The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-16
BeIeagured Russian Fleet
Makes Its Escape.
OFF FOR VLADIVOSTOCK
One of MakarOff's Cruisers, the
Diana, Injured during
the Battle.

LONDON, March lG.- "A Port Arthur
report says that a short engagement
took place between the Russian and
Japanese fleets on Sunday last, the
Russian protected cruiser Diana re.
ceiving some injuries About twenty
or thirty shells were exchanged.
At Tokyo it Is strongly believed that
the Russian feet abandoned Port ar.
thur after the fourth attack was made
upon 1t by the japanese fleet and is en-.
deavoring to reach Vladivostok, as re.
cent scouting in the vicinity of Port
Arthur has failed to reveal the pres.
ence Of any Russian warships.
There is an unconfrmed report here
that Japanese marines now occupy
Dalny and that the japanese advance
guard has routed Russian scouts at the
headwaters Of the Yalu river.
From the highest official quarter in
St Petersburg comes the announce
ment that there is absolutely no foun-
dation for the rumors persistently sent
out from Tokyo that the Russians are
abandoning Port Arthur.
General Kuropatkin had his plan of
campaign practically perfect before he
left here for the far east. He devoted
four days TO the elaboration of his
plans in conjunction with his staf
and with the aid Of all the information
in possession Of the ministry Of war.
On account Of the difficulty of hous-
ing the vast number of troops poured
into Mukden l4OOO have been sent for
ward within the last few days toward
the Halu river as re-enforcements for
the 1000 troops already at Kasan and
ANU, and the stream of soldiers from
European Russia is now being held at
Harbin. The housing problem win
disappear with the advent Of warmer
weather. but in the meantime the gov
ernment is hurrying forward large
numbers Of portable collapsible wood.
en- quarters, 1880 Of these having al
ready been dispatched from st. Pc
tersburg and 1900 from Moscow.
The statement by General Zllinski
that the Russians found poisoned
swords left by the fleeing Japanese
has aroused much comment Similar
swords We're used by the Chinese dur
ing the Boxer rebellion, especially in
Manchuria, and the slightest wound
inflicted by them proved fatal. The
use OF such weapons is prohibited by
the Geneva and The Hague conven-
tions.
A dispatch from Chemulpo, Korea,
says the United States cruiser Cincin-
natl has returned from Chinnampo
with a number Of American refugees
from the American company's mine at
Unsan and missions in that vicinity.
The party consists OF three men and
twenty-five women and children. All
are well. They praise the kindness Of
the officers of the Cincinnati. who gave
up their cabins to them. The refugees
Travelled from Unsan to Chlnnampo
in carts bearing American flags and
were escorted as far as Pingyang by a
band from the mines. They were un-
molested. Near Anju they met two
small groups of Cossacks. During the
party's stay at Pingyang the Japa-
nese officials requested them to wear
badges bearing the American colors in
order that they might be allowed to
leave and enter the town freely. The
party was stopped flve times by Japa.
nese soldiers, Of whom the party saw
great numbers along the road to the
coast The japanese treated them
very courteOuSly.
An American miner returning from
the mines at Unsan was arrested
north Of PIngyang by the Japanese on
suspicion Of being a Russian spy. He
was speedily released when his identi-
ty was established.
A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph
says that the Japanese have again at
tackled Port Arthur as challenge for
Vice Admiral Makaron to come out
and fight.
During the heavy bombardment the
Japanese were in position of safety
from the guns Of the fortress.
The Russian casualties amounted to
300 killed or wounded.