Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-11-24
WAR NOTES.

river indicates the imminence of another
great battle The present real or rela-
tive strength of the two armies is un-
known to outsiders, but it Is known
that both armies have been heavily re-
inforced, and that the Russians are be-
coming restless, as the advantage OF de-
lay there is now with the Japs- In
trenched armies, also. lose heavily by
disease, and the Japs know better how
TO take care of themselves than do the
Russians. The sanitary arrangements
of the Japs are the most efficient on
record, and their losses from sickness
are practically nothing. On Tuesday
the Japs were reported to have captured
an important Pass, but were repulsed
in an attempt to take Lone Tree hill.
The Car received an important mes
sage from General Stoessel. who is so
stubbornly Eolding the fort at Fort
Arthur. last Wednesday, which must
have been of exceptional importance
Judging from the. circumstances oy
which its delivery was attended. COM
muaications with the beleaguered cita-
del have been maintained throughout
the siege with considerable regularity
by means of wireless telegraphy to and
from the station maintained by the Rus-
sian Consul. and when for any reason
that has not been available, through
the instrumentality of Chinese fugitives
and blockade runners, but in this case
the Russian general was unwilling TO
entrust his dispatches to methods or
messengers rendering them liable to be
intercepted. For their conveyance he
employed the destroyer Rastoropny,
which took desperate chances OF reach
ing its destination.
1t left Port Arthur at midnight dur
ing binding snowstorm, and thread
ing its way, more by good luck than
good management, through the mines
with which the entrance to the harbor
is strewn, it arrived at Chefoo. China,
some time the following forenoon. Its
captain at once put his message on the
wire and upon learning that two Japa-
nese destroyers. had been seen in the
offing gave orders for the immediate
destruction OF mis- vessel in order to
prevent its falling into the hands Ut the
enemy. This was in pursuance OF his
instructions and in execution of plans
which had been previously made, and
the question naturally arises, what
could have been the tenor of message
80 important and SO imperatively press
ing that it was thought worth while to
saceifice good boat for the sake of for
varding it without delay and with all
possible security to the Russian capital.
According to the story given out at
st. Petersburg General Stoessel's dis
patch contained nothing but good news.
1t is said to have informed the Car
that the situation at Port Arthur is
highly satisfactory, that there is on
hand an abundance of provisions and of
all necessary stores, and that the com
mander will be able to hold out until
the arrival of the Baltic squadron, even
though that arrival should be delayed
until some time in March. If that was
all Stoessel had TO communicate the ex-
traordinary means which he adopted 70
make the communication cannot easily
be understood. but of course there wac
something more which is being held
back, and even some of the st. Peters
burg reports delare that General Stoes'
sci conditioned his ability to hold out
upon his being supplied with additional
stores and ammunition.
1t is believed at Toxic that the object
of his message was to ask for instruc-
tions whether he should resist to the
last extremity, or whether. when the
situation in his judgment became abso-
lutely hopeless, he should capitulate on
the best terms obtainable, and that is a
conjecture which has at least reason
ableness to support it. 1t is certain that
the conditions in Port Arthur must by
this time be deplorable, and as the be-
siegers are redoubling their exertiors
and are making a progress which
though slow is sure, it is not conceivable
that the inevitable end can be much
longer postponed.
In the meantime the beginning OF a
revolution is in progress in Russia. AT
meeting Of delegates from all over the
Empire, in st. Petersburg, Monday, the
following declaration was adopted:
I'm order to secure the proper de-
velopment Of the life of the State and
the people, it is imperatively necessary
that there be regular participation of
national representatives, sitting as an
especially elected body, to makes laws,
regulate the revenue and expenditure
and control the legality of the actions
Of the administration.
A resolution was also adopted re-
questing the Government to pardon all
political prisoners and exiles.