Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-16
RUSSIAN FLEETAWAY
Makaroff's Squadron Makes a
 Dash For Vladivostok.
CARS CRUISER DIANA WAS INJURED
Japanese Marines Reported IM DaI- ny-Cruiser Cincinnati Received American Refugees at ChemuI-
 po-wall Treated by Japs.


 po-WeH Treated by Japs.
 LONDON March 16.--A Port Arthur report says that short engagement took place between the Russian and Japanese fleets on Sunday last, the Russian protected cruiser Diana re- ceiving some injuries. About twenty or thirty shells were exchanged.
 At Tokyo it is strongly believed that the Russian fleet abandoned Port Ar thur after the fourth attack was made upon 1t by the Japanese fleet and is en- deavoring to reach vladivostok, as re- cent scouting in the vicinity of Port Arthur has failed to reveal the pres ence of any Russian warships.
 There is an unconfirmed report here that Japanese marines now occupy Dalny and that the Japanese advance guard has routed Russian scouts at the headwaters of the Yalu river.
 From the highest official quarter in St. Petersburg comes the announce ment that there is absolutely no foun- ~dation for the rumors consistently sent out from Tokyo that the Russians are abandoning Port Arthur. @
 General Kuropatkin had his plan of campaign practically perfect before he left here for the far east He devoted four days to the elaboration of his plans in conjunction with his staff and with the aid of all the information in possession of the ministry of war.
 On account of the difficulty of hous- ing the vast number of troops poured into Mukden 14,00O have been sent for ward within the last few days toward the Yalu river as re-enforcements for the 1000 troops already at Kasan and Anju, and the stream of soldiers from European Russia is now being held at Hapbin. The housing problem will disappear with the advent of warmer weather, but in the meantime the gov ernment is hurrying forward large numbers of portable collapsible wood en quarters, 1,S0O of these having all ready been dispatched from St. Pe- tersburg and 5000 from Moscow.
 The statement by General Zilinski that the Russians found poisoned swords left by the fleeing Japanese has aroused much comment. Similar swords wore used by the Chinese dur ing the Boxer rebellion, especially in Manchuria, and the slightest wound inflicted by them proved fatal. The use of such weapons is prohibited by the Geneva and The Hague conven- tions.
 A dispatch from Chemulpo, Korea, says the United States cruiser Cincin- natl has returned from Chinnampo with a number of American refugees from the American company's mine at Unsan and missions in that vicinity The party consists of three men and twenty-two women and children. All are well. They praise the kindness of the officers of the Cincinnati, who gave up their cabins to them The refugees travelled from Unsan to Chinnampo in carts bearing American flags and were escorted as far as Pingyang by a band from the mines. They were un- molested. Near Anju they met two small groups of Cossacks. During the party's stay at Pingyang the Japa nese officials requested them to wear badges bearing the American colors in order that they might be allowed to leave and enter the town freely. The party was stopped five times by Japa- nese soldiers, of whom the party saw great numbers along the road to the coast. The Japanese treated them very courteously.
 An American miner returning from the mines at Unsan was arrested north of Pingyang by the Japanese on suspicion of being Russian spy. He was speedily released when his identi- ty was established.
 A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph says that the Japanese have again at tackled Port Arthur as a challenge for Vice Admiral Makaroff to come out and fight.
 During the heavy bombardment the Japanese were in a position of safety from the guns of the fortress
 The Russian casualties amounted to 300 killed or wounded.