Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-16

ST. PETERSBURG, February 16.-The
report circulated here today that the Rus
sian cruiser Boyarin was blown up last
Saturday and that all her officers and crew,
197 in number, were lost, is confirmed from
private source.
The Boyarin was 34S feet long. Al feet
beam and 16 feet draught. She was of 1920
tons displacement, and her trial speed was
20 knots. Her armament consisted of six
47-inch guns, eight 1.S-inch guns, two IA
inch guns and three machine guns. She
was also fitted with six torpedo tubes. The
Boyarin was last reported as having taken
part in the engagement February at Port
Arthur.
Reiterates Loss of Jap Torpedo Boats.
A semi-official telegram dated from the
headquarters of the viceroy at Port Arthur
says the German cruiser Hansa, which had
been sent to remove German subjects from
Port Arthur and which had on board also
number of Russian women and children,
had been fired upon by Japanese warships.
The telegram reiterates the statement
that three Japanese torpedo boats have
been sunk in night attack on Port Arthur.
All was quiet February 13 within the
sphere of the war operations.
To Limit War Area.
Information has been obtained at the for
ton to limit the area of war operations is
considered practicable and that a
sponse will soon be forthcoming Viceroy
Alexieff is being consulted regarding the
matter. and the authorities are doubtless
awaiting an indication to how the propo-
sition will be received by Japan.
The sympathetic reception given by the
powers to Mr.. Hays note and the repre-
sentations the powers have made here have
undoubtedly had good effect upon official
opinion, and the Russian government shows
a more friendly spirit toward the direct
representations made by the United States.
The American government is now pressing
for answer to the request that the
United States army officers be allowed to
accompany the Russian field operations, but
it Is explained that Viceroy AleXeff, to
whom the request was referred, has not yet
replied.
Affects Russian Carnival Festivities.
Carnival week, usually the gayest of the
year in Russia, opened yesterday, but un-
der the shadow of the war, the merrymak-
ing only ghost of that of former
years. In st. Petersburg all the festivities,
including balls. public and private social
functions and fashionable weddings. plan
ned months in advance, have been aban-
doned. Business, however is usual sus-
pended, and thousands of little Finnish
sleghs, with tinkllng bells, which for this
one week are allowed to compete with the
regular drosky drivers. whisk people
through the snow-covered streets at cut
prices, although their occupants evidently
are not possessed by the true carnival
spirit.
Ball to Augment Red Cross Funds.
The rush of crowds to buy extra editions
of the newspapers, the intense activity at
the and marine MINISTRIES and the
about no admiralty apyiOualv
quiring regarding the fate of relatives are
grim reminders of where the thoughts of
the people are. Instead of the customary
festivities the theaters gave double perform
ances for the benefit of the Red Cross, and
last night the artists ball, one of the big
gest events of the social season, which 1t
was intended to abandon, was held in
hall decorated to represent the feast day of
Benares. The artists were attired in the
garb of Hindoos, with the object Of swell
ing the Red Cross Society's funds.
Destruction of the Boyarin.
ST. PETERSBURG, February 16.-The
Russian second class cruiser Boyarin was
blown up by a mine February 13 in the
same manner as was the Russian torpedo
transport Yenise She had on board 1877
officers and men, all of whom, it is under
stood We're lost. No details of the disaster
have been given out.
First Trophy of the War.
TOKYO, February 16.-'The flag of the
Russian cruiser Variag, recently sunk off
the harbor of Chemulpo, which was pre-
sented to the emperor as the first trophy of
the war, reached Sasebo yesterday on the
cruiser Chicyio, together with the anchor,
a gun and other souvenirs of the DESTROYED
warship. The captain of the cruiser Chi
cyio has been summoned to Tokyo to per-
sonally recount to the emperor the action
and experiences of himself and crew. He
will bring the captured flag with him and
personally present it to the emperor.
Russian Boats Frozen in Port.
The German steamer Batavia has just
reached Moj with 1850 Japanese refugees
on board, including the commercial agent
of Japan at Vladivostok. The latter re-
ports that ten Russian torpedo boats are
frozen up at that port unable to move. The
commander of the garrison and the local
authorities at Vladivostok called on the
departing agent and complained that the
Japanese had opened hostilities without
having declared war.
When news of the opening of the war
reached Vladfvostok the Squadron hastily
repainted and cleared for action, leaving
port the afternoon of February o. He
believed that 1t returned to VladlVostok
after sinking the Lakonoura Maru.
oAh6 AA0OPo Ao4 4A04A 1ttuChs
There are no torpedoes nor mines sunk
at Vladivostok. Massing of troops on the
north bank of the Yalu continues, the Rus
slams evidently believing that the Japanese
intend to make their main attack there
with the object in view of forcing their
way through the Russian lines and de-
stroying the railway, thereby cutting off
all communication with Port Arthur and
Vladivostok.
The Japanese are again agitating the
construction of the Seoul-Wiju railway and
great quantities of material used on the
Fusan-Seoul railway are available In
the event of a prolonged war a railway
between these points would be of imme-
diate advantage.
Purchased Cruisers Arrive.
YOKOHAMA, FEBRUARY 16.-The cruiser
Niasin arrived safely at Yokosaka at
o'clock this morning, and the cruiser Kasa-
ga at II o'clock. These two vessels recently
purchased from the Argentine Republic. will
Continued on Tenth Paga)