Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-13
JAlAY'S MAIN OBJECT
Capture of Port Arthur Said
 to Be Imminent.
RUSSIAN TRANSPORT BLOWN UP

China ts Declare Neutrality and Thus Keep Ont Russian and Japanese
 Eorces-Russfan Warships Sink
 Japanese Merchant Steamer.
 LONDON, Feb. 13.-Latest reports from the scene of hostilities in tke far sast indicate that the center of activity at present is Port Arthur and it's vicin- lty. The Japanese warships are report cd to be bombarding the city, while troops of the mikado are trying to land from transports at Dalny and attack Port Arthur in the rear. This base of supplies for the Russian warships and land forces is evidently the chief ob- feet of the Japanese.
 The British government has advices that Port Arthur is likely to be in pos session of Japan within week. and in well informed Japanese circles in Lon don the opinion Is expressed that the war will be over in July.
 A Chafu dispatch says the British steamer Flu Ping when leaving Port Ar thur was fired upon by Russians, and three Chinese members of the crew were wounded. The Russians after ward apologized for firing on the. yes gel. The Flu Ping upon it's arrival at Weihatwei filed 8 protest with the British commissioner. The American consul has reported to United States Minister Congsr that the Russian au- thorities have refused to allow the American steamer Pleiadss to leave Port Arthur, The PIeiades sailed from Seattle on Feb. 3 with cargo of -four.
 A late dispatch from St Petersburg says viceroy Alexeief reports that the Russian torpedo transport Yenissi has been blown up as the result of aeciden- The Yenise sank, and Captain Stspa- hoff, three officers and ninety y-ene men were lost
 The Yenisei was built at the Baltic works in 1899. She was of 2,J0o tons displacement and could make sixteen knots. Her armament consisted of Ave kwelve.pounder and six three-poundsr quick firing guns.
 A cablegram from Tokyo says: "
 "Two small Japanese merchant ships, the Seensho Maru and the Nakon Oura haru, while on their way to otara. a port on the western coast of Yazo is- land, from Sakata, port on the north Ern coast of the main island of Japan, were fired on Feb Il by four Russian men-of-war off the coast of AomoRi prefecture, and the latter was sunk, while the former had q narrow escape. The Russian men-of-war are still seen off the western coast of Yezo island. They are supposed to be the first class cruisers which have been shut up at viadivostok and tried some time ago to Join the main squadron at Port Arthur.
 Minister Conger has cabled the state department in Washington that the Chinese government would immediate ty issue proclamation of neutrality. This will prevent the threatened inva- sion of Manchuria by the Boxers and also the use of Chinese soil by Russian or Japanese troops.
 A fleet of Japanese warships is watching near Chsfu for the Russian squadron on it's way from Europe to Port Arthur. They will attack it and hope to make its destruction complete. Other Japanese men-of-war are report ed on the way to give battle to the Russian fleet thought bottled up by the Ice at Vladivostok, but which is re- ported to have bombarded Hakodato, the capital of the island of Yezo, at the northern end of Japan, on Tuesday. The fleet may now be making it's way Along the coast destroying other places.
 It fs reported that the Japanese troops are advancing rapidly toward the Yalu river, where they expect to engage the Russians. They expect to be able to drive them back and occupy Mukden. .-
 St. Petersburg advices say that Rus sia is evidently not prepared at this time to give an answer to the United States to Secretary Hays note on the subject of the neutrality of China. As previously stated, hostilities having begun, the military authorities must be consulted, and the czar doubtless will refer the matter to vtceroy AlexeieR If he has not already done so Russia, it can be said, is certainly as anxious as the United States that the war cause no risings or disorders in China. Indeed, the attitude of China Is already causing some misg1vings here, as she has net yet declared her neutrality. >.
 It is thought here that the action of the Japanese in flooding Peking with posters relating their victories is part of we'll laid campaign project ed from the beginning to break down Russia's prestige in China for the pur- pose of ultimately effecting the union of the two races, which would make the yellow peril" reality.
 An imperial ukase has just been is- sued. It commands that all the troops in the, military establishments in the Siberian military districts be placed in readiness for war, that all the divi- sions in the far eastern vtceroyalty be brought to war strength and that the army and navy reserves in the Si- berian and Kazan districts be called out foE active service.
 ReRuwses From Sunken warshlps.
 ROME, Feb. IS. - The government