Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-04-29
TO THE BOTTOM.
Official Version Of the Japanese
Transports Sinking.
Soldiers Refused to Surrender and
Went to Their Doom.
Expected That Important Battles Will
Soor Occur.

st. Petersburg, April 2s-Russian
torpedo boats belonging to the Vladi-
.ostoK squadron. sank a Japanese mill
.aIy transport. the kinshiu Maru, of
4'ooo tons during the night OF April 26,
with ali on board with the execution
OF II officers, 20 soldiers, 65 Of the crew
ana S9 coolie carriers. The others, who
refused to surrender, We're sent to the
bottom with the ship.
st. Petersburg. April 2S.-Tbe minis
'fv OF the interior denies the reports
VI tn.' discovery or revolutionary plot
al warsaw No arrests in this con-
nection have been made.
81 petersburg. April Safeguarding the
ahesed attempts to destroy the Russian
projected cruisers Isumrud and Jemlie
chug now building at the Nevsky works
ny Flnns) the minister of the interior
explains that a police inquiry has estab
lished that the report grew out OF the
accidental loss of 4 few barrels of govern
ment dynamite which were found by chill
dren. who set 1t on fire some distance
from the shipyards
No attempt was made to blow up the
ships.
st. Petersburg, April POO p. M.-The
operations of the Vladivostok SQUADRON
nave revived the spirits of the people of
ST. Petersburg, who have been downcast
since the destruction of the Petropayloysk
and the consequent confinement of the
Port Arthur squadron to the harbor. The
fact that the navy is doing something
In offensive character appeals to the pop
uiar mind. which has been unable to an
preclate the reason for the inactivity OF
the fine ships of the Vladivostok SQUAD
ron.
1t IS generally recognized that Rear Ad-
mlral ieszen cannot do more than fright
en- the japanese and compel them to ex-
ercise greater care In their military move
ments, as the sinking of few TRANSPORTS
or even cruisers can have no permanent
effect on the result of the war Moreover
he is bound by his instructions not to risk
his ships unduly. the Intention being 10
keep them safe for an attack of the Bal
tic fleet when it arrives in the Pacific.
st. Petersburg is loaded with rufnors
regarding the sinking of the Japanese
transport. the Kinshiu Maru.
report has it that 5000 men were aboard
the transport when she went down, but
the admiralty insists that there were only
200.
1t is said that the Emperor is highly in
dignant over the affair and that he will
relieve Yeszen and order him to be court
martaled.
This report lacks confirmation In re-
sponsible naval circles. where it Is reit-
Grated that no other course could be pur-
sued and that the admiral only fired when
the Japanese categorically refused to sur
render and adopted a hostile attitude.
London, April 29.-The Daily Tele-
graphs Toxic correspondent asserts
that the Russian cruisers slipped past
the Japanee squadron during a fog ana
regained the harbor Of Vladivostok.
This is the only additional news that
has reached London concerning the
squadron. No further de-
tails have been received regarding the
sinking of the Japanese transport
Maru, which incident is much
on here as proving that the
japanese placed too great confidence
in their command of the sea and there
Is no doubt that it will induce greater
vigilance on their part. There Is some
to criticise harshly the ac-
ton of Rear Admiral YesZen but most
of this mornings papers prefer to await
Of the affairs before passing
Judgment upon 1t. ,t
The report that the Japanese have
Kiulien Cheng has not been
-... . -
Tsin correspondent the whole country
outside the great wall is absolutely
Hooded and any move Of the land
forces is impracticable for the present.
Washington, April 28.-The following
CONTINUED on page 81