The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-12
Russians Blow Up the Docks and
Piers.
Fear Japanese Might Use Them
for Landing.
City That Has Cost Millions to
Build Destroyed.
HOLDING NEW CHWANG
Gen. .Piiug Says 1t Has Not Been
Evacuated.
Russian Explanation of ExpIO-
sions at Port Arthur.
Were Trying to Blast an Open
ing in the Channel.

St. Petersburg, May u, 4:16 p. m.
-Viceroy Alezieff has telegraphed to
the car announcing that the Russians
have blown up the docks and piers at
Port Dalny, Lao Tung peninsula, pre-
sumably to render more. difficult a
Japanese landing at that point.
Port Dalny, on Talien Wan bay, on
the east coast of the Lao Tung penin-
sula was intended by Russia to be the
chief commercial emporium of its east
ern dominions. An edict providing for
its construction was issued by the Rus
sian. emperor July 30, 1899, and Port
Dalny. fully equipped with all modern
Improvements, docks, warehouses and
facilities was opened to commerce in
December, 1901.
TaHenwan bay is one of the finest
deep water harbOrs on the Pacific. 1t
is free from ice in winter time and
ships drawing 80 feet of water can en-
ter at low tide without difficulty and
without the aid of pilots can sail or
steam alongside the immense docks and
piers, where their cargoes can be load
ed into railroad cars and run direct for
six thousand miles into the city of ST.
Petersburg. Five large piers had been
constructed, each supplied with numer-
houses and elevators, gas, electric lights
and water and a large breakwater were
being constructed so that ships could
lie at the piers and load and unload
regardless of weather. Docks for for
eign vessels, steam and sail, extended
between the piers and along the shore
for two miles, There were. two first
class dry docks, one intended for ordi-
nary ocean steamers and the other de-
signed to accommodate the largest Ves-
sells of war or commerce.
over $4,000, 900 had been expended on
the harbor system, before the END of
1902. and it was estimated that the cost
of completing the works would be near
ly $50, 100000 but this does not in any
way represent the total cost of the
erection of this great commercial port
which with Port Arthur, distant about
20 miles, was leased by the Chinese
government to Russia in 1898.
Nearly 25,O00 men We're employed
daily on the work of constructing the
port and town. The total population
had been estimated at about 6OOOO
mostly Chinese, japanese, Koreans and
Russians.
St. Petersburg, May 12.-4:3O p. m.-
Later telegrams received here indicate
that the whole of Port Dalny has been
destroyed by the Russians.
St Petersburg, May 12.-Major
General Plug. telegraphing from
Mukden under today's date, described
been evacuated and that the troops
guarding the railroad are to be with
drawn and to be replaced by Chinese,
as being devoid of foundation.
RumOred Fighting at Port Arthur.
st. Petersburg May 12.-6:45 % M
Rumors are widely current mere that
hghttng is in progress at Port Arthur
but there is no official news confirming
the reports. The Russians still hold
New Chwang.
nrovs,ers.. Fs-..-.,.. F,.-..-----.--r
Toxic, May rs p. Unofficial in
Quiry shows that Viceroy AIexieffs re-
port that railroad communication with
Port Arthur has been restored since
Monday is untrue.
Explosions Explained.
New York May 12.-An explana-
tion of the explosions heard at Port
Arthur which led to reports that the
Russians were destroying their war
ships In that harbOr is furnished in a
World dispatch from st. Petersburg.
II is to the effect that the garrison at
Port Arthur is endeavoring to clear
the harbor entrance of the stone
laden ships sent in by the Japanese.
IN order to remove the obstructiOns
divers are said to have been sent down
who placed charges of dynamite in
posiuon and succeeded in blowing
away enough of the cement and rock
carsoes 10 admit the passage of tor
pedo boats through the channel
The Attack on Anju.
Toxic, May "details of the at
tack by Russian Cossacks at Aniu.
Korea. were received here todav
The Russian cavalry numbered 200
men, and their attack was spirited.
The japanese garrison resisted stout
~, and succeeded in driving off the
enemy Later, Japanese reinforce
ments arrived from Ping Yang.
Indications point to the presence of
a Russian force at Yong Bvong. he
tween Anju and Unsan, but it prob
ably is small.
1t is evident that these Russian cav
alrymen were sent south for the rur-
pose of harassing the Japanese tanks
and lines of communication
Infantry reinforcements reached
the beleaguered Japanese troops at
Anju at $50 o'clock on the evening
of May 10. The garrison had fought
hercely for II hours, the men reseI-v-
ing their fire until the enemy were at
close range upon each attempt to
storm the gate. The Cossacks then
retired over the eastern hills toward
Yong PiOng, the provincial capital
leaving fifty killed and wounded men
on the field and one nOn-commission-
ed officer captured. The japanese lost
four killed and six wounded besides
one telegraph operator. The Japanese
troops are now in pursuit of the
enemy and an engagement is momen-
tarily expected.
It is supposed that the Cossacks are
part of the body which crossed the