The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-19
MYSTERY
SHADES OPERATIONS IN
THE FAR EAST.
AIR FULL OF RUMOUS
But Facts are Hard to
Get At.

London, Feb. 16.-The curtain of
mystery which shadows the view of
the theatre of hostllities in the far
east is as dense as ever. The air is
full of rumors, but definite facts are
very scarce, and the only thing that
seems settled is that decisive land
fight has not yet been fought and may
not be for some days too come. The
Japanese transport service has not
been the overwhelming success that
the followers Of the Mikado would like
to have It appear, and the offensive
. plans of Admiral Alexieff seem to
have been of much less moment than
the st. Petersburg officials would have
1t appear. OF course a battle must
come, but 1t may be postponed for
some days as Japan will not attack
until her force Is sufficient to assure
success. Russia will fight but only
on the defensive as the force under
the control of Admiral Alexieff is not
strong enough to undertake an often
sive attitude against the army Japan
has available.
According to dispatches received in
st. Petersburg tonight from Major
General Plug, Admiral Alexieffs
chief aide, the Japanese are prepar-
ing to attack near Tsin-Wen-Dao, on
the Liao-Tung promontory near which
the Japanese are reported to be land.
ing troops
The situation at sea seems unchang-
ed The two Japanese cruisers
Nisshin and Kasaga are believed to be
in commission and flying their war
flags. 1t is the opinion in naval cir
cles that they are searching for tn
Dmitri Donskol and the Aurora, the
two Russian warships that pursued
them nearly from Genoa. The Siber-
Ian squadron. which escaped the ice
and has been in evidence of the
north coast of Japan ever since Is a
mystery. That it actually sank a
Japanese merchant vessel because 1t
had no time to bother with prizes
seems we'll founded, and 1t Is certain
that there will be round of protest
from civilization should the report be
true that Russians action in the prem
ises violated the rules of warfare. It
Is reported, and in many quarters cred,
tied, that the fleet has bombarded the
unprotected town of Matsumaye and
is now sailing south ready to destroy
all Japanese property encountered.
Russia's claims that she scored a
small success at Dalny are apparently
substantiated but the fighting did not
get beyond the skirmish stage. There
fore success in this instance means
very little one way or the other.
The reports of further losses to
Russia in the Port Arthur fleet con-
tlnue to receive wide circulation. but
are absolutely without confirmation
from any source No credence Is plac.
ed in them.
Owing to the fact that the dispa'
ooats Of the newspaper correspond
ents are held up in the various ports
by the belligerents, the mGh .-.~
front who could usually be depended
on to get the news through are block
cd. They can do nothing Dut stay
where they are and hope that cOndi
tons will soon so shape themselves
that news can be sent out.
In tho meantime the rumor mon.
gers have full swing. The first Aga
at Port Arthur has been repeated as
separate engagement from day {
day and has been published as such
by the newspapers here and on the
continent for what they are worth
che result is that the public is be-
wildered and believes that Japan has
scored a series of unbroken successes
while the truth Is, there have been but
the two naval engagements, the one
off Chemulpo and the Port Arthur
Agbt.
Viscoun. Hayashi and the Japanese
legation here are In an expectant
mood and believe that important
news will come from the scene oi
hostilitles within "a hours, What II
Is likely to be they decline to men
ton but they tell all the newspaper
correspondents to keep up their spir
!ts and watch the legation.
The report that the car is in q
state of melancholy over the reversal
TO the Russian navy is not surprising
He has been grossly deceived by his
advisers since the very beginning oI
the negotiations with Japan and nc
has not been very cheerful ruler
since the birth of the youngest daugh
ter on June 5, 1901. He had confident
ly expected that at last his wish was
TO he realized and that an heir to the
throne would be the gift of heaven
and the disappointment was bitter
one. His plea for universal peace
also makes his present condition un
pleasing and there is small wonder 4
ne shows that his spirits are depress
cd.
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