Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-27
JAPANESE CROSS YALU RIVER

Between Monday night and yesterday
morning the japanese forced a passage
of the Yalu, two companies crossing be-
tween Tchandgjiou and Siaopoussikhe.
Heavy firing was heard near Tatungkan,
| in which it is believed the japanese
made feint in order to distract atten-
ton from the real point OF passage So
far no bridge spans the river 1t is be-
lieved the Russian fire succeeded in de-
stroying the floating parts of the Japa-
nese bridges.
The entrance into the service Of four
submarine boats at Port Arthur means
the addition of new and formidable
weapon for the defense of that strong
hold. The dispatch of the boats in
sections over the railroad has been
shrouded in secrecy, and many in st.
Petersburg are inclined to doubt the
report by officials of their presence at
Port Arthur or to accept the information
as trustworthy.
An effort now to close or blockade
Port Arthur will be too dangerous, it is
thought. for Vice Admiral Togo to at
tempt. The defenders Of the port will
be able to guard against japanese sub.
marine vessels entering the harbor and
attacking the Russian ships at anchor.
1t is reported in st. Petersburg that
an attempt of the japanese to cross the
Yalu has been frustrated. The authori-
ties have no news Of a reported japanese
BON bardment of Niuchwaug. The Gar
has received two Official dispatches con-
cerning fighting on the Yalu.
Advices from Mukden indicate that
the Russians have complet ID the con-
ceniration Ct their forces on the Mukden-
Liauvang- Yalu and Mukden-N -Niuchwang
lines. Forty thousand men are occupy
ing fortified positions along the Yalu
river, aud 10000 are posted at Taku-
shan, at the head of Korea bay, where
the Japanese have threatened to make a
landing. The Russians also occupy the
banks of the Tumen river from the
Russo. Korean frontier to Lake TalGi
(Paiktousan), on the Manchu-Korean
frontier, near the source of the Yalu.
| Detacbmenfs of Russian cavalry and
light artillery hold the towns of Kiolin,
Musan and Zunduysn, along the river,
and points on the east coast Of Korea Offer
ing facilities .or landings.
The Russian foreign Office denies that
Russian troops have been sent to occupy
neutral territory west of the Liao liver.
No protest has been received from the
Chinese government, aud it is said
China fss no ground to protest.
The St. Petersburg correspondent Of
the Paris Matin says; | learn from
sure source that the Vladivostok squad
ron yesterday sank four japanese trans
ports which were conveying 1000 meu.
A sensational story is ahoat at Cronstadt
of an attempt to destroy the batfle-ship
Alexander III. According TO the re-
por,s a sailor saw a stranger, wearing the
uniform Of an officer, going down into
the engine-rcom of the batleship, fol-
lowed him, and saw the stranger attach
ing something connected with wire 10 the
dynamOs. After the stranger left the
sailor examined the attachment and
found it to be bomb The sailor at
once cut the wires, ran up on deck to tell
what had happened, and found that the
stranger had hanged himself. The crew
of the Alexander III, it is added, were
instructed not to speak Of the occu, renee
and it is said that the stranger was
madman or member of some reyolu-
tionary organization, 10 whose lot it had
fallen to blow up the Alexander III.
A special cable to the Chicago Daily
News, from Kobe, says: "Under full
steam strong squadron of Japanese
armored cruisers was observed yesterday
morning making its way northward in
the Japan sea. 1t is believed that the
vessels are on their way to attempt to
cut off the Russisn squadron that ap-
peared at Won-san, on the east coast OF
Korea, Sunday. 1t is feared, however,
that an the Cars cruisers are superior in
speed to those of the Mikado, they may
escape in safety to the shelter of Vladi-
vostok. 1t is also stated that the Jap
anese have succeeded in Turing the Rus
slams from protection Of the VlAdivostok
guns and that there is another Japanese
squadron between them and their re-
| treat but these are mere rumois.
The general opinion is that Vice Ad-
miral Togo is waiting for the Vladivos-
tok squadron is confirmed by the London
Daily Telegraph's Toxic correspondent,
who says there is no doubt that the jap
anese are taking steps to cut off the re-
treat of the Vladivostok warships.