Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-03-24
RUSSIAN SHIP SUNK
Tokyo Claims a Victory In
Fight OF Port Arthur.
JAPANESE CLOSING AROUND THE CITY

NeNcitWHug americans want WAR
ship For observation-disclosures Pos
sition Enormously strong and
Secures Seoul From Attack.
LONDON, March 24.-By the sinking
Of one battleshlp ana the bottling up
of the rest of Admiral Makaroff's war
ships the entire Russian fleet at Port
Arthur has been put out of action, ac-
cording to dispatches FROM Tokyo.
These dispatches and others report
that fourteen Russians were killed or
wounded, that seven Japanese were
killed and that the Russians are ready
to e%vacuate Port Arthur and will burn
the town on the first sign of danger
from the Japanese.
A dispatch from Koje, on the south
ern coast of Korea, confirms the news
Of Il fierce battle outside Port Arthur
harbor and says Il Russian battIeship
was sunk in the engagement.
An informal meeting of the foreign
consuls stationed at Newchwang has
been called for the purpose of discuss
ing means for securing the protection
of the property of the neutrals in view
Of the fact that Newchwang is now
surrounded by large Russian forces,
having breastworks and batteries es-
tablished at the railway station on the
east side of the river Lao and also at
the fort on the west side. This situa-
ton exposes the treaty port to the dan
ger of cannon fire should the Japanese
come up the river.
On account of the fear that the Unit
ed States gunboat Helena will be with
drawn American residents here have
telegraphed to United States Minister
Conger at Picking requesting the pres
nee of an American man-of-war in
constant communication during the
continuance of the war for the purpose
of especially protecting property dur
ing the disorder that it is expected will
attend the interregnum between Rus
sian and Japanese occupations.
The Japanese hold two enormously
strong positions at Pingyang and on
the Miokaksan range between Hwang-
ju and Seoul. The latter is probably
i~Tpregnable and secures Seoul from
land attacks from the northwest.
Russian officials admit their fear that
Japan = about to land On the peninsula
10 cut off Port Arthur and to begin a
general bcmbardment and siege.
III Manchuria the Russian first line
Of defense is said to extend from Feng-
~huangcheng TO the north thirty miles.
The second line has formed from Muk-
Cen to Haicheng. Troops are being
massed at these points.
The Russians intended to make Anju
their base. but owing to the delay In
the arrival of +c-enfercements-they
were afraid they would be cut off and
SO retired. Meanwhile the Japanese
advanced to Pingyang by forced
MARCHES. the troops being almost with
| out equipment.
Adviccs from st. Petersburg say the
reports printed in Europe and the
United States to the effect that q state
of siege such as has been proclaimed
in Siberia and in Saratof province, in
southeastern Russia, through which
the Siberian railroad runs. will be ex-
tended TO the whole of European Rus
STA is officially declared to be absolute
ly false. No such measure has even
been contemplated, it being considered
quite unnecessary.
A Tokyo dispatch says the special
session of the diet entered upon the
business for which it was called. NJ.
Katsura, the premier, and NJ. Komura,
the minister for foreign affairs, adj
dressed the house. The premier said
the diet had been summoned at an UNI
paralleled moment in the annals of the
country. He counted it a great honor
to share with the members the duty
of unfolding the noble policy of the
emperor for the maintenance of Ja-
pans position. Russia not only had
failed to meet the Japanese proposals,
but deiantly resorted to actions cal
culated to injure the national rights OF
Japan, and Japan was compelled in
self defense to terminate the negotia-
lions and take independent action. He
was confident the world would recog-
nize the justice and patience uniformly
exercised by Japan i'll carrying for
ward the negotiations with Russia.
The minister said he was anxiously de-
sirous of peace, being mindful of the
wocful consequences which war brings
to mankind.
Jap Cruiser Watches the MaDdjur.
SHANGHAI, March "a. The Rus
slams continue to evade the carrying
out of the agreement to dismantle the