Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-05-12
WILL THEY TAKE IT9
laps Have Invested Port Arthur
and Vigorous Warfare Begins.
Russians Believe tho Fortress Imprcgnabie
-Alexien and Hh Aides Cult the
Place and VIII Probably Go
to vlndivostok.

st. Petersburg, May 7.-Japanese
troops swarming across the narrow
neck Of the Lao Tung peninsula, the
railroad and telegraph communications
cut and Port Arthur isolated and left
to It's own resources are conditions
which the Russians seem to accept
with great stoicism. These events
have been anticipated since the out
break of the war and the authorities.
in sense, appear to be relieved now
that the blow has fallen. They assert
that the fortress is impregnable and
amply provisioned to stand siege for
year and that 1t can hold out until
the time comes to relieve 1t.
According to official information the
landing Of troops from GO transports
began simultaneously at Pitsewo and
Cape Terminal on the morning of May
s. 1t Is also reported that troops are
landing at Kinchow. but this is not
credited, as the Russians are known to
have Notifications there and 1t Is not
believed that the Japanese had the
daring to land Immediately under an
entrenched position, from which the
Russians could inflict severe injury on
them.
Ten thousand men were put ashore
Thursday and the debarkation was pro-
ceeding yesterday at the time that
communication ceased. 1t Is believed
that there are more than 10000 men
now on land preparing for forward
movement.
Two Japanese regiments were hur-
ried westward yesterday morning to
cut the railroad and telegraph commit
nicaticn. One OF these, 1t is said, fired
on a train conveying wounded from
Port Arthur.
While the landing was proceeding
on Thursday the Japanese battleships
Mikasa, Hatsuse, Shikishima. Yashima
and Fuji and the cruisers Iwate,
Idsumo, Adsuma and Asama made q
demonstration off Port Arthur to pre-
vent the possible egress of Russian
torpedo boats. A number of Japanese
torpedo boats were also, observed OF
Pigeon bay.
1t was because he was convinced
that Port Arthur was about to be cut
Off that viceroy Alexieff. accompanied
by his staff and Grand Duke Boris, left
hastily. On Thursday several train
loads of sick and wounded and other
ineffectives were dispatched north
ward.
It Is reported that the Japanese
ships bombaried Port Arthur early on
the morning of May 6 and succeeded
at last in closing the entrance, but no
Official confirmation of the blocking re-
port can be obtained.
The strength Of the garrison at Port
Arthur is not revealed by the authori-
ties, who will only say that it is ade-
quate for defensive purposes. 1t is
not believed that the force there ex-
ceeds 10000 soldiers.
Vice Admiral Sllrydloff and Vice Adj
miral Bezobrazoff cannot now reach
Port Arthur and will probably so to
Vladivostok to join the cruiser squad
ron there. Rear Admiral Wttsoeft,
who was left in charge Of the feet by
viceroy Alexieff. will direct operations
at Port Arthur. Wittsoeft is good
officer and 1t Is believed he will render
excellent service.
Landed mt Narrowest Point.
Washington, May THE state de-
partment has received cablegram
from United States Minister Griscom,
at Toxic. confirming the press report
Of the landing Of the Japanese in the
peninsula. about 40 miles
above Port Arthur. The location as
given in the Japanese despatch, how
ever, is not Pitsewo, but Kinchau.
The apparent discrepancy is explained
by the statement that Kinchau Is
larger town and that Pitsewo Is All
suburb, a hamlet. This Is the
narrowest point on the peninsula and
the minister says. the
is practically closed and the
Of Port Arthur has begun.
Think tho Fortress Impreenabis.
st. Petersburg, May THE Japanese
landing ut Pitsewo is expected to be
followed almost Immediately by the
of Port Arthur. Landings on
the west coast of the peninsula are
also anticipated. The Russian military |
seem reconciled to the cut
ling off of their stronghold, but they
are convinced that the fortress is inn
against attacks by land or
sea.