The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-06-28

cinity of Siu-Yen. Small parties of
ECossacks hover about the Japanese
lines of communication but the dam
age they have inflicted amounts to lit
tie. The heavy rains nave ceased and
the country has dried up quickly.
A Dispatch from Kuropatkin.
st. Petersburg, June 23.-Emperor
| Nicholas has received the following dis
patch from Kuropatkin, under date Of
June 81:
"a japanese army from Kai-Chou is
gradually advancing northward. Cen
eral Kuroki's advance from Stu Yen
has been suspended, evidently to effect
an alignment of the t"O armies.
1.-The strength Of the enemy's van
guard is approximately a division n
several ~squadrons of cavalry and the
Siu-Yen force Of min Squadrons, sup
ported by a strong column Of infantry
toward the south.
1.-The enemy's position on June 18th
and June 81 extended within seven
miles southwark to Semuchen, along
a line from the sea to the mountainous
n difficult district east of the railway.
THE enemy's advance lines are be-
ing strongly, held by cavalry and a
| screen of infantry. The passes and de-
files to the mountains east of the rail-
way are also vigilently guarded.
"a movement Of strong japanese
mounted patrol, with infantry supports
was noted June Goth, from five in the
afternoon EDWARDS. We had no losses
in the firing which ensued, while the
| Japanese had several killed or wounded.
AN increase in the Japanese forces
| has been noticed south of V~anfapudze
| and near the villages of M~anZiapudZe,
| T~akziapudze and Khakahei. Reinforce
| ments are also reaching the japanese
at the furtherest point of the road be-
| tween Stu Yen and Tanchi via Paiahan.
| lou and Siakhotan.
The japanese are erecting field
| Notifications On the o "a from Siu-Yen
| to Hai-Chau.
The enemy's outposts nave occupied
the pass between P~angrabei and Pal
| Chang on the northern road, nine and
a half miles south of Siakhotan.
o June 10 two Cossacks were
| wounded by Chinese ruffians.
The japanese have fortified kuan-
| Dian, mounting eighteen guns, with
| strong screen.
"The enemy has occupied the village
of Sapenhai, twenty-five miles north
| east of Saimatsze and is firmly en-
| trenched.
Reports of japanese Cruelty Not
Credited.
st. Petersburg, June 23.-General
Il NuTOUdlhIIl ldICSI ISpolSi
| does not carry the military situation
| further than the advices Of the Asso-
| ciated Press have already Indicated,
| save that it shows the Japanese to
be active north of Feng Wang Cheng.
| The movement in this direction is in
terpreted both as a threat to detain
| as many Russians as possible in the
| northern part Of Lao Tung peninsula
| and as a protection Of the japanese
I flank against a counter move on the
part of General Kuropatkin, in case
| the opposing armies should become
seriously engaged in the vicinity OF
Hal Cheng.
The charge of barbarous treatment
| of Russian wounded made against the
Japanese by some Russian -correspon-
| dents at the battle OF Vafangow does
not find. general credence. Neither
! the foreign Office, the war office, nor
| any of the foreign embassies, the at
signed the discriminating statement,
| have received any confirmation of the
| accusation and nc action is contem-
| plated by the government, until the
| charge has been substantiated. Doubts
| as to the truth of the charge are in
| creased by reports of kindness and
| consideration shown by the Japanese
| in many instances to Rus
SLAMS.
Russians Retard the japanese Adj
st. Petersburg, June 23.-The gen.
eral staff a received the following
dispatch from Lieutenant General
Sakharofl, under date OF June %:
AT s o'clock on the morning Of
June 81, he japanese vanguard re-
sumed its advance against our out
posts, fou miles south OF S~enuchen.
The outposts retired slowly towards
Senuchen and further on in h di-
rection Of Kai Chau.
AT moo a Japanese column con-
sisting of nine ~squadrons Of cavalry,
a battery of artillery apd a consider
advancing in the direction Of Senu-
chen. Other strong columns OF the
enemy appeared, n the japanese oc-
cupied Senuchen towards evening,
with over a division OF infantry, a
brigade OF cavalry n 81 guns.
According to information received
from our scouts and the inhabitants,
the enemy, over a division strong. is
concentrated southwards of Chapan
Pass, near Chang Tia and Long Tia
Tien. The japanese did not advance
beyond Chapan Pass in the direction
Of Tanchi and the enemy on the morn
ing of the ed had not occupied the
pass between Uaitsiaei and Panchin-
CINE on the Stu Yen Lila Hotang road.
No hey movement "a been noticed
there.
Our scouts report that a large de-
tachment of all arms advanced from
Stu Yen to Khranza on the morning of
June %. A battalion of the enemy
taking advantage of a thick fog tried
to surprise our vanguard near Wanda
pudze on the Stu Yen Hal Cheng road.
: The movement was discovered in time
!, and the Japanese received volleys
! from companies of Russians. Th4
: enemy retired with some losses to-
, wards Stu Yen. One Russian sharp.
shooters was wounded.
THE japanese occupied yafant