Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-06
JAPS ADVANCE ALONG YALU
RUSSIANS SEEM TO BE RETREAT.
ING IN TWO COLUMNS.
II 10 Not Probable They Will Make a
Stand South Of YaIu River-Japs
Are Ready for eattle-Cossacks
Handicapped In Northern Korea
Naval Conditions a Puzzle.

Toxic. April 4.-The advance guard
of the Japanese army in northwestern
Korea has occupied the town of Seng
Cheng without opposition. Seng Cheng
Is on the Pekin road. $50 miles west Of
Chongju, and about 40 miles south Of
Wiju.
When the Japanese drove the Rus
slams out of Chongju, the Russians
withdrew in two columns, one going
over the Pekin road. The Japanese
advance from Chongju was made very
rapidly. 1t was anticipated that the
Russians would resist this advance,
but they failed to do SO, and 1t is now
not probable that there will be any
further opposition south of the Yalu
river.
Ready to Force YaIu.
Weihaiwei. April Al have just re.
turned from a four days cruise, in
which l visited one Japanese base and
passed close to the entrance of Port
Arthur harbor. My message giving
the particulars CT the late Japanese
attempt on Port Arthur was sent by
wireless from the Korean coast, a dis.
tance Of over 100 miles, showing that
our apparatus is in perfect condition
and can be relied upon In case of
emergency.
The situation in Korea, so far as
could be learned at Japanese head
quarters. Is about as follows: Gen.
eral Kurokis. who Is in command OF
the Japanese guard, is now in a posi-
ton to force the passage of the Yalu
river at any time which the Japanese
general staff decides Is the most dan
gerous to strike. He is, however, ap-
parently awaiting the mobilization of
the second Japanese army before at
tempting any important move. This
second development is well under way,
but l am pledged not to indicate its
whereabouts until the blow has actual
ly fallen.
Honors About Even.
In the meantime the Russian and
Japanese Outposts are In constant
touch on the line OF the Choug Choug
Ing. but as a rule they do not come to
serious conflict, although few sharp
encounters have taken place. In which
honors were about even. The country
in northern Korea is of such q nature
that the Cossacks are badly handicap
ped and are hardly so effective as
well trained infantry forces would be.
The weather is improving, though COM
munication is still extremely difficult.
The Japanese are constantly improv-
ing the roads, and even though they
penetrate far into Manchuria. they will
not suffer so mucn as General Inuoy's
men on the marcn to seize Pingyang
last month.
The naval conditions are extremely
puzzling. It is impossible to learn
whether the entire Russian feet was
In Port Arthur at the time Of the
last Japanese attack. When the Hal.
nun passed the entrance Of the harbor
Saturday afternoon We could distingu.
ish no smoke In the harbor and we
met no vessels on the way. The dense
fogs that at this season Of the year
hang over the waters and make navi-
CATION extremely hazardous, may give
Admiral Makaroff the opportunity to
practice his own theories regarding de-
stroyer tactics and attempt a night
dash on the Japanese feet.
The latest trustworthy reports show
that the Russian land forces are In the
main on the line between Liaoyang
and Hal Cheng, south Of Mukden, while
all OF the arrivals from the north and
the troops that could be spared from
Porth Arthur are concentrated at
points where they are available for
quick dispatch to the Yalu when they
are needed there. There are also mo-
bile forces at other points ready for
dispatch to any theatened point.