Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-11
THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Jdpau SeIItu hdSdhPhV N"uN"' N"A
dispatched heavy force there. Japan
will fortify the port and establish naval
and military base there. Masampho is
an exceeding important point, as it con-
trolls the Korean channel and is an ex-
cellent base for further operations.
A cable from Nagasaki states that the
Russian cruiser Variag, which was re-
ported to have been sunk Tuesday AT
Chemulpo by the japanese fleet, was
captured and arrived at Sasebo. The
dispatch also states that in addition to
the Russian vessels damaged in the tor
pedo attack at Port Arthur, seven other
vessels were captured.
Dispatches to the London Daily Mail
from Toxic and Nagasaki, dated Feb
ruary 10, report the arrival at Sasebo
japan. of two large Russian steamers.
One is the new volunteer fleet association
transport Ekaterinoslav, which recently
landed troops and arms at Port Arthur,
and the other is the steamer Argun, be-
longing to the Chinese Eastern Railways
Company. Both were captured by the
japanese cruisers Sal Yen and Hei Yen,
in the neighborhood of Fusan, Korea.
The Ekaterinoslav is of 49, 900 tons dis
placement, and had been fitted up as an
auxiliary cruiser She had thirty rifles
on board and was on her way from Vlad-
ivostok. The Argun was going to
Vladivostok from Nagasaki. The Rus
sian whalers Glorige, Nicelai, Alexsn-
der and Michael, captured by the Jap
anese. have also arrived at SasebO.
TIE Shanghai correspondent of the
London Daily Mail says an important
bridge on the Manchurian Railroad has
been blown up and thirty men have been
killed.
The formal declaration of war on the
part of Japan was expected last night.
The proclamation has been prepared and
approved by the cabinet. Foreign Min
lister Komura has gone to the palace TO
secure the Emperor's approval.
The japanese have captured at least
five Russian commercial steamers, in
Guiding the Ekaterinoslav, Moukden,
Russia, Argun, and Alexander. They
we're captured by the Japanese In
Korean and adjacent waters at various
times since Saturday by small cruisers.
Some of the steamers are rich prizes.
The small steamer Koeik is detained at
Yokohama, its status not being clear.
Special dispatches from Toxic received
in London yesterday morning announce
the arrival of japanese troops at Seoul,
but beyond this the dispatches add
practically nothing to the knowledge OF
the actual situation.
The Tientsin correspondent of the
London Standard sends in a report that
the Russians have massacred 100 Chinese
at Lao Yang, in consequence of which
the officials at Shan-Hai-Kwan are
greatly alarmed and are appealing to
Peking for protection.
Other dispatches from Tientsin say
that 400 French troops have been order
ed from there to Seoul for the protection
of the French legation at the Korean
capital, the Emperor having taken refuge
there. These reports lack confirmation
The correspondent Of the London
Daily Mail at Tientsin says that Ii, the
fayorite court official of the Dowager
Empress of China, has been decoyed
away and beheaded by order of Yuan Shi
Kai, commander-in-c n-chief of the Chinese
army and navy. Ii was pro. Russian in
his feelings.
The Chefoo correspondent of the Lon
don Daily Express asserts that the Rus
sian cruiser Diana was injured by shot
from the Russian shore battery at Port
Arthur and that the cruiser Noyik and
the battle-ship Poltava have also been
beached at Port Arthur.
Special dispatches from Toxic repor
that fugitives from VladivOstock accuse
the Russians of openly looting japanese
houses there without interference by the
police.
The Mikadois personally superintend
ing affairs, and the cabinet holds daily
sessions The government has issueC
orders for the protection Of all Russian
subjects residing in Japan.
Baron Kanake and Baron SukematzI
have been sent to the United States ant
Great Britain to explain Japan's position
and attitude in the present conflict.
Baron Hayashi, the japanese Ministe
a,sLondon, has received official confirma
tion from Toxic of the destruction a
Chemlupo of the Russian frst-clas'
cruiser Variag and the third-class cruise
Korietz.