The Forrest City times., 1904-03-04
The Wires From the Seat of War Practically Silent---It May
 Indicate Activity.
THE MOVEMENT ON PORT ARTHUR
 HAY BE ACTUALLY IN PROGRESS.
Elimination From the sent of Activity Essential 10 the Carry ing Out of What is Conceived to He Japnn's Plan of Campaign.

London, March 3.-The wires from the scene of war are practically silent, and in some quarters this silence is interpreted to indicate that Japan's combined movement on Port Arthur is actually in progress and that conse quently the use of the wires has been discontinued.
 IL is known that the Japanese have seized the island of Hai Yang Tau, one of the Ellioo islands in Ko req bay. northeast of Port Arthur. They have converted Thornton harbor. in Ilai Yang Tau. into a navel base.
 From Thornton harbor they have moved to the northeast to the Man churian post, Takuskan, and no doubt landed there in force
 Have Landed Large Bodies.
 The Japanese have landed large bodies of troops at Chinnampo, in northwest Korea These troops are engaged in establishing a line of strong Notifications along the banks of the Tsitnog river and are making other preparations to receive the force which landed at Chemulpo and are pro- ceeding north.
 All of these steps are preliminary to the advance on Port Arthur.
 dispatch from Tokio dated March l, said the general staff of the Japan esese army sailed on that day for Che mulpo It is not at all likely that this statement is exact. either as to date Of sailing or the estimation IL is more likely that the general staff sailed some time ago and that these directors of the campaign are now on the ground in charge of the movement under way against Port Arthur.
 An Essential Fenture
 The capture of Port Arthur is es- sential to the Japanese plan. and mili- tary men here agree that the attempt to take possession of it. by a combined sea and land attack, will not be de- layed an hour beyond the time neeessl- ry for the coasummation of the pre- l.minary movements.
 Russia IS now moving with increased cclerity. Every day now adds to her power in Manchuria, and increases the task before the Japanese.
 RuHSin's New Base.
 Russia's new base of field operation. is Liao Yang, on the railway between Port Arthur and Hukden. It is now essentially a military city. An ara1 comprising three and third square miles adjoining the railroad has been closed for military camp and mag &Zine purposes. There is also a mili- 1 tary camp at Hai-Cheng. Manchuria (32 miles from New Ghwang1. which, with it's dafenses. covers 1000 acres
 From this base the Russian lines ex- tend to Port Arthur on the south and l to the ialu river on the east.
 Most accurate information from Port Arthur states that already the town | is on very short rations and that the prices of foodstufs is going higher | and higher
 Situation ut Port Arthur. The Japanese fleets repeated attacks have produced dem)ralization among the earison-the sold.e who. before the war were loudest in prohpesying the heroic deeds they would perform. The remarkable address of Gen. Stoorsel to his troops in the fortress. j explaining To them his determination never to surrender. is taken 10 mean that the general regards his situation a. most desperate
 MANY ALLEGED SPIES.