The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-18
ONLY SMALL RIVER SEPARATES SCOUTS Japanese Infantry Marches %
 Miles Daily THOUSANDS ARE LANDING One Correspondent Reports That the Russian Fleet Has Returned to
 Port Arthur-RaIlroad
 Still Intact.
THOUSANDS ARE LANDING

London, March 1s.--A correspondent of sian and Japanese scouts are separated only by the river cheng Chang just north of Anju. The dispatch adds that the for eign correspondents will leave for the front either on March 20 or 2S. but their destination is still unknown.
 A correspondent of the Times at Wei Hai-Wei, cabling under yesterdays date says:
 T arrived at Pingyang inlet March 15 and proceeded to Chinnampo. Navigation was difficult owing to Ice. found anchored there both war vessels and transports Decentralization has been diff ficult, but the Japanese have brought all necessary appliances. Pontoon jetties have been built and extend for hundreds of yards, and the transports brought their own landing barges.
 ''The correspondent describes the land- ing movements and the disposal of the forces with some detail. and says; Men Carry Heavy Loads.
 Despite the terrible weather. the in- fantry marched 9 miles daily, each man carrying nearly 100 pounds. It was severe test, but they did well. Covered by this force, a larger force Is now disem- barking within easier distance of the Ja- panese objective. and while preparations are reported to be proceeding at the only practicable port on the east coast of Ko- req. The Japanese are now holding An1u and the line of the Cheng Chang river. The actual land front points to a further retirement of the Russian forces.
 Despite their command of the sea, the Japanese omit no precaution. It would be unfair to give the numbers and designa- tion of their forces, but landings were made long enough ago to permit general reference to them without prejudice of their position"
 The correspondent of the Daily Mail at Che Foo. who has just visited Chinnampo, Korea, says:
 Succession of Transports.
 On the way to Chemulpo we passed a constant succession of Japanese trans ports. Three thousand Japanese landed at chemulpo at the end of the last week.
 The correspondent adds that the Rus sians are retreating across the Yalu river before the advance of the Japanese out posts, and that their forces in this district number 10000
 The Daily Mails Wei-Hai-Wei corres- pondent learns that Viscount Acke, form erly Japanese minister to Germany, Is going to Seoul to establish practically a Japanese administration for Korea.
 Under date of March r the Che Foo correspondent of the Standard reports that provision trains are arriving hourly at Port Arthur, the railroad being intact.
 Fleet Returns to Port Arthur.
 The Daily Telegraph's Tokio cores pondent, cabling March IT, asserts that the Russian fleet has returned to Port Arthur. If this is correct, the cores pondent adds, 1t Is evident from Rear Admiral Baron von Stackelberg's report that the Russian cruisers which left Vlad- ivostock, returned to that port without an attempt having been made to unite the fleets, or if an attempt was made, 1t was unsuccessful
 The Chee Foo correspondent of the Paris edition of the New York Herald, cabling under yesterdays date, asserts that a portion of the Russian fleet made severaa cruises within a radius of 50 miles off Port Arthur without finding any trace of the enemy
 It Is stated that the Russians are again negotiating for the purchase of Welch coal, and it Is reported from Hamburg that Russia is trying to place contracts with German shipyards for several new torpedo boat destroyers, to be delivered this year.
 According to a dispatch from Antwerp to the Daily Telegraph, Russia has &C., quired twenty large Antwerp transport steamers and has insured each of them for s2500oO.