Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-03-18
RIVER SEPARATES
OPPOSING FORCES
Japanese and Russian Scouts
Are Face to
race.
JAPANESE TROOPS LANDING
Despite Terrible Weather Troops
Advance Steadily - Russian Fleet
Has Returned to Port Arthur After
V Several Cruises.

London March 1S.-A correspond,
emit OF the Times at Toxic says that
the Russian and Japanese scouts are
now separated only by the river
Cheng Cheng, just north of ANU.
The dispatch adds that the foreign
correspondents will leave for the front
either on March 20 or March 20, but
their destination is still unknown.
A correspondent OF the Times at
Wei Hal Wei, cabling under yester-
days date, says: Il arrived at Ping
Yang inlet March Is, and proceeded
to Chinnampo. Navigation was diff
cult owing to the drift ice. l found
anchored there both war vessels and
transports. Decentralization has been
difficult, but the Japanese have
brought all necessary appliances. Pom
toon jetties have been built and ex-
tend for hundreds of yards, and the
transports brought their own landing
barges."
The correspondent describes the
landing movements and the disposal
of the forces with some detail, and
says:
Despite the terrible weather, the
infantry marched twenty-five miles
daily, each man carrying nearly 100
pounds. 1t was a severe test, but
they did we'll. Covered by this force
a large force is now DISSEMINATING
within easier distance of the Japanese
objective, while preparations are re-
ported to be proceeding at the only
practicable port on the east coast OF
Korea. The Japanese are now holding
Anju and the line of the Cheng Cheng
river. The actual land front points
to further retirement of the Russian
forces.
Despite their command of the sea
the japanese omit no precaution. 1t
would be unfair to the Japanese to
give the numbers and designation Of
their forces, but landings were made
long enough ago to permit a general
reference to them without prejudice
to the operations The weather gen.
orally is improving
London, March 1S.-The correspond
ent of the Daily Mail at Che Foo who
has just visited Chinnampo, Korea,
says:
ION the way to Chemulpo we passed
a constant succession OF japanese
transports. Three thousand Japanese
landed at Chemulpo at the end OF last
week."
The correspondent adds that the
Russians are retreating across the
Yalu river before the advance OF the
Japanese outposts and their forces
in this district number 10000.
The Daily Mails Wei Hal Wei cor
respondent learns that Viscount Aoke,
formerly Japanese minister to Ger
many, is going to Seoul to establish
practically a Japanese administration
for Korea.
Under date of March 18th the Che
Foo correspondent OF the Standard re-
ports that provision trains are arriv-
ing hourly at Port Arthur, the railway
being intact.
The Daily Telegraph's Toxic CORE.
spondent, cabling March 18th, asserts
that the Russian fleet has returned to
Port Arthur. If this Is correct, the
correspondent adds, it is evident from
Rear, Admiral Baron Won Stackel-
berg's report that the Russian cruisers
which left Vladivostok returned to
that port without an attempt hav'cs
been made to unite the fleets or II an
attempt was made it was unsuccessful.
The Che Foo correspondent of the
Paris edition of the New York Herald
cabling under yesterdays date asserts
that portion of the Russian feet
made several cruises within a radius
of fifty miles of Port Arthur without
finding any trace of the enemy.