Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-18
Latest War News.

A Staff officer of Russian Red Cross
society has arrived from Port Arthur
on the way to Tiensin to purchase ad-
ditional supplies. He states that large
staff Of nurses have arrived from Rus
STA to help the professional and ANA
teur nurses in that town. General
Kouropatkin has telegraphed to Gem
eral Stoessel that he must hold Port
Arthur with the present garrison.
The commander in chief says he is
forming the first line of defense with
800 900 men. There will be second
line of 200, 900 men to guard the lines
Of communication and resist any poss-
ible action on the part of Chinese to
help japanese. Many junks and small
steamers have succeeded in running
the blockade with supplies for Port Ar
thur. The wounded are progressing
tavorably and there is no sickness
among the troops. One passenger train
is running north daily.
Nothing now stands in the way Of
the Japanese transport fleets proceed
ing to the landing places selected in
the northern part of Korea.
A we'll informed Russian correspon-
dent states that according to informa-
ton received at St. PETERSBURG by rels-
tives of high officials at Port Arthur,
the latest Japanese attack inflicted
great damage on the defenses of the
town. Nearly all the ships in the har-
Dor suffered and the cruiser Pallada,
which is in the dock was struck twice.
A fresh attack is momentarily ex-
pected. The feeling Of depression in
Port Arthur Is becoming more pro-
nounced but the authorities are deter
mined to hold out as long as possible.
A thousand mechanics from Moscow
and st. Petersburg are on the way
charged with the task of repairing the
damaged battleships Retizvan and
Czarevitch. According to the last re-
ports from the Baipal region, all hope
has been abandoned or compile ion Of
construction of the railway around the
lake before March Of next year.
Russian finances are again the OBJ.
ject of general attention. The Especial
commission under Count Golski, which
appointed Immediately after the out
break of the war with the object of
effecting economies in the imperial ex-
checquer. has estimated the amount
Of possible savings at 1874, 1000. 900 fou-
bles. The greater part Of this sum is
accounted for by reductions in the min
istries of railways and communication.
The proposals of the commission have
now received the sanction Of the imper
ial council.
The Russian ambassador at Berlin
has communicated to the German for.
eign office formal note announcing
that Admiral Makaroff has laid a COM
plete system of submarine mines all
round the coast OF the peninsulsr upon
which Port Arthur is situated. TIE
mines extended seawsrd for distance
of three miles. Ships sailing under
neutral flags. the note continues, must
henceforth hoist their national flag at
a distance of five miles form land and
communicate their destination to the
Russians by signals. They will then
be taken into port by Russian pilots.
Russia repudiates all responsibility for
the safety of foreign ships which ap-
preach within five miles of the coast
without taking the required precau-
tions.
From Chemulpo to Seoul every inch
of the railway line. every foot Of tele-
graph wire and even the highways are
now policed by Japanese soldiers.