The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-29


 Dispersed- -auIet at Port Arthur-Rs- port That viadIvostok is Now Under Blockade.
 London, Feb. 2s.-The following off, cial dispatch has been received at the Japanese legation here:
 ''Tokio, Feb 2s, g a. ni.-A number of the enemy's cavalry appeared at point zoo metres north of Ping Yang. Corea. Our infantry fired upon them. causing them to retreat.''
 Seoul. Feb. 2S.-Details of skirmish at Ping Yang last Friday show that fifty Russian cavalrymen approached the north gate of the Japanese camp and fired at a distance of 1000 metres. A sharp fusilade took place. and the Russians retired. All foreigners are safe.
 Tokio. Feb. 2S.--Corean soldiers on the Ham-Gyeng frontier have been attack
 
 ed and dispersed by Russian troops.
 St. Petersburg, Feb. 2S.-A dispatch received here from Liao Yang and dated February 28 says that Chinese on the Yalu river report that an advance guard of Russian cavalry which has penetrated Corea for distance of about 200 vers.s across the river had an en- and tha. the Japanese were compelled to retreat and fled. leaving their horses, which were seized by the Cossacks. General Linevitch dispatched cavalry and a body of infantry in pursuit and with an order to occupy northern Corea.
 St. Petersburg, Feb. 2S.--An official dispatch received from Major General Pflug, viceroy Alexieff's chief-of-staff, which is dated February 2S. says:
 The night of February 27 passed quietly at Port Arthur. The enemy's squadron keeps In this vicinity. Reports are coming in of movementsof Chinese troc7s west of the Liao river and ac- cording to rumors about 10000 Chinese troops under General Ma are on the road between Tung Gnu and Chao Jan The military guard of the Sin Min Tu railway has been reinforced from forty to fifty Chinese soldiers having been placed at each station.
 Our mounted troops have entered Corea and the attitude of the population is friendly toward us."
 St. Petersburg, Feb 2S-The official announcement by Major-General Pfug, chief of staff to Viceroy Alexieff, that Russian cavalry had crossed the Yalu river is expected to be followed shortly by news of rather heavy land fighting, as, according to seemingly trustworthy reports, General Linevitch has sent a whole army corps of infantry to sup port the Cossacks, who have penetrated to "a point below Anju and who are re- ported to have beaten the Japanese in several skirmishes. Nevertheless, if this movement in force is progressing. 1t must not be assumed that the Rus sians have taken the offensive, but rather that they are taking up a strong position in northern Corea In order to check the advance of the formidable army of Japanese landing on both shores of Corea while the concentration of Russian troops behind the Yalu is being completed. This concentration is making better progress than is gener- ally believed abroad.
 The movement of troops eastward over the trans-Siberian railroad will be greatly accelerated henceforth, as tele- graphic reports say that the ice rail- road over Lake Baikal was completed to-day. Up to this time the tracks have been used as far as laid, the soldiers marching from the tehminus of the line to the other shore.
 Major General Plugs report that General Mas army is west of the Liao river agrees with the statement of the special correspondent of the Russ at Tien Tsin that the Chinese war minis ter is hurrying large bodies of troops to the northeastern frontier of Pe-Chi- Ii. This report says the troops are not going by rail but are marching by night.
 The military situation will be greatly complicated if General Mas army is really moving to the rear of the Russian position with the intention of making common cause with the Japanese, as it will expose both Russian Hanks to at tack.
 The blockade of Port Arthur con- tinues. The Russians seem resigned for the present not to expect to accomplish much by sea, realizing that their fleet at Port Arthur Is overmatched in both ships and guns, but they hint that things may be different in the spring if the Baltic fleet goes out and effects e juncture with that at Port Arthur. Serious consideration k also being given to the feasibility of spending about $5,- 00O000 on torpedo boat destroyers to be sent in sections to Vladivostok and Port Arthur. Three hundred mechanics and dockyard artifcers were sent to the far east last week, and experts declare that the boats could be built, sent and fitted out there in eight months.
 After all, however, the hopes and hearts of the Russians are centered in their army and, with General Kuropat- kin at it's head, although he has not faced foe since the siege of Plevna, victory is thought to be assured.