Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-12
GOT OUT QUICKLY
ALEXIEfF AND DUKE BORIS I-EAVE
PORT ARTHUR.
Special Train Which Carried Them
Narrowly Escaped Capture
Large Japanese Army Landed
Land.


ted that at last the japanese have sue
ceeded in gaining foothold on the
Taiotung peninsula and have cut the
line Of communication with Port Ar
thur. Not only that, but it was only
accidentally that Viceroy AleSietf
Grand Duke Boris and many of the
higher officials of Russia in Name huria
escaped capture, or at least being
p-,nned up in the beleaguered town.
News that the japanese had arrived
near Pltzewo was transmitted 10 Port
Arthur by Russian signal corps off.
Ger who sighted the japanese trains
port feet off Pitzweo early Thursday
He notified the viceToy. and as il was
stated the japanese army was very
large. occupying forty transports.
preparations Were made AT once for
quitting Port Arthur by Admiral Alex
Jeff. Grand Duke Boris and the vice
roy's staff, and IN a baggage car was
placed all Of the documents Of the
Manchurian administration which had
been stored at army headquarters in
Port Arthur.
Sntlttu tllt ON II.
While this was going on the Japan-
ese transports had run lose 10 the
beach al Pitzewo and made p.epara-
tions for the landing of the troop>
The cruisers which had accom- panied
the fleet shelled the beach. almost all
Of the shells being aimed at the small
settlement Of P.tzewo There WAS but
4 small garrison AT this place. They
had but few guns and these We're Of
small cahber. Recognizing that It
was hopeless 10 attempt 10 oppose the
japanese. and recognizing also that an
extended stay might mean the capture
Of the entire force. the Russian COM
manndant reluctantly gave the order
10 retire.
/ Following the departure Of the Rus
sian garrison a veritable panic took
place among the inha bifanrs Of the
( town. and within an hour they had
fed along the mad 70 the northward
So precipitate was their flight that
they left behind them their poor
worldly possessions. preferrine to
chance il with the Russians. whom
they knew, to remaining and trusting
to the mercy Of the japanese
The japanese landed boat after boat.
each crowded TO the gunwale> with
men. and by nightfall force Of 20. 900
men had been disem barked with their
accoutrements. This was excellent
work CD the part Of the japanese, as
the boats could not run close 10 the
beach and the men Were compelled TO
( jump into the water up 70 their waists
and wade ashore 4 small band Of
Russian Cossacks held their position
on the hills near the abandoned town
until the japanese began their advance,
and in this way complete report of
the operations had been placed at the
disposal Of the Russian officials
Fired on Alexieff's Train.
4 detachment Of engineers was
among she first 10 land, and they be.
gan the preparation OF q system Of
landing piers. 4 japanese flying col
umn was hurTiedly sent forward and
the Cossacks retreated before them
When the railroad was reached the
/ train tearing ,he viceroy and his par.
Y was N sight. and the japanese made
an attempt to capture it. but failed
/ They fired several volleys after it. bu,
the range was too great and the shots
went wild.
In the meantime another japanese
column had been sent toward the south.
west. and. by marching the better part
of the night, they We're enab led TO So
cure possession Of the roads leading
southwark.
The last word received from Port
Arthur came from the comulandant
Lieutenant General Stoessel He stat
I'd that there was great confidence
among his men. and that ne did not
believe the Japanese could capture the
fortress even though they landed an
army Of 100, 600 men.