Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-10-10
UNUSUAL ACTIVITY REPORTED
FROM RUSSIAN BASE.
FLEET DASHES TO SAFETY
Remaining Ships at Port Arthur
Take Advantage of Confusion Re-
sutlng from Heavy Storm to Join
Vladivostok Force-Batte Fleet
May Sail Soon.

London, Oct. THE significance OF
a Mukden dispatch noting an unusual
activity in that place is the subject
of much speculation at st. Peters
burg. The theory that it indicates
the purpose. of General Kuropatkin
to evacuate the town is not generally
accepted, military officers there sur
missing that the commotion noted is
in connection with a movement to
check Japanese fanking operations.
In the Russian circles some cred
ence is given the rumor that Admiral
Wren has left Port Arthur with his
ships, the confusion resulting from
severe storm Tuesday being regarded
as having made a dash possible.
Time-exptred members of the guard
regiments in st. Petersburg and VI
cinity have been ordered to remain
with the colors.
There are indications that the Rus
sian warships in the Baltic will soon
be despatched to the far east.
Fleet May Have Escaped.
st. Petersburg, Oct. 7.-While the
admiralty claims to have no knowl-
edge of the departure Of the Port
Arthur squadron; it isfnferrable from
the way in which the report that
such an event had transpired has been
received that definite confirmation
would not create surprise. In naval
circles it is pointed out that Wednes
day morning conditions might have
been favorable for sorties. Heavy
storms ragged Tuesday and doubtless
compelled the blockading vessels, and
particularly the torpedoboats, to seek
shelter, thus leaving the way clear tor
a dash to Vladivos+ok. Some naval
officers, however, are inclined to thinh
the firing heard at ChefOo may only
have been directed at blockade run
ners.
Significant orders have been issued
to keep the time-expired members OF
all the guard regiments stationed in
and around st. Petersburg with the
colors till March, 1905.
Orders were issued yesterday to all
seamen belonging to the battleship
Orel and cruisers Oleg, Zemtchug and
Izumrud to rejoin their vessels at
Cronstadt Immediately. 1t is believed
this presages the sailing Of these yes.
sells today for Regal. where Emperor
Nicholas is going to review the whole
Pacific squadron.
Will Russians Fight or Retreat7
st. Petersburg, Oct. 8.-The war
commission sat until an Unusually late
hour last night but adjourned without
issuing additional news from the
front.
Expert opinion is divided as to
whether a serious engagement is like
" to occur at Mukden, but dispatch
from that city reporting unusual &C.
tivity gives rise to much speculation.
It is impossible to say whether this
condition presages the evacuation of
Mukden, but in any case it is evident
that something of unusual interest
is pending. Some even are bold
enough to take it that General Kuro-
patkin is preparing to assume the Of
fensive, but in view of the fact that
the most reliabi advices credit him
with only about six divisions at Muk-
den, this is exceedingly improbable.
1t is thought more likely that the
commotion had to do with one or the
other of the Japanese thanking col
umns, which the Russian commander
may have been preparing to check.
Naval Battle Not Confirmed.
London, Oct. mo confirmation
has reached London of the reported
naval fight off Port Arthur and it is
supposed that the firing heard at Che
foo could only have been from Jap
anese warships chasing blockade run
ners. The latest Chefoo dispatch to
the Telegraph says that Port Arthur
is quiet and the Russians are busy re-
pairing forts.
Japs Bring Up Winter Supplies.
London, Oct. IA dispatch from