Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-05-20
ATTACK PORT ARTHUR
Reported Japanese Are Besleeing the
Place.
KuRoPATKlN's POSITION uNsAFE
London Papers Discuss His Precarious
Position-Russians Prevented From
Firing Upon Each Other by an Amer
lean Officer.

London. May 1.-THE Shanghai cor
respondent of the Morning Post, Ca
bling under date of May l6, says that
according to native report from Font
Arthur the Japanese are vigorously
besieging the fortress night and day
by land and sea; that sixty Japanese
warships and transports have been
sighted in Blackney bay and that
heavy firing has been heard in kin
chau bay.
New Chwang. May 1.-THE Rus
SLAMS were surprised by the appear
ance of the enemy at Kai Chau. tw en-
~ miles south OF Yinkow. Monday
morning They were expecting The
Nalu army.
Nine transports. assisted by the
navy. landed 100 troops and the re-
mainder will land tonight and toner
row The number of the Japanese
force is not known. The warsnlps
shelled the shore from early morning
until clock.
The Japanese are expected here on
Wednesday and the Russians are rap.
idly evacuaiing the town.
London. May lin the absence OF
actual news from the seat Of war in
the far east the London newspapers
this morning. in commenting on what
is believed to be the precarious posi-
ton OF General Kuropatkin. who is
menaced by the possibility Of the Chi
nese rebels cutting his communica.
tons. as well as by the difficulty OF d.
vining the Japanese plan Of campaign.
The Standard. which is rather in
cined 70 be pro-Russian in It's views,
admits that KuropatkIn has at his dis
posal south OF Mukden almost 100000
troops Of inferior quality. only $1,000
Of whom are available for active opel.
atoms. while General Kuroh certainly
has 140. 600 first class troops, the equal
u hose in European armies.
Under such conditions" the Stand.
ard says. the issue OF battle IS very
seldom doubtful"
The Shanghai correspondent OF the
Morning Post SAYS that the Chinese
government is addressing an Identical
note TO all its ministers abroad. re-
newing China's declaration Of neutral
fly and that ali imperial edict will be
issued enjoining the Chinese people to
strictly observe neutrality"
Mukden, May 17.-Lieut. Col Schuy
Ter, L. S A., military observer with
the Russian army, has arrived and ar
ter an interview with Niceroy AleXieff
left for Lao Yang II appears that
Capt William B. Judson Of the United
States engineer corps who is an oh
server with the Russian army. helped
20 avert a clash between parties Of
Russians during the Russian re-occu-
patton Of the railroad after the Japan
csc had cut il at Holandien. When
The Japanese had temporarily retired
from the railroad n train with two
companies OF seppers was sent south
from Lao Yang. Captain Judson was
aboard When the train reached a
break in the line a body OF troops was
seen and they were supposed 10 be
japanese. Sharpshooters were thrown
out and preparations were made "a
swoop down on the enemy Captain
Judson, through his glasses, recog
nized the Russian uniforms and the
troops proved 10 be n party sent NJ
the line from the south
Seoul. May lit is reported that
a japanese force has cornered 200 Rus
SLAMS north OF Anju and is endeavoring
to starye them out. The only pro
visions in the possession Of the Rus
SLAMS are those secured by forage. ont
1t is expected that the food OF tho be
sleged men will soon be exhausted.