The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-05-19
The War.

Yiceroy Alexiff telegraphed the 18th
to the Gar announcing that the Rus
slams have blown up the docks and piers
at Port Dalny. Liao Tung peninsula pre-
sumably to render more difficult a Jap
anese landing at that point.
Both telegraph and railroad communi.
cations with Port Arthur were again cut
off, May 18th.
The Japanese torpedo boat No. As was
destroyed while removing mines from
Kerr bay, north of Taliewan Port Dalny.
Thursday. Seven men were killed and
seven were wounded This is the first
warship Japan has lost in the war.
The Daily Mail publishes a despatch
from Constantinople, according to which
Russia is concentrating troops just be-
yond the Caucasus. The most reliable
information, the despatch says, places
the present total number of troops just
beyond the Caucasus at rs 600.
The situation on Saturday last was
that in the field the Japanese continue
to close in on the Russian lines along the
entire stretch from Port Arthur
to Lao Yang. Russian authorities
estimate the Japanese field force in
Southern Manchuria at 100000 men,
$4,000 horses and 270 guns. The figures
on the number of men and guns may
not be far off, but 5000 probably would
be a better estimate for the number of
horses in the Japanese army than 80, 900.
Toxic makes the formal announcement
that Japanese troops have occupied
Kwan-Tientsin, sixty miles northeast of
Eung Wang Chang-probably for what
ever effect it may have on Russia. If it
were serious movement 1t would seem
unlikely that Japan would spread the
fact, as 1t is not her custom, On the
other hand, she may be telling the truth
in order to deceive. A force sent in this
direction would strike the road which
runs from Mao-Fnr-Shan, at the apex of
the Yalu, to Moukden, and If of sufficient
strength would threaten the latter place
and also the Russian troops In the upper
reaches of the Yalu. Other divisions
of kurokis army threaten Hal Cheng,
Kiao-Y ang and New Chang. On the
Liao-Tung Peninsula the Japanese have
| occupied Polantien, near PORT Adams,
fifty miles north of Port Arthur. The
Russians then admitted that Port Arthur
is isolated by the cutting of both rail
| road and telegraph connections.
The Russian fleet scored it's FIRST naval
success of the war on May 10, by the
torpedoing and Gripping, though not
| the sinking of an armored Japanese
cruiser in Talienwan bay. The Russian
attack was carefully planned on May 10,
while the Japanese squadron was con-
centrated outside Dalny devoting its
whole attention to Taienwan bay and
was carried out the same night
The attacking force was not a
regular torpedo boat but was only a
small naphtha launch in command of a
young naval officer who had with him
three jackies The launch mounted a
small machine gun aud carried three tor.
pedoes When darkness fell the launch
crept out of Port Arthur hugging the
shore with no lights aboard and no glow
from the engines to betray her presence.
1t was later when the launch gained the
outer lines of the japanese squadron
| She slipped through torpedo boat pick.
cts and selecting the nearest warship, a
big armored cruiser she stole towards
her and succeeded in exploding against
her side a single torpedo. A deafeHing
roar followed the explosion which
echoed far ashore. Immediately fl lmes
developed the cruiser, which evidently
"nT oauiJ OilPplou. no CIoW VI tHe
cruiser was seen to be fighting the fire,
which they at last succeeded in extin.
gushing A sister ship took the dam
aged vessel in tow and disappeared to
the southeast
On the north the Japanese are APP
preaching Monkden with the intention,
it is thought, of cutting the railroad in
the rear of the Russian main force,
which it is assumed is retiring on Monk
den. 1t is officially denied that Viceroy
Alexieff is in Liza Yang with 10000
troops, while Kuropatkin has started
for Hardin.
Indication that Russians are blowing
up their ships in Port Arthur harbor
was reported, yesterday.
An official report from the second
Japanese army shows that the railroad
north of Port Arthur has been cut in
five places.
Neuchwang, was abandoned Monday
The Russian troops marched out in per
feet order.
1t ia reported that Japanese force
has "cornerod" 200 Russians north of
ANU and is endeayull < to starve them
out. The only provisions in the pos
session of the Russians are those secured
by forage and it is expected that the
food of the besieged men will soon be
exhausted.
Japanese are practically masters OF
the southern end of Liao, Tung PENN
sula excepting Port Arthur and the ter.
ritory within the range of its guns,