The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-05-13
RUSSIANS DRIVEN
BACK BY JAPS
RUMoRED RETREAT OF CARS
FORCES FROM FENGWANG-
CEENG rs CONFIRMED.
MlKADO'S SOLDIERS
TAKE POSSESSION
Railway Bridge at Port Adams Blown
Up-No News from PortArthur Is
Received = Reports Of Heavy
Fighting Expected.

st. Petersburg, May g. According
to a persistent rumor Gen. K%uropatkin
decided not to give battle at Fengwang-
cheng; the Russians have fallen back
and the Japanese have reoccupied Feng-
wangcheng.
The Russian retreat from Fengwang-
cheng is confirmed. The Japanese
pressed the r%etreating troops, though
with few losses to either side. The Jap
anese destroyed the railway at Port Ad-
ans, blowing up the bridges.
Fengwangcheng Captured.
Seoul, May g.. = A dispatch from An
tung says it is rumored there that the
japanese captured Fengwangcheng May
after fierce fighting and that the losses
on both sides were very heavy.
Fighting has been reported near Feng-
wangcheng, but neither Japanese nor
Russian advices have announced a de-
cisive engagement. 1t is unlikely, there
fore, that the rumor current at Antung
is correct. Advices from st. Petersburg
indicate that news of an important bat
tie near Fengwangcheng is expected mo-
mentarily.
Japs Fortify Peninsula.
Shenhaikwan, China, May 8. - An Of
fcer of a torpedo boat who arrived here
from Yinkow, after confirming the an
n~ouncements of the landing of Japanese
troops IN the Liaotung peninsula, says
the Japanese rapidly entrenched them
selves and mounted rapid-fre guns 1t
is believed here that two other divisions
of Japanese troops will land near New
chwang and attempt later to effect a
junction with the army from the:Yalu.
Japs Continue Advance.
st. Petersburg, May g. The Russian
capital has now been without news from
Port Arthur for almost "a hours. The
last telegram received was filed at six
o'clock Friday night. 1t is believed that
the spot where the Japanese cut the rail-
road and telegraph line is near Port Ad-
ans, opposite Pitsewo. No news of 9TH
er landings on the Liaotung peninsula
has reached the general staff. Impor-
tant developments are hourly expected
from Fengwangcheng. News of heavy
fighting there is anticipated shortly. A
telegram from Gen. Kuropatkin says:
Gen. Kuroki's army is advancing upon
the Russian position in two divisions.
The enemy, with artillery, he reports,
has reached Kaolimeun, called the gate
of Korea which is within ten miles
of Fengwangcheng.
A current report that Russia purposed
sending troops to Sh~anhaikwan is Of
ficially denied.
The Russian government has made no
such request of China and has not con-
templated taking such action.
Earbor Completely Blocked.
Toxic, May 9. - Vice Admiral Togo
reports that the entrance to Port Arthur
is completely blocked to all vessels ex-
cept small boats. He adds that the Jap
anese have not lost a single war vessel,
although the attack resulted in consid-
cradle loss of life.
How Feat Was Accomplished.
Washington, May 8. - The following
c%ablegran, dated Toxic, May 7, was re-
ceived at the Japanese legation Satur-
day:
Admiral Togo reports that the COM
bined feet effected the third blocking
operation on Port Arthur on the Sd of
May. The gunboats Akagi, Chokai, the
second, third, fourth, fifth destroyer
flotillas, and the ninth, tenth and four
teenth torpedo boat flotillas, with steam
ers, started on the End of May, but
strong wind arising greatly hindered the
movement, and. therefore, the COM
mander ordered to stop the operation,
but the order did not reach in time, and
consequently eight steamers proceeded
and dashed into the narbor despite the
enemy's searchlight, fortress fire, obser-
walton mines Observation-Disclosures. Five
steamers gained the mouth Of the har-
Dor, especially Mikawa Maru and To-
tony Maru, breaking boom, went fur
Their inside. The entrance Of the harbor
is considered effectively blocked, at least
for cruisers and battleships. Three
other steamers sunk before reaching the
mouth of the harbor. Our fiotilla re-
manned till morning and rescued half Of
the crews of the sunken steamers. Tor
pedo boat No. 81, its steampipe having
been hit, was disabled, but towed away
by torpedo boat No. 10. The port engine
Of the torpedo boat Aotaka was dam
aged, but the ship was safe. Casualties
of the fiotilIa:: Three wounded, two
killed, but no other damage"
Japs Hold Upper Hand.
London, May 8. - Quet confidence
continues to prevail here that the Jap
anese, in their own good time, will carry
out all their carefully arranged plan Of
campaign on the Liaotung peninsula.
which is now generally regarded as be-
Ing practically in Japanese hands. In
diplomatic quarters no events are ex-
pected, either In the shape OF a Chinese
breach of neutrality or Of the mediation
of some power which would interfere
with the normal course of the war. For
eign Secretary Lansdowne has received
explicit information which leads him to
the belief that there is no danger of the
Chinese failing to maintain strict neu-
trality. The Chinese minister called at
the foreign Office here this week and SO
assured Lord LansdoWne. Any attempt