
conrnEcd the popular hope that the
christening Of the Czarevitch will mark
4 turn in the tide.
Reports that General Kuroptakin IL
about to make an important move con-
tnu2 TO he circulated but the char
actor of IN" move is not limited at.
As the reports from the front agree
that the rains have ceased and that
the roads are drying a resumption of
military activity is expected.
Since his retirement from Simon
ShcnE and the Yangzc Pass 1t is esti-
mated that more than 81. 900 reinforce
m"nts have reached General Kuropat-
kin.
Nothing has been received from Rus
sian sources confirming the report that
the hattl"ship Sevastopol struck a mine
outside of Port Arthur, yesterday.
st. Petersburg, Aug. H.-Owing to
the holiday there was no one at the
admiralty here who could speak au-
on the reported stopping
ri the British STEINER Councillor nv the
SmolcnsE. hut ut the Foreign Office
the correspondent Of The Associated
Press was Informed that II was not
- ~ W. ti'i wv 'b'IS W 'FN'St
from stopping neutral ships was the
SUolensk rs she dill not report after
reaching Su"z, but ship was sent out
to convey orders to hor
If the reports that the Smoicnsk stop
red tho corcdicr prove to be correct
the Foreign Office solids that Il will
come within the arrangement announc-
Cd at tho time Of the Malacra affair.
whereby Il WIS arranged with Great
Rritain that in the event of REPETITION
Of such act. pending the receipt OF or
ders by tho vesscla Of the Russian col
untenr feet. ships, If seized, are to BE-
forthwith released and the acts are to
be considered az not having occurred.
Toxic. Aug. 24.--9 A. M.-Further de-
tails of the disabling OF the Russian
battleship Sevastopol have been re-
'eired here. II is stated on Thursday
afternoon, while engaged in Smelling the
Japanese forces from a position out
'ide of Port Arthur, the battieshp
struck a mine and was disabled by the
EXPLOSION. She was towed into Port
Arthur.
'The Japanese battleship Asahi was
CONTINUED on page % .