The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21
PREPARE FOR SIEGE
Port Arthur Claims TO Have
Two Years Food Supplies.


YIN KOW,- Feb. 20.-By means of
special permission from Maj. Gen.
F'1ug, Viceroy Alexieff's chief of staff, a
newspaper correspondent passed the
lines and visited Port Arthur, which is
closed to civilians. The correspondent
says;
"Only 80 per cent OF the population
remains at Port Arthur. and many of
these are leaving. The trains are still
crowded with refugees. Railroad con-
ditions are excellent, and trains are
running on schedule time. There are
only a few unfinished sidetracks and
one unfinished bridge between New
chwang and Port Arthur. The penin-
sula of Liaotung Is quiet. Adequate
guards are maintained at all culverts
and bridges, and preparations for de-
Tense are continued. The troops near
Kinchau are active. A strong force is
guarding the narrowest part of the
peninsula.
1.-The authorities have mitigated war
conditions at Port Arthur by fixing the
prices of foodstuffs. The prices of
other commodities, however, have adj
vanced. The authorities have taken
possession Of all food supplies in the
stores which were deserted by Chinese
and other merchants. They are pro-
viding for a siege by sending wheat
milling machinery to Port Arthur, and
say that there is a sufficient food sup
ply for resistance of two years.
Japanese refugees, under the per-
sonal supervision of the viceroy and
Gen. Plancon, are leaving Port Arthur
on released ships. Agents of two
British steamers, the FoXton Hall and
another, which were deserted during
the Japanese attack, are endeavoring
to induce the captains of these vessels
to reclaim them. The Brand, the only
ship now remaining at Port Arthur,
will leave on Feb. 81 with refugees and
dispatches.
Although the harbors on the Lao
tung peninsula have been reopened, the
authorities do not expect further arri-
walls. The Japanese fleet, which is
sighted at intervals from Golden Hill,
completely controls the coast, and, I'M
der the imperfect police system, all
corners are treated as spies. The re-
pairs to the Russian fleet are proceed
ing. The cruiser Novik has been dock
ed, but the condition of the battleships
Czarevitch and Retvizan remains I'M
changed. Engineers say that the Ret
ViZan will be f1oated in a few days.
The official reports commend Capt.
Essen, of the Novik, and Capt. Ber-
sian, of the cruiser Bayan, for gallant
conduct on Feb. 8, and indicate that,
in spite of the fact that no Japanese
losses were reported, the Russians did
some damage.
Capt. Stepanoff, who was in COM
mand of the torpedo transport Yenisei,
which was reported blown up from
accidental contact with mine, is de-
clared to have met heroic death in
trying to save his crew.
Shippers are of the opinion that
the harbor Of Dalny will be unsafe for
years to come on account of stray
mines from the Yenisei, some of which
are reported by the last merchantmen
the open sea. The Novikri has sus-
pended publication and issues only
bulletins.
1.-THE city is darkened every night,
but Viceroy AleXieff's house is lighted,
although the people understand that he
is at Hardin. Gen. Valkoff is in COM
mand of the none ombatant force at
Hardin. Gems. Linevitch and Won
Dratovitch are at Lao Yang (about
half way between ew-chwang and
Mukden). When the Tenth regiment
is near Kiuchau, the Ninth regiment
near Lao Chang and the Twelfth reg
iment near Lao Yang, 1t is intended
to commence a simultaneous march to-
ward the Yalu river. While Gen. Plug
is advancing the troops from Mukden
to the Yalu he will at the same time
be Strengthening his center and be
prepared to defend the railroad and the
North Korean bay coast in force. The
military authorities are thoroughly
aware Of their unpreparedness to rush
reinforcements.
"An enormous consignment of ar
tillery is reported to be on the way
from Russia, and there were not more
than $4,000 troops in Manchuria and
at Vladivostok when war began. The
administration authorities Of Port Ar
thur assert that the Japanese have
landed in Korea only"
A dispatch from Port Arthur an
nounces that by order of Viceroy Alex
Jeff an irregular volunteer corps is en-
listing to defend Port Arthur. The men
will be provided by the state with arms,
rations and the necessary clothing.
1t is thought, the dispatch says, thai
Japan regards foodstuffs consigned to
Port Arthur as absolute contraband Of