Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-21
Over Reports Of Defeats Sus'
tanned by the laps.
The Cars Men Now Feel Able to
Engage in Real Battle
Another Rumor Acts as Cold water
on Russian Hopes.

defeat of the Japanese forces which was
marching northward from Feng Wang
Cheng for the purpose OF executing
flank movement on Mukden.
Details of the dispatch will not be
made public until it has been passed
by the war commission, but enough
has been communicated to The Assoc
ciated Press to make it clear that in
order to save themselves from de-
struction the japanese We're compelled
to retreat toward Feng Wang Chens.
Since Gen. Kuroki sent n column
northward to gain the road leading d.
rectly west from Mukden, Gen. kuro-
patkin has kept it under the closest
surveillance, awaiting the moment
when IL should be so distant from the
main Japanese army rs to prevent Its
easy reinforcement. In observing this
plan the Russians withdrew and the
japanese not finding n strong force of
the enemy before them, continued to
advance. When the time for action
came. Gen. Kuropatkin let Gen. Rem
nenkampff loose from leash. Gen. Rem
nenkampff had under his command
only n few regiments. but they were
the flower of the COssack cavalry. On
MAY lS ne Itli Ofl t1S tiltIily, NHOSt
number has not yet been revealed. with
such vigor as to compel the Japanese
retirement IL miles toward the base
near enough, 1t Is presumed, to have
received reinfOrcements from Gen. Ku-
roki, who must Immediately have been
advised of the awkward predicament.
The casualties sustained by the OPP
posing forces have not yet been an
nOunced
The general staff took OCCASION to-
day, to deny the report of n battle hav-
ing been fought at Kai Chou in which
200 Russians were killed. AS n matter
of fact the Russians quietly Withdrew
from Kai Chou, being unwilling to ex-
pose their force at that point to the
attack of Il column marching from the
east that landed in southern Liatung.
The report that KurOpatl,in has sent
10000 men to relieve Port Arthur is de-
clared by the general staff to be incred-
ible. Such a move, they say, would on
ly court disaster. for KurOki naturally
would take advantage of the movement
to throw his entire army across the
railroad and strike from the rear while
Ine JapdneSe troops III southern Lao
Tung would attack in front.
No news has reached here of teh en-
gagement in Kin Chou and the absence
of information is explained by the
slOwness of communication due to the
strength of the Japanese force assail-
ing the Russian Positions around Port
Arthur. No surprise is expressed at
the fact that engagements occur as the
to-, f.,Il hnn L A,tl,
is reiterated that Lieut.. Gen. Stoessers
plan does not contemplate imperilling
the fortress by the loss of too many
men outside. The authorities rather
believe their information that he had
almost entirely withdrawn inside the
fortress defence several days ago. That
the Japanese will strain every nerve to
take Port Arthur in view of the size
to their fleet is not questioned in naval
circles. and in spite of the danger of
Russian mines Admiral Togo is ex-
pected to cooperate in the assault up
on Port Arthur.
The following dispatch from Gen. Ku-
rOpatkin to the Emperor, dated at Lao
Yang, May -, has been received here:
"A detachment of Cossacks engaged
n detachment of the japanese advance
guard on May 10. north of Feng Wang
Chcng in a mountainous district. The
fight began in the morning and lasted
until go o'clock in the afternoon.
1.-The japanese were successfully dis
lodged from four positions, extending
over Is miles.
1.-The pursuit of the Japanese We're
stopped at Datiantsy, Is miles north OF
Feng Wang Cheng.
Our casualties We're six Cossacks
wounded. two horses killed and eight
horses wounded.
There is no trace of the enemy in
the valley of Tsanhoka as far as the
road leading to the Tchangouline pass
Is miles north of Feng Wang Cheng."
High Admiral Grand Duke Alexis re-
ceived the following dispatch bearing
today's date, from Viceroy Alexieff:
''The following report by mail from
Rear Admiral Wittsoeft lin command
Of the naval forces at Port Arthur was
received on the night of May 1920:
Three of the enemy's battleships and
three cruisers appeared to the east on
the morning of May Is. Their move
ments were watched from Lao Tt Shan
ana Hill. AlteT cToSSlIly the
meridian of Port Arthur the squadron
turned eastward and appeared to be
getting into battle formation. when an
explosion was observed under the third
battleship which was of the Full type.
The ironclad stopped, heeled over to
starboard, and began to sink by the
bow, sending ur quantity of steam.
1.-TWO cruisers Immediately ap-
preached and it was observed from
Golden Hill that they lowered boats
after which the battleship gradually
righted herself and appeared to recov-
j., er from her injury.
AT that minute another three fun
nelled battleship of the Shikishima
type approached the scene of the ac-
cident and a mine exploded under her
midship section, causing a similar ex-
plosion to that. which occurred in. the
case of the battleship Petropavlosk. In
& the course of one minute she sank.
"'The third ironclad put out to
sea, the cruisers remaining OH the scene
Of the disaster.
81 sent sixteen torpedo boats to har-