River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-07
PANESE At THE
GATES OF W|JU
a FIERCE LAND ENGAGEMENT
is IMMINENT.
RUSSIANS EAGER FOR FIGHT
Mikado's Army Advancing to Nee
Enemy in Full Force and
Drive Them Back Across
the Yalu.

red. Two thousand Russian troops, in.
Guiding Cossacks and infantrymen, are
entrenched about the gate on the south
side of Win, while the town is filled
with the cars soldiers ready and
eager for battle. Strong Russian out
posts also are entrenched at other
points along the Yalu, determined tc
drive back the Japanese should the lat
ter give them issue and attempt tC
cross the river. The Japanese army is
advancing northward from Pingyang
and Chongju, and probably is within a
few miles of the Russian lines.
That the Japanese armies have been
placed in the positions outlined by the
military council at Toxic is evidenced
by the fact that the government has
allowed the newspaper correspondents
to leave the capital for the front. The
work of the transports in landing
troops in Korea evidently has been
completed, and the next important
piece of news from the far east UNI
doubtedly will come from northern Ko-
rea almost any day.
ooPS OSSuPy oSAlSCASllS.
Toxic, April 4.-The advance guard of
the Japanese army in northwestern
Korea occupied the town of Sengcheng
Saturday afternoon without opposition.
Sengcheng is on the Picking road Is
miles west of Chongju and about forty
miles south of Wiju. When the Japan
csc drove the. Russians out of Chongiu
last Monday the Russians withdrew in
two columns, one going over the Koak-
san, road and the other over the Picking
road The Japanese advance from
Chongju was made very rapidly. 1t was
anticipated that the Russians would re-
sist this advance, but they failed to do
so, and now it is not probable that there
will be any further opposition south of
the Yalu river
Chongju, because of it's superior
natural surroundings, is the strongest
place between Pingyang and Wiju. Be-
sides these natural advantages, there is
an old Korean fort there, which, had it
been defended with spirit, would have
been hard to take. The Japanese are
gratified at the comparative ease with
which they drove the Russians from this
fort.
Russian patrols are reported to be in
the country east of the Picking road, but
it is not probable that there is any con-
siderable force of Russians in that sec
gradually to the northward, toward the
Yalu.
1t is reported that the ice on the Yalu
is we'll broken up, and in the future the
river must be crossed either in junks or
over pontoon bridges.
Transports Reach Chemulpo.
Seoul, Korea, April Alive japanese
transports, carrying light artillery, cav
airy and infantry, have arrived at Che
mulpo. The men are entraining for
Seoul
Gen. Haraguchi, the newly-appointed
of the Japanese forces here,
has arrived.
Japanese Force Lands.
Paris, April A dispatch from st.
says it is rumored that
Japanese force has landed at the
mouth of 'Tumen river, which is about
100 miles southwest of Vladivostok, at
the northeastern extremity of Korea.
Russia May Invade Korea.
st. Petersburg, April 4.-Instead of
waiting for a Japanese attack on the
Yalu, it is believed here that Gen. Ku-
ropatkin will take the aggressive, in
wade Korea in force, and endeavor to
recapture Chongju, Anju, and Pingyang
Gen. Kuropatkin now has along the
from Mukden to Liaoyang an
army of 10000 infantry, nearly 10000
cavalry, and $50 guns, all available for
an advance into Korea.
Japanese Overmatched.
1t is declared here that with this
force Kuropatkin can drive the Japan
csc army clear back to Seoul. BY June
% 10000 more infantry, 10000 caval-
ry, aud ESQ cannon will have been sent
put. 1t is estimated that the Japanese
troops landed do not exceed $4,000, and
that 100000 are waiting until the com
missariat is assured before being trans
ported, as it is impossible to feed them
N Korea.
Doubt Reported Attack.
Toxic, April 4.-The navy depart
ment has no information concerning
The reported Japanese attack on Port
Arthur March 30-31, and the officials
doubt that a general attack occurred.
It was added that it was possible that
= few Japanese cruisers are in the
vicinity of Port Arthur, and that there
may have been an exchange of shots
with the Russians, but it is certain
hat the main Japanese feet was not
engaged at the time referred to.
Bloody Scene Described.
ST. Petersburg, April 4.-The Novi
Xrai, of Port Arthur, thus describes the
scene on board the cruiser Bayan during
the recent bombardment in which she
herself: Bursting shells
bowled over man after man until the
decks were slippery with blood. Amidst
this hell the captain stood unmoved in
The coming tower, calmly telephoning
his orders to the gun captains. His won
derful ealmness had marvellous infiu-
snce upon all the officers. The cockpit
was soon crowded, 80 men being there
before the fight ended, but amidst the
rash of the guns, the hiss of flying pro-
jectiles, the thunder of explosions, the
racket of splinters, and the din of the
engines, the surgeons laDcred
over the sick as at the hospital operating
- l.