The midland journal., 1904-03-18
iITS DOOM IS SEALED
Report That Russians Have Virtually
Vacated Port Arthur.
JAPS MINE THE HARBOR ENTRANCE.
Admiral Togo's Official Report Of the japanese
Operations the Past Few Days at Port
Arthur Contradicts Report Of The Russian
Admiral The Fight Between the Torpedo
Boats at Close Range.

London, (By Cable)-Reliable in
formation concerning land movements
of either the Japanese or Russian
forces in the Far Eastern war is
difficult to obtain No important en-
gagement has been fought. and the
slight skirmishes between scouts and
outposts are of no significance. No
credence is placed in the sensational
reports from Korea of so-called i'm
portant engagements on land.
Chief interest still centers in the
situation at Port Arthur. A dis
patch from Toxic states that it is
asserted there that the Russians have
virtually abandoned Port Arthur.
There is no doubt that the Russian
position there is critical, notwithstand-
ing the Russian official reported to the
contrary. Admiral Togo the Ja-
panese commander. in his report OF
the recent battle between the torpedo
boat hotillas, makes the significant
statement that his torpedo boats sue
cessfully placed mines in the en-
trance to the harbor preceding the
engagement. Colonel Vershirin, gov
ernor of Port Arthur, was slightly
wounded by Japanese shell.
Information from an official who
was an eyewitness of the latest bonn
bardment Thursday is to the effect
that the Russians had rs killed on the
battleship Sevastopol. 20 on the Ret
vizan and 20 in the town. The Rus
slams claim to have sunk Japanese
cruiser.
In dispatch from Toxic, dated
March I3. correspondent says that
in the latest attack on Port Arthur two
Russian torpedo-boat destroyers were
sunk and great damage was done to
the docks, forts and arsenals, includ-
ing the explosion of powder maga-
zine. Dalny is reported to have been
almost entirely destroyed. Several
guns there were dismounted, and the
crews of four torpedo-boats in the
inside harbor are said to have de-
serted.
The Daily Telegraph publishes a
dispatch from correspondent at Yin
Kow, who reports that the Russian
battleship Retvizan, at Port Arthur,
was hit FIVE times by Japanese projec-
tiles, and that there were 20 casualties
on board.
This correspondent declares further
that the presence of Japanese at Feng
Huan Cheng (the Manchurian town.
about as miles northwest of Wiju has
been confirmed.
The Yin kow correspondent of the
Daily Mail reports that serious dis
putes occur daily between the Russian
naval and military officers at Port
Arthur, the latter reproaching the for
mer with incompetency and cowardice.
The correspondent describes the float
ing of the battleship Retvizan and
says the dock at Port Arthur is too
small to repair her. General Stoessel,
in command at Port Arthur, has been
ordered to the Yalu. the correspondent
concludes, and he will be replaced by
General Smirnof.
In dispatch from Chefoo, dated
March IL, a correspondent of the Dali
ly Mail describes an inspection of Port
Arthur made on the nth inst. from
a boat. The new city seemed to be
on FIRE: three columns of smoke were
ascending from it. The Bread Hill
Fort appeared to have suffered terri
bly,; the defenses we're shattered and
the earthworks torn up.
No guns were visible. The line of
forts on the Tigers Tail also appeared
to have suffered damage. At sunrise
no sign OF life could be seen any
where, and Port Arthur looked like a
city of death
The torpedo-boat destroyers inside
did not appear to have steam up.
A dispatch received direct from
Port Arthur says everything is quiet
there. Reports of the fall of Port
Arthur circulated in Tientsin and
Shanhai have greatly excited the Chin
eSe.
Special dispatches from Port Arthur
say there are rumors among the Chin
ese population that the projected ia
panese descent on the Lao Tung PEN
insula is imminent
Boats Battle at Sea.
London. (By Cable).-The advices
from Port Arthur through Russian
sources of the engagement outside the
harbor between Russian torpedo
boats and Japanese warships. sup
nosedly torpedo boats or destroyers,
in which Russian torpedo-boat de-