Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
WILL TRY TO RETRIEVE.
Russia Decides on Naval Campaign to
Disable the Japs.

OlSdU1c IAc VdP5.
A cablegram from Paris says: The Rus
sian naval plan for retrieving the reverses
at Port Arthur and Chemulpo has been
communicated to one Of the embassies
through official channels having access to
the highest naval authorities at st. Peters
burg. The plan is explained as follows:
Russia recognizes that Japan now has
preponderating naval strength in the far
east. Therefore, it is essential to reverse
the present Japanese preponderance. This
will be attempted by two distinct moves.
First urgent efforts will be made to have
q naval concentration at Port Arthur the
Baltic, Red Sea and Vladivostok fleets JOIN
ing Vice Admiral Makaroff's command II
possible, and thus giving the combined meets
preponderance over Vice Admiral Togo's.
Second, it is foreseen that it Will be difn-
cult and probably impossible to effect this
concentration, as Admiral Togo may inter-
cept the Baltic feet before its arrival at Port
Arthur. In that event. the Baltic fleet,
which is comparatively small, will attempt
the perilous task of engaging the large
Japanese fleet, in the hope of disabling
some of the japanese ships, and thus reduc-
ing the Japanese effective
According to the Russian calculation the
Baltic fleet may suffer humiliation in such
an unequal combat, but it will have served
a valuable end if it is able to cripple a
sufficient number of japanese ships to re-
duce Admiral Togo's naval strength below
that of Admiral Makaroff.
The foregoing information Is not part or
current speculative report, but comes from
credtable official sources as being the de-
termined Russian plan. The authorities at
Washington will receive similar informa-
ton shortly.
N Jordan and H. N. Allen, respectively
ministers to Korea and Great Britain and
the United States, have requested the
Korean government to give protection 10
the British and American mines in the
country. This request is a mere Formally,
as the japanese authorities have given as
surances of safety from local uprisings.
The holy oil used in the most sacred rites
of the Russian Church and for amounting
the emperor, is being consecrated at the
Kremln. The ceremony lasts three days,
during which relays of monks chant the
scriptures unremittingly.
Vice Admiral Stark reached St. Peters
burg simultaneously with the announce
ment of his decoration with the Alexander
Swords, which are only conferred for gal
lantry in the face of the enemy.
Vice Admiral Stark has received the Or
der of st. Vladimir and Rear Admiral
Prince Ukhtomsky has been decorated with
the order of st. Stanislaus in recognition
of their able defense on the occasion of the
Japanese torpedo boat attack on Port
Arthur February 8.
The Order of ST. Vladimir has been be-
slowed upon captain heltZenSteln MS
able handling of the Vladivostok squadron.
A correspondent of the Vostchny Vestnik
states that many of the slightly wounded
in the first bombardment of Port Arthur
have died as a result of the poisonous gases
emanating from the japanese shells.
kilograms have been received at Seoul
saying that the Russians are occupying six
of the largest border towns on the Tumen
river in northeastern Korea.
A special from Tokyo says: Reliable re-
ports were received here today from Seoul
| to the effect that part of the Japanese
| fighting line has crossed the Yalu and es-
| tablished itself in strong positions there at
several important points"
While the first line of defense against the
Japanese advance from Korea is a strong
| position, selected by General Kuropatkn
near Fenghuang-cheng, II is believed the
| Russians intend to hold out as long as pos
sble at Antung, which commands the Pek-
| ing road
For seventy miles the Yalu river is 500
| fathoms wide, and at Yongampo 1t is ice
| laden and barred by islands, whence the
Russian sharpshooters can harass the jap
anese advance.
The Russions have entrenched themselves
| heavily near Hai-cheng, to block the prog
ress of the Japanese in case they succeed
| in landing at the head of the Liaotung
gulf.
A surgeon of the Variag, in an interview,
says the experience in handling the wound
ed at Chemulpo upset many theories 1t
was found that complicated devices and
] stretchers were impracticabley Eighty Of