Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-29


 from Viceroy Aiexeieff:
 "The RstviBan has repelled several attacks by the enemy's torpedo boats, two of which are believed to have been sunk by her in the open sea. Our tor pedo boats, under Captain of the First Rank Matussevitch and Captain of the Second Rank Prince Lieven, encounter ed, unsupported, and pursued the enc mys torpedo boat hotilla. They sight ed no large warships. Later In the morning the cruisers Bayan, Diana, Askold and Novik were sent out to pre- vent the Japanese cruisers from pursu ing a portion of our returning torpedo boat fiotilla. One of our torpedo boats which was cut off by four Japanese cruisers, sought shelter in Dove bay, where 1t was subjected to a long dis tance fire by the enemy"
 Tokyo dispatches say that as the campaign progresses 1t seems that the chances are growing simmer for 8 great pitched battle on the open sea be- tween the fleets of modern battleships which the world has long awaited. It is believed here that the Russians lack the strength to assume the offensive and that they will probably stick to Port Arthur doggedly to await a sea and land investment
 It is announced officially by Major General Pfug, chief of staff, that the Russian cavalry has crossed the Yalu river, and 1t ts expected to be followed shortly by heavy land fighting, as Gen eral Linevitch has sent a whole army corps of infantry to support the Cos sacks, who have penetrated to point below Anju and who are reported to have beaten the Japanese in several skirmishes. Nevertheless this move ment in force must not be assumed as sign that the Russians have taken the offensive, but rather that they are taking up a strong position in northern Korea in order to check the advance of the formidable army of Japanese landing on both shores of Korea while the concentra ton of Russian troops behind the Yalu is being completed. This concentration is making better progress than is generally believed abroad %..s .1 s@ ~.
 Major General Pfug's report that General Mas Chinese army corps is west of the Liao river agrees with late report that the Chinese war min ister Is hurrying large bodies of troops to the northeastern frontier of Pechin.
 The military situation will be greatly complicated if General Mas army is really moving to the rear of the Rus sian position with the intention of mak- ing common cause with the Japanese as it will expose both Russian Hanks to attack.
 Vladivostok has been blockaded by g Japanese fleet since Thursday last. ac- cording to advices from Hakodate, which also state that incoming steam CTS report Russian cruisers on the east coast of Kink in the bay of Son. iai, Japan. ,+-~~x
 Japanese warships have been report ed in the vicinity of Vladivostok, but this report of a blockade had not yet been confirmed from other sources. .t
 The blockade of Port Arthur eontin- ues, but the hopes and hearts of the Russians are centered in their army and with General Kuropatkin at it's head, although he has not faced foe since the siege of Plevna, victory is considered assured. .~ s-
 It is reported from Tokyo that Rus sian cavalry drove lot of Korean sol diers from their camp at Anju and cap tured their arms and supplies. Most of these soldiers fled, but were secured, offering no resistance.
 All the Russians on the Yalu river appear to be cavalry.
 The Russian force north of the Yalu river consists of four regiments of in fantry, a smalt number of cavalry and one battery of artillery.
 The Japanese army landed at Che, mulpo during the last few days was accompanied by large supply train and about 5000 ponies, or small Jap. anese native horses.
 The troops landed numbered about 25,0OO.