The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-04

London March 3.-Hardly a word
Of news from the seat of war. with the
exception of the Russian official dis
PATCHES. is published here this morn
ing and il now seems clear that the
story in the Morning Telegraph, two
DAYS ago of bombardment OF Port
Arthur by the Japanese on FEBRUARY
s9th. is nothing more than a re-echo
of previous attacks.
From Yin Kow comes an unconhrm-
ed report that five hundred bandits.
armed with modern rifles. have at
tackled a Russian post to the west OF
Hai-ChenP. Hti-Cheng is thirty two
miles east by north of New Chwang.
There was severe fighting and both
side lost heavily. This report is dis
credited at Yin Kow. but if it is true,
1t indicates that a serious danger is
confronting Russia in these we'll armed
brigand bands.
According to the Daily Mails ac-
count of this affair, six japanese found
among the bandits were killed. This
would tend to show that the japanese
are organizing the bands
Reports received here from Toxic de-
clare that Japan has granted permis-
sion for fifty three foreign newspaper
correspondents to accompany the jap
nese forces. Seventeen of these cor
RESPONDENTS are Americans. The date
of the departeure has not been fixed.
A mile and d quarter of the Siberian
railroad. according to the Toxic re-
~, hn Nyrl-
guta district, between Vladivostok and
Harbin.
The Tien Tsin correspondent of the
Standard, cables that the Russians are
fortifying strongly points south of
Mukden. Thousands of coolies who
are working day and night on the ram
larts and entertainments OF Hal
Cheng are compelled TO labor without
pay,
Heart rending stories are appear ng
in the English newspapers OF the SUI
ferings of refugees from Port Arthur
on the train journey to European
Russia 1t is bitterly cold and there
is scarcity of food and water. Several
children have been suffocated under
the rugs and shawls with which they
were covered in attempts TO keep them
warm Owing to exposure and exhaus-
tion. an epidemic of influenza has
Japanese Troops at Ping Yang.
Paris March Authorization reach
ing here from official sources how the
japanese concentration of troops is
going on extensively in the nerghoor-
hood of Ping Yang, Korea. Large
forces are debarking from transports
at nearby ports from which it is as
sumed that an extensive land ongage-
ment is imminent in Northern Korea.
Getting Ready for an Emergency.
ST. Petersbu March 2-According
to a special dispatch from Port Ar
thur, twenty Chinese have been ar
rested there for signalling to the jap
anese ships from the shore with flash
lights and lanterns. A warning has
been issued that similar offenders will
hereafter be treated as spies and shot.
Although it is denied that the ores
ent plans of the admiralty conter1-
plate the despatch of either the Black
Or Baltic fleet to the Far East, 1t is
beyond question that both are being
prepared with the greatest haste w
meet any emergency that may arise.
General Altvater, the artillery special
fst. and Admiral Verkohosky have been
inspecting the ships and crews OF the
Black sea fleet Work on the warshlps
rs being pushed night and day. The
battelship Borodine, the battleship
Drel, and the transport kamtchatka
are nearing completion at the admir-
atty dock yards here In the dead on
might, the ice bounds Neva is like an
Arctic landscape lighted for half a
mile by the flare of blazing stacks, the
silence broken by the din of drum
ming hammers.
About SOC volunteer workmen have
left here to work at the dock wards
Of Port Arthur and Vladivostok
Final Assault ON Port Arthur Delayed.
Washington, March 2.-The landin
IN force OF the japanese on the Lao
Tung peninsula and the land invest
ment of Port Arthur will not begin for
a. fortnight, according to advices re-
ceiyed here from whal are believed TO
be reliable sources. 1t was expected
that the attack upon the fortress woutd
take place yesterday or today, puG
these later advices. without explaining
the reason for the delay, show tnat
there has been change in the or1g1nai
- &r~rr