The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-28
But LITTLE IS DOING
War News Scarce and Practically No
Developments
BOTH PARTIES MOVING SLOWLY
Japanese Have a Way Opened Fer the
Landing of Troops - Russians Are
Massing Large Force.

dispatches regarding the fighting
south of the River Pomaku were re-
ported last Friday, in which Russian
detachment had three men killed and
two officers and thirteen men wound
ed, say that Japanese troop-laden
barge and other boats emerged from
the mouth Of the Pomaku and attempt
ed to cut off the Russian retreat. The
| barge was sunk by the Russian guns.
Capt Smeizin, who commanded the
| detachment, has died Of his wounds.
| The Kutshuin had one officer wound
ed. Further details concerning the
skirmish south of the River Pomaku
say that in following up the general
plan to harrass and impede the Japan
ese crossing of the Yalu, the Russian
outposts on the river sent detach-
ment of volunteers in boats on the
night of April q for the purpose Of
setting fire to the Japanese pontoons
| and other bridge material
The boats grounded on sandbanE
near the Korean side and drew the
| fire of the Japanese outposts. There
was sharp fusilade at close range.
The positions Of the boats was
highly critical, owing to the appear
ance of number of light barges filled
with Japanese, coming out from
small tributary stream called the Po-
makua, which is unmarked even on
! the maps of the Russian general staff.
The intention of the barges was to
cut off the retreat Of the Russians.
This was noticed from the ether bank,
| two miles distant, and couple Of
| field guns opened fire. A lucky shot
sank one of the barges, and the others
withdrew. The japanese casualties
are not known.
The Japanese Objective.
St. Petersburg, By Apparent
| ly reliable information in the posses
sion of the general staff leads 10 the
belief that the objective Of the Jap
anese campaign does not involve the
ambitious invasion OF the interior OF
Manchuria with the purpose OF reach
ing and overwhelming the main Rus
sian army. II the Japanese ever en-
| tertained the hope Of accomplishing
task similar to that which Napoleon
set for himself, present advices indl-
cate that they have abandoned it, and
have adopted much more cautious
and less hazardous programme. II this
information is correct there will be no
advance upon the army concentrated
at Lao Yang and Mukden, with its at
tendant constant lengthening and
weakening of the Japanese line of'com-
! munication. Instead there seems to
be a determination to stick as close as
possible to the sea, where lies Japans
natural base of communication. she
having established herself in Korea.
The general staff reports that the
japanese have three other obJectives-
the occupation of line across the Lao
Tung Peninsula, for the purpose OF cut
ting off Port Arthur, the isolation OF
Vladivostock, and the establishment OF
a base. The last mentioned movement
might be accomplished by a landing
near the mouth Of Tayang river, which,
by threatening the flank OF the Russian
position at Feng Huan Cheng. might
render it untenable and make the dd-
vance a column from Korea compara-
lively easy.
Will Not be Hurried.
London, By Cable.-The far Eastern
dispatches Monday morning are chiefly
concerned with the reports and specu-
lations concerning the japanese land
ings and the plan Of campaign. The
Daily Telegraph's Toxic correspondent
says the present delay is more appar--
ent than real, both as regards field and
naval operations. The Japanese ac-,
ccrding to report, are acting prudently
and will not be hurried. They realize
that certain movements must precede
the next coupe by land and sea, ana
they are awaiting both favorable
weather and occasion, and from Port
Arthur to Vladivostock are on the
alert. The Morning Posts Shanghai
correspondent says that spies have IN
formed the Russians at Kin Chau tnat
Japanese warships, conveying trans
ports with 10000 troops, are steamlng
northward. The Daily Telegraphs cor
respondent cables that second Japan
ese army will sail shortly and VIII
land on the Island OF Diawato, near
Yongampho.