New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-14
PORT ARTHUR BLOCKADE
Correspondent Tells of Railroad
Repaired By Russians.


week of the investment OF that fortress. Dan
chenko ESCAPED from the beieaguered city by
the last train. He says:
From Thursday May O. the powerful fleet
OF the enemy's cruisers. the AdsUma, the Asama,
the Idsunlo, the Iwate and another, the name
of which is unknown, together with the flagship
Mikasa and the battleships ShikishiTna, Hat
suse, Asahi. Yashima and Full remained con-
st3ntly in sight at Port Arthur departing every
night and returning at daylight The Japanese
torpedo boats occasionally swept coast with
searchghts at night while their barges lay IN
waiting off Pigeon Bay beyond our vision on
the western horizon and beneath the lofty hills
that skirt the LiaO-Tung Gulf Apparently the
Japanese Were watching to see If we Intended
to interfere with their landing further north
Our communications with the north were
broken On Thursday, and the following day the
telegraph Office in Port Arthur refused to &C
cept our messages. japanese cavalry recon-
noitred the peninsula from the north, to aScer-
tain whether we were safely imprisoned, but
this did not cause any particular impression IN
Port Arthur. The weather was beautiful. band
was playing on the Boulevard, and there were
many people unconcernedly promenadinS the
streets. We heard that the Japanese had fired
on the last outgoing train, carrying the Russian
sick and wounded and had succeeded in wound
ing two of the passengers. Rumors also hoated
in announcing the destruction of the railroad
and the blowing up of some Of the bridges, but
our spirits remained singularly undepressed.
The military. officers and men, talked of noth-
ing except second siege of Sebastopoi, al
though as a matter of fact Sebastopoi mao never
been cut of froIl its communication on the land
side. We can die like our forefathers was
the universal sentiment expressed. The Chinese
continued working as usual, for the most part,
Very few of them attempting to escape.
II seems as if the sole defence of the Russian
stronghold is General kondratenkO tkondrato-
NtchD. lie knows no rest and IS ceaseless IN
his activity. The utmost vigilance prevails
throughout the Notifications. and the energy be-
trayed by every one. from highest TO lowest is
marvellous. No one Is now admitted TO Port
Arthur. The women from Dalnv, which was
doomed TO destruction, sought shelter here, but
allow q
day of last week.
The number of Chinese seeking work on the
Qualifications and servants is more numerous
than ever. As long there is rice there will he
Cinnamon. The attitude Of the Chinese authori-
ties is changing and becoming threatening. The
natives are clearly our friends and the authori
ties clearly antagonistic For instance, the
Governor of the province of Foo-Chow. north
west Of us on the Liao-Tung Peninsula. has
nounced that he viii hehead all the natives in
OUT service very soon, and that he will burn
Wafung-Tfen. one Of the neighboring towns.
which has shown itself friendly TO the Russians.
After the skirlnish at Wafund-Tien between the
Japanese advance and the Russian guard the
Governor executed the interpreter and the ser
want of Lieutenant Hellmer, the Russian mill
tary chief in charge of that section of the rail-
road
Beyond Cape Terminal the Japanese are land
ing immense stores of rice and siege guns. The
surrounding heights are occupied by their
scouts The japanese struck the railroad first
between Sanshiliaou and Polan Tier about fifty
miles from here, and blew Up a section of the
bridge with meiinite. They flied our SEN
japanese took off his tunic. rolled II up and
placed il under his head a pillow, and then
reYefeut!T crossed the dead mans arms over his
breast.
On Saturday. May l. I decided, by hook or by
crook, to join the ManCEurian army at Lao
Yang, it being plainly impossible TO write or
telegraph from Port Arthur. ] paid o farewell
visit TO the batteries and inspected their posi-
the black masses of Cape Stone and the fUOwn-
ing Dragon Hills behind Siao-PngTaO, where
II was said the enemY's scouts lurking.
Westward cleaned the Miao-Tao Islands and
nearer the Tigers Tail and Lio-Tsai-Shan,
while behind far. far away. lowered the Eagles
Nest whence a view is obtainabIe of the whole
Of the Regents Sword Peninsula out on the
Hnntless ocean twelve tiny spots indicated the
japanese warshps, and smaller dots the enerly's
swift moving torpedo boats. watching the coast
TO prevent any of our craft slipping through TO
Che-Foo or New-Cbwang.
decided TO steal through at night. across the
stretch Of railroad. Communication inter
rupted. and General Stoessel proposed that [
should accompany Captain Odntzoff who had
been empowered 10 enter into communication
with the enemy. We left Port Arthur at 6
o'clock in the morning. and two hours later
reached the positions commanded by the ener-
getc and tireless General FOck y no defends
the whole nothern section Of LiaO-Tung. Re
ports were coming in every few minutes Of Jap
anese landings. large and small Of first encoun-
ters with our outposts. OF first losses. The busy
work on every side. digging trenches. throwing
up redoubts and general feverish. military activ-
ty. cOntrasted with peaceful nature, adorned
by autiful spring the bloom of lilac, almond
and apricot blossoms. IT was 4 fairy picture
framed by hills Of reddish hue. The Chinese
villages nesting in the verdure continued 20
wear aspect OF idylic repose.
General Fock has learned the secret Of
bright and active. Scouting parties pene-
trate eve~y nook and corner. appearing when
the enemy least expects them.
We went on TO Kin-Chow, distinguishable IN
the distance by the threatening profile Of its
defences. We decided, after passing Kin Chow,
to stick 10 the railroad and boarded an open
aiulaf oil he
deserted line to Sanshilipou. There was not a
single employe there hut the station was crowd
station three horsemen dashed off toward the
hills 10 the east The station building in
tact, but the natives reported the railway build
ings the stations beyond aire
Captain Odintzoff mounted the engine and
ordered the engineer 10 go ahead, leaving me
behind in command Of the freight car and a
0ointzoT ordered me. # the japanese cavalry
appeared. TO return at once to Kin Chow, with
out awaiting him. adding that If he did not re-
turn by 4 O'Clock that evening to turn back
anyhow.
Two hours later Captain odintzofr met a
small detachment OF our cavalry, eight miles
ahead. and sent back to n notebook re-
questing me. in case he failed TO turn M TO go
TO Port Arthur and hand the book to General
StoesseI We waited another hour, saw smoke
in the distance. and concluded that it came from
deserted barracks. Then followed anxious
time. We thought that Odintzof would never
return. At last We saw the smoke Of an APP
preaching train. AS the Japanese We're said 70
have landed an engineer battalion, with rails,
engines and cars. we were uncertain who was
on board, but we decided to go and meet the
train. A turn Of the line brought US in sight
Of n long bridge The train had halted beyond
If Russians board. thought. they
must have met Odntzoff, who had certainly told
them that the bridge was safe. We noticed that
those who were board the train were in
specting the bridge, ard concluded they must
be japanese. Consequently we began to retreat
making preparations for any emergency. Final
~. the train started again. our field glasses
revealed Russian uniforms. It proved to be a