Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-03-12

| Especial Dispatch to the Alexandria Gazette
Richmond, March 12.-Mr. Willard
will formally announce his candidacy
for governor tonight.
The session of the legislature has been
extended by joint resolution until
l p. M, Tuesday.
THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST.
London, March 12.-The opposing
fleets at Port Arthur again occupy the
centre of the stage in the far eastern
drama today. The torpedo fight, which
resulted in the sinking of vessel on
each side, followed by bombardment
of the land forts by the japanese feet,
on Thursday afternoon, is generally be-
lieyed to have been the initiation of a
final and determined attack on the part
of the japanese to reduce the port.
Admiral Togo, evidently realizing that
the longer he delays the attack just so
much harder will the fight be--as time
will be given the Russian vessels to fully
recover from previous damages, has taken
a position near the harbor, and naval
texperts believe will not depart or desist
from his attacks until either Port Arthur
has fallen, or the japanese feet been so
hopelessly crippled that further lighting
would be useless. THERE'S no question
ing the fact that the fight on Thursday
was terrific one, while it lasted, and
that considerable damage was done on
both sides. As to the exact extent of
this damage, so far as the japanese are
concerned, reports vary. 1t is known
that one torpedo boat was put out OF
commission, but beyond this there is
nothing official. One report has it that
a cruiser was damaged, while another
states that an iron clad was struck by
shell from the land fortresses and was
80 crippled that she with difficulty
crawled out of range of the Russian guns.
On the Russian side there appears to
have been no further damage than the
laundering of torpedo boat destroyer,
and the capturing OF such of her crew
as escaped drowning.
Another report, which comes from
various points, and which points to the
immediate investment of Port Arthur, is
to the effect that considerable Japa-
nese force has been landed somewhere to
the rear of Port Arthur, and is march
ing on the city. Where this landing oc-
Cured is not stated, but it is believed,
if actually accomplished, that the
forces reached shore in the vicinity of
Pigeon bay. News of the attack frsm
land aud sea is momentarily expected.
Reports of the situation in northern
Korea are sensational as indicating that
the Russian forces have begun retreat
into Manchuria. A dispatch, sent from
Seoul, Korea, states that report has
reached there to the effect that the
Russians have set fire to Win and have
retreated across the Yalu. While the
report may be exaggerated, so far as the
burning of Win is concerned, the por'
ton of it which states that retreat has
begun is given considerable credence.
Statements that the plan of the Rus
sian officers was to withdraw far
Their into Manchurian territory, and
there await the japanese, have been
circulated for several days past,
and the probability that the Japa-
nese were landing and working over
into the country to cut offthe comumnica-
ton between the Yalu river force and
the Russian headquarters at Muken and
Hardin, has quite possibly hurried the
contemplated retreat.
The Times this morning publishes an
article by its military expert which has
aroused great interest. The correspon-
dent makes, at the outset, the following
surprising statement: cit is thought
that the main army OF Japan is still in
japanese ports, its onset being deferred
BY dread of the Russian fleets. 1t is
suggested that the Vladivostcx cruisers
put to sea two days before Admiral
Kamimura reached the fortress, and we
are asked to believe that the Retvizan
and the Czarewitch are again afloat and
almost ready for service. 1t is evident
that Admiral Kamimura is as ignorant of
the whereabouts of the Vladivostok
cruisers as we in London. Uutil they
are located, it may be that the main body
of the armada will not sail without a
a strong escort. "
Continuing, the correspondent states
that it is quite possible that Admiral
Kamimura's fleet will be recalled to
Japan to act as such an escort, inasmuch
as they seem unable to locate the missing
VIadivostok squadron.
st. Petersburg, March. 12.--The chief
inspector of the Trans-Siberian Railway
reports that the line is in bad condition.
The track men are neglecting their duties.
Snow is allowed to accumulate and land
slips are threatened at various places.
Other reports reveal the fact that fam
inc is threatened at Tomsk, Chita, Yer
choioski, and all intermediate villages
along the line, due to the stoppage of or
ordinary traffic to allow for the transport
tation of troops. Food at these places has
reached prohibtive prices, and a complete
exhaustion of the supply is in sight I'M
less some relief is speedily given.
st. Petersburg, March l2.-During
Thursdays bombardment of Port Arthur
says dispatch received this afternoon,
the town sustained the greatest damage
A lawyer named Sidorski, woman and
a Chinaman were killed, and several Chi
nese were wounded. General Stoessel and
his staff were sprinkled with shell splin-
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