The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-11
others are being discovered. :"
THE RUSSIANS UNDIsMAYED.

THE RUSSIANS UNDISMAYED.
st. Petersburg, May 7-2.28 a. m.-
japanese troops swarming across the
narrow neck of the Liao Tung PENN
slula, the railroad and telegraph COM
munications cut and the Russina Gil
braltar isolated and left to it's own
resources: all this the Russians seem to
accept with great stoicism.
These events have been anticipated
since the outbreak of the war, and
the authorities, in sense, appear to
be relieved now that the blow has
fallen. They assert that the fortress
is impregnable, and amply provision
ed to stand a siege for year, and
that it can hold out until the time
comes to relieve it.
| According to official information the
landing Of troops from sixty trans
ports began simultaneously at Pitsewo
and Cape Terminal on the morning Of
May 5. It is also reported that troops
! are being landed at Kin Chow, but
this is not credited, as the Russians
are known to have Notifications there
and it is not believed that the Japa-
nese had the daring to land immedl-
ately under an intrenched position
from which the Russians could infiict
severe injury.
It was because he was convinced
that Port Arthur was about to be cut
of, that Viceroy Alexief, accompani-
ed by his staff and Grand Duke Boris,
Pleft hastily. On Thursday several
train loads of sick and wounded and
other ineffectives were dispatched
northward.
It is reported here that the Japa-
nese ships bombarded Port Arthur
early on the morning of May 6, and
succeeded at last in closing the an
trance, but no official information Of
the latter statement can be obtained.
The exact hour at which communi-
cation with the Russian stronghold
ceased has not been established.
| The strength of the garrison at Port
Arthur is not given by the authori-
| ties, who will only say that it is ade-
quate for defensive purposes. 1t is
| not believed that the force there ex-
ceeds ten Thousand soldiers.
| Lieut Gen. Stroessel will have su-
preme command at Port Arthur. He
| is. described as high-class command
er. His recent proclamations show
that he is imbued with determina-
ton to hold Port Arthur until the
last man is killed.
i Officers of the general staff say
that the landing of the japanese army
on the peninsula and the investment
of Port Arthur clarity the military
situation and the problem Gen. Kuro-
patkin must solve. Had Kuropatkin
had his way before the war, it is said,
: he would have abandoned Port Arthur,
withdrawn further to the north, and
waited until his army had become
overwhelming in it's strength, when he
would have moved forward, but this
was made impossible in consequence
of the injuries sustained by the Port
Arthur feet and the impossibility OF
the departure of the feet from Vladi-
vostok with a superior japanese force
outside that port. Therefore, the
commander in chief is waiting at Lilac
Yang until the enemy's plans shall
have developed sufficiently to show
just what line it is proposed to pur-
sue.
Caution forbade an attempt in force
to prevent Gen. Kuroki's passage oi
the Yalu, as the troops landed al
Pitsewo might have been diverted te
: take the Russians on the flank or In
! the rear
! Now that the uncertainty is partial
= ly dispelled, Gen. Kuropatkin, from
the interior lines is free to act. That
he proposes to move energetically is
shown by the fact that he has sent re-
inforcements to Feng Wang Cheng. :.
J The indications are that he intends
i. Immediately to assume the aggressive
! and to strike Gen. Kuroki's army be-
fore the latter can be reinforced
through Corea. It is anticipated that
the Japanese will march northward.
> but it is believed they will devote
.. their energies to effect the fall Of Port
. Arthur.
A large force is not considered nee
essary, as was shown from the recent
withdrawal of some of the troops who
! were simply drain on the resources
of the garrison.
The fleet must now take secondary
position, and the sailors will be used
to man the shore guns if necessary.
Despite the greater number OF Jap
8 anese, the general staff believes that
! their formidable Notifications still
e leave the defensive superiority witt
: the Russians, whose staying qualities,
: it is confident, will insure their hold
ing out as long as necessary.
] The receipts of news at any time OF
/ a decisive battle near Feng Wang
, Cheng will not cause surprise here,
and already rumors are circulating in
the city, which, however. lack veri6ca
ton, and are believed to be untrue,
that a battle has been fought, that
the japanese have been defeated with
heavy loss, and that Gen. Kuropatkir
! was wounded. Another rumor is in
, circulation that Port Arthur has been
captured, but this also is secuted in
responsible quarters.