The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-26
WILL PREY ON JAP's COMMERCE

I
WILL PREY ON JAP's COMMERCE
Russia Fitting Out Volunteer Fleet For
That Purpose.
81 Petersburg. April 22.-The adj
miralty. il is announced. Intends to
III out two ships purchased from Ger
many which formerly were IN the
transatlantic service. together with
a number OF ships OF the volunteer
fleet. with rapid-iire guns, and to send
them 10 the Pacific to prey upon Japa-
nese commerce. The admiralty be.
lieves that by this means 1t can pre-
vent the resumption OF operations by
the Japanese commercial fleet and
strike a hard blow against Japan $
hope OF maintaining her resources for
the prosecution of the war
II is authoritatiycly stated that Rus
STA has been offered, through a we'll
known New York firm, two 7OOnton
and two 3Oc0-ton cruisers belonging 10
a South American republic, but has
declined the oncr.
All information In possession OF the
general stan indicates that the Japa
ncse are preparing To make a landing
near Takushan. The lights of Japa-
nege ships have been observed there
for several nights, and it is believed
that the debarkation of the troops has
been delayed only by the bad weather
which had prevented the assembling
OF the junks and other small craft on
which the troops must be carried
across the stretch Of shallow water
which extends for several miles from
the shore. II IS believed that the
Iapanese will experience great diff
Guilty In debarl,ing II their landing is
resisted.
4 prominent naval atiache who Is "a
miiilr with the coast. says a battalion
with rapid-nre and machine guns could
.p OF an army corps. as the war
ships would have to lie TOO far out ef-
fectively 10 protect a landing.
MESSAGES From Kuropatkin.
The emperor has received the fol
lowing telegraph from General Kuro
patkin. under yesterdays date:
"All was quiet on the Yalu on the
10Th and Goth. and there has been no
change
ION the night Of the 10Th opposite
Cape Towerhill. west OF Kai-Chlu.
steamer was observed sending on
boats. evidently for the purpose Of TAX
ing soundings. The boats soon re-
turned"
Two Japanese Officers Shot.
In another telegram to the emperor
General Kuropatkin says:
81 respectfully report to yonr ma
iesty that two japanese officers. named
Stcevo Yukoka and Giska Ok, were
arrested near the station Of Tur-Chi
Kha. In their possession were found
three cases OF Bickford fuse French
wrench. dynamite cartridges, tools for
railway wreckng. cylinders contain
ing one and a half pounds OF pyroxilin.
good maps Of Mongolia. Manchuria and
Northern Korea and a number OF
notes.
"A court martial held at Hardin
April 20, found them guilty while be
longing to the Japanese army Of oper-
ating against Russia. and in order to
gain success for their army. OF de-
stroylng or damaging telegraph and
railway communications by means OF
pyroxilin and other accessories provid-
cd for that purpose, and Of making
their way secretly into Manchuria.
where they were arrested by Russian
patrols 30 versts southwest OF the sta
ton OF Tur.ChiKha. on the Eastern
Chinese railway The officers wore
Monaghan dress TO disguise their ma
tionaity.
THE officers were condemned to be
deprived of their civil rights and to be
executed by hanging.
81 confirmed the sentence, but In
view of the officers rank, consented
that they be shot instead of hanged.
with the same loss of civil rights.
81 refused their prayer to spare their
lives. and they were executed at D
o'clock on the evening of April 81"
MANcHURIA FULL OF SPIES