Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-03-21
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

same scarcity of definite news OF the
war In the far East, and such strict
censorship is being maintained that 1t
is difficult to obtain any news what
ever of the movements of the opposing
fleets Unusual silence is believed
| however, to presage great conflict
in the near future. as II is not thought
the Japanese will delay active war
any longer than possible.
PARIS. March IA ST. Peters
burg dispatch says the japanese
squadron appeared OFF that port yes
teriay morning.
LONDON. March ia Cheefoo
dispatch today reports that the Rus
| sian torpedo boat destroyer Sokol was
blown up In Port Arthur by floating
mine. Only four of the crew escaped
The torpedo boat destroyer was
sister boat of the Steregustschtchi,
which was sank by Japanese torpedo
| boats Thursday. The Skori was ZIG
teet long and carried crew of 270
The vessel was three years old
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j. March
f-Among the japanese officers who
have received their education in
| America Baron kodama is perhaps the
most distinguished among the army
chiefs of his country. Some 80 years
| ago he was student in Rutgers col
iego and is remembered by many of
| the older persons here. At that time
The sight of native of Japan or China
was quite uncommon, especially as
Il student in college, and for this
rclson the boy attracted considerable
attention. II was known that Kodama
| belonged to one of the very old. pow.
/ erful and wealthy japanese families.
/ but 1t was quite apparent from the
timo Of his entering Rutgers that he
was impressed favorably with the
| democratic, rough and ready ways Of
! American students. He was a good
natured young man and very quickly
made friends with his fellow students,
For time Kodama had great diiii-
Guilty in speaking the English Ian
guage. although he seemed to under
stand 1t well But before his course
came to a close he could speak 1t
nuently. At the time of entering Rut-
gers ho was little more than II and
Vas well prepared to take up the
work He was rather short in height.
but well built for a boy OF his years.
He had come as 4 student. sent by
the Japanese government, and
throughout his course was very much
in earnest with his work.
After his student days were over
he went back to Japan and made rap
Id advances. owing TO his mind train
ing aud American Ideas and progress
and education. He entered public life
and came rapidly to the front, display
ing signal ability in the organization
Of the army. About three years ago
Gen Kodama was appointed second
chief of the general staff. and has been
actively engaged preparing for the
conflict with Russia. According to
late cable dispatches he has now re
ceiyed the first command of the Jap
anese army in the field.
BERLIN, March lS.-News received
here from the far East says that the
hostile armies now face each other on
The banks of the Yalu, the Russians
and japanese being within sight OF
each other, but neither side is actively
campaigning at present. AS the win
Ter breaks. however, which is daily
expected, there Will be something very
lively doing A cable received this
evening says the Vladiyostok Russian
squadron is threatening Japanese
transports.
ST. PETERSBURG, March lS.-Ar
official decree has been issued estab
ilGhlng prize courts at Vladivostok ant
Port Arthur. The instructions defn'
The articles subject TO seizure as con
traband OF war. The formation o
this court was made at Sebastapol
md is for the purpose of handling thu
cases originating on the Suez cana
route
ST. PETERSBURG. March 18.-Ad
miral Stackelberg. the Russian com
mander OF the Vladivostok squadron
who was relieved on account OF III
ness, has arrived here He says th'
cruise OF his feet early in Februar.
, In japanese waters was made unde
orders Of Admiral Stark for the effec
It might have on the population OF tn
northern Japanese islands. He say
, he did not lombard Hokodatc, whicl
was strongly fortified. but captures
, two japanese merchant steamers, tn
Sungari and Straits, but did not FIR
. on them. A storm arose on the re
I turn 10 port with the captured vessels
: and one of the latter. loaded with rice
/. sank. the passengers and crew belnI
taken aboard the Russian warshipt
The other merchantmen was releases
so It might spread the news Of tn
presence OF the Russian fleet
, The admiral admits that victory TO
:. the Russians will be no easy task. a
' he says the japanese preparations ar
! thorough TO the point OF perfection
: He says the war Will be a long one
/. LONDON. March ia Shangha
dispatch says private Information
4 from Port Arthur states that the jar
!, anese fleet suffered severely In tn
, bombarding OF Port Arthur. The ba
a tleship Mlkasa Is reported to hav
been struck 10 times Two thousan
, wounded Japanese are reported to b