Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-18
Jap Forces on liao Tung
Peninsula Are Active.
DAILY SKIRMISHING
DESTROYING RUSSIAN RAILWAYS
AND TELEGRAPH.
Serious Fight Few Miles From Kin
Chow-Japanese Lose 146 Men,
Including Nine Officers.


The Japanese legation has received the
following cablegram from Tokyo:
The commander of the landing forces on
the Liao Tung peninsula reports that be-
tween the 9Th and 10th instants there have
been daily skirmshes, Japanese detach-
ments successfully driving the enemy back
and destroying the telegraph and railways.
At Pulantien and vicinity the 10Th,
after serious fighting the Japanese occu-
pied the heights three and one-half miles
from Kin Chow.
The Japanese casualties were 146, includ-
ing nine officers killed.
Kuropatkin to Fall Back.
ST. PETERSBURG, May Is, $40 pm
Confirming the intmations that 1t Is Gen.
Kuropatkin's purpose to avoid a decisive
combat with the Japanese al the present
stage of the war, the statement was made
by the general staff today that the COM
mander-in-chef is making preparations to
fall back on Mukden and then on Hardin.
No Recent Fighting Afloat
The admiralty received today an official
dispatch from Rear Admiral Wittsoeft, be-
Heved to have been dated from Port Ar
thur May IA, reporting that there has been
no fighting afioat since the telegraph line
was cut, the Japanese ships not having at
tackled.
Everything was well with the Russian
squadron. The dispatch was gratifying to
the authorities, not only for the news it
contained, but because it's receipt estab-
lished the fact that while the telegraph
line is severed a system of communication
by means of Chinese runners has been sat-
isfactorily inaugurated.
In order to deliver the Liao-Yang dis
patches intrusted to him the runner had
to pass through Japanese lines already
thrown across the narrow neck of the
peninsula, just above Port Arthur, for the
purpose of cutting off all communication
between Gen. kuropatkin and the fortress.
The passage of the runner was danger
ous but the task was light compared to
what it will be when the japanese forces
closely invest Port Arthur.
Nevertheless the authorities express con-
fdence that arrangements have been made
to insure the frequent transmission of dis
patches, which, if captured unntel-
Hgible to the Japanese, as they are in
cipher.
Efforts to Reach Port Arthur
One of the reasons for the desperate ef-
fort of the Russians to get to Port Arthur
what is officially called an ammunition
train has been revealed by information
which leaked out today. There was little
need it appears for more ammunition,
but Gen. Stoessel was exceedingly anxious
to be provided with balloons.
The highest point of the fortress is the
Eagles Nest, from which much of the sur
rounding country can be seen, but balloons
will facilitate observation.
Before the war Russian authorities loaded
on vessel complete balloon equipment
Tor Manchuria, but it was captured by the
japanese, who will use ii perhaps in their
operations against Port Arthur. Recogniz-
Ing the need of providing Gen. Stoessel
with all the requisite Instruments with
which to conduct the defense of Port Ar
thur, Gen. kuropatkin is believed to have
sent DaIIoons on the ammunition train"
The Russian balloons are stationary
IF the Japanese try to drift balloons
over Port Arthur and drop explosives on
the fortress" officer said TODAY .tha
world Will hear of the first battle in the
air. "
Russians Now Convinced.
The admiralty is now convinced by mail
reports received from Port Arthur that Vice
Admiral Togo used submarine boats in his
operations. letter from Lieut. Gen. Stoes-
sci says that he was standing on Golden
hill when the Russian battle ship Petro-
pavlovsk went down. and he saw a subma-
rine boat torpedo the battle ship Lieut.
Schneider claims he distinctly saw the peri
scope or submarine boat, and could trace
the course of the vessel. Officers of the
Russian battle ship Pobieda testified that
a submarine boat discharged a torpedo
against their ship and they fired at the
submarine boat, hoping to sink 1t, but
failed.
The same letters describe the reverence
of the Russians for the overcoat of Vice
Admiral Makaroff when 1t was taken out of
the water: On Its approach they barred
their heads, made the sign of the cross
and prayed for the repose of the admirars
soul.
1t is officially denied that viceroy Alexiefr
has gone to Liao-Yang to assume command
of 10000 troops there, and that Gen. Kuro-
patkin has left Liao-Yang for Harbjn 1t
Is said that Kuropatkin is either at Lao
Yang or in its vicinity.
Details of Executions.
Details have been received here from
Harbn regarding the execution April q of
the two Japanese officers, Yukoka and Oki
for attempting to dynamite bridges and
destroy telegraph communication on the
eastern Chinese railway.
The prisoners admitted they were part o.
detail numbering 100 men. whose purpose
1t to destroy the railway at various
points. When told that they must have
been extremely brave people they replied
mot at all; we were only carrying out
our duty and the order of the mikado.''
Prisoners Were Shot.
Both prisoners were executed April 81
between new and old towns of Harbin In
the presence of a large crowd. They were
shot instead of being hanged, upon order
OF Gen. Kuropatkin. strong guard was
thrown about the spot to hold back the
public at a distance OF 400 yards. No pho
tographs were allowed to be taken.
The younger prisoner refused to allow the
bandaging of his eyes. When told 1t was
necessary according TO Russian law he
asked that an exception be made in his
favor. The older Japanese. staff officer
wept and tainted, but finally allowed him
self to be blindfolded calmly One of the
men was a Catholic and made his final
confession to a Russian priest. there be ng