Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-20
WAR NFWS FROM FAR EAST
JAPANESE ARE ADVANCING ON
THE YALU RIVER,
Forces in Win Vicinity, Numbering
Over G5,OOO Men - While Russian
Fleet IL Bottled Up at Port Arthur
Japanese Land Troops ANY where.

Seoul, April l9.-The commissioner
of customs at Gensan reports that a
strong force Of Russians, the number
of which is not known, is advancing
on the great south road following the
inland coast Of the province of South
Hamgyung. The Russians passed to
the rear Of Sungjin, which was oc-
cupied by scouting party. The main
body occupied Packchun, so miles
north Of Gensan, on the 18th instant.
The fanks and rear were exposed,
with the evident intention Of drawing
a Japanese attack from the Yalu.
Toxic, April 19.-Authentic advices
state that the Japanese are in control
and that the Russian scouting parties
have retired across the Yalu before the
Japanese, who occupied Wiju prac-
tically without resistance.
The Japanese army is divided into
two forces, one for expeditionary pur-
poses and the other for occupation.
The former, numbering $4,000, is ad-
vancing to the Yalu, and the latter,
consisting of 10, 900 reserves.i lis max ing
farsighted communication arrange
ments headquarters at Seoul, where
there is garrison Of 1000.
The headquarters of the transport
service is at Chemulpo. Railroad build
ing and road grading is progressing
rapidly. The fortificatioon Of Kojedo
island at the mouth of Masampo har.
Dor, which protects the southern tel mi
nus Of overland communication, also
guards the passage to Vladivostok and
Port Arthur.
Forty transports from Hiju are sup.
posed to have landed part Of their
forces at Tahishan, and it is the evi.
dent intention to disembark a second
army at Yongampo preparatory to fore
ing the Yalu.
st. Petersburg, April 19.-Vice Ad.
miral Makaroff's widow has been
granted an annual pension of 10000.
A detachment Of Russian troops
which left southern Ussuri. has reach
ed Moaershan (on the west bank of the
Yalu river, 1856 miles north Of Ping.
yang) without having encountered any
of the enemy. The detachment has oc.
cupied mountain pass between Man
churia and Korea, which it is fortify-
ing with mountain batteries.
An official telegram states that there
is no change in the situation on the
Yalu river. The Russian outposts are
now on islands Of the river close to the
Japanese outposts, which are preparing
to retire.
Major General Plug, chief Of the
military staff at Port Arthur, tele.
graphs that all statements regarding a
siege7an fall Of Port Arthur are un-
founded.
st. Petersburg is flooded with rumors
from all directions regarding the plans
Of the Japanese, now that the Russian
fleet at Port Arthur is unable longer to
harrass the Japanese transports.
The Associated Press, in q dispatch
from Port Arthur, gave 20 as the mum.
Der Of Japanese transports reported as
having been seen steaming in the di.
rection Of Ying Kow, the seaport Of
Newchwang.
Officials Of the general staff, while
having no information in this respect,
would not be surprised if the number
should turn out to be correct, or even
a larger number Is steaming there.
Vice Admiral Togo g immense super.
iority enables him to hold the Russian
squadron in Port Arthur, and Japanese
transports therefor can safely pass
through the sti iaits OF Fechili and at
tempt to land at the head Of the guif
of Liaotung. under the guns Of the war
ships, as did General Skaters army
at Daiquiri, Cuba. Should this sue
ceed, the Japanese will be in position
to execute a flank movement ON Lao
yang or cut off Port Arthur.
General Kouropatkin recently in.
spected Newchwang. He disposed a
strong force to contest Japanese move
at that point, and if such a move is
made, it is believed he will be able to
check it.
Paris. April 90" The emporer. in
receiving a visit from High Admiral
Duke Alexis. said the st. Petersburg
correspondent of the Echo de Paris,
Uniformed him that he desired the Bal
tic fleet to be ready to start July Is.
Orders accordingly have been sent to
Cronstadt to hasten the preparation Of
the fleet for its sailing on the date men
toned under Rear Admiral Rojestven-
ski, unless another admiral, of whom
there has been no talk shall be selected.
"Vice Admiral Doubassof declined
the command of the Black Sea fleet.
1t is probable that Admiral Chukin,
director of the naval academy, will be
appointed.
Newchwang, April 90 With re.
gard to the admission Of correspondents
of foreign newspapers to the Russian
lines, no action Is expected until Vice.
roy Alexieff returns to Mukden. 1t is
believed that a strict inspection Of
every correspondents credentials will be
insisted upon before he is permitted to
join the Russian army.
Admiral Alexieff is at Port Arthur.
where he has succeeded the late Vice
Admiral Makaroff in command Of the
Russian feet there. 1t has been init
mated from st. Petersburg that Alex.
ieffwill remain at Port Arthur until
the arrival of Vice Admiral Skrydloff.