The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-25
Steamers Run in Under Cover of Batdeships and Sink
 in Desired Position
WORK ON COMPLICATIONS
 IS FEVER|SHLY PUSHED
Russians Fear That laps Are About to Violate Chinese Neutrality By Landing Troops on Liao
 Tunu Gulf.

London, March 25.--The Daily Tele- graph publishes a dispatch from Tokio under yesterdays date which says:
 On the night of March 22 the Japanese fleet renewed the attempt to bottle Port Arthur.
 Sixteen warships escorted seven mer- chant steamers to the mouth of the har- bor and under cover of the bombardmenc the steamers ran in and were sunk in desirable positions. Three thousand Jap anese officers and bluejackets volunteer ed for this duty.
 An official report is expected this even Ing.
 St. Petersburg, March 24-According to information received here, strong forti- fications have been erected for the de- fense of Harbin and Liao Yang. The construction of batteries at New Chwang continues to be fevershly pushed. and it is believed that that place will shortly be in condition to resist even a deter mined assault by the Japanese.
 The war office is in receipt of persist ent reports that the Japanese are pre- pairing to land on neutral Chinese terri tory on the west coast of the Gulf of Liao Tung, either at Tien Kai Cheng, in Kin-Chau bay. or at Shan Hai Kwan.
 Although slow to believe that Japan de- liberately contemplates a violation of her pledge to respect Chinese neutral terri tory, the reports received at the ministry of war are so specific that they compel consideration. The presence of disguised Japanese soldiers acting as spies along the Shsn Hai Kwan road has been es-, tabiished, and Russian agents report that there is every indication of an intended landing on the west coast of the gulf of Liao Lung. The information obtained by these agents seems to coincide with other information indicating complete change In the Japanese plan of campaign, or of it's entrance Into a second stage, practically involving the abandonment of further heavy landings of troops in Korea.
 10000 Japanese Troops.
 According to advices received by the government there are only about 70000 Japanese troops in the Hermit Kingdom al present. It is considered possible that the Japanese reckoned on complete mob- ization there much sooner, but difficult ties met with in the transporting of troops from Japan and over the roads in Korea proved more serious than expect ed, and the Japanese found themselves unable to deliver frontal attack in Manchuria before the Russian troops ar- rived in sufficient force to check them.
 At any rate, the latest advices indicate that the Japanese will not send many more soldiers into Korea.
 They make a diversion at Possiet bay,
 rI,.1 rfAlr but thrfts main objective henceforth will be in the gulf of Liao Tung.
 If the information received is correct, the Japanese have discovered that land- ing on the peninsula is too hard a nut to e1atE and have elected to land on the Chinese side, where there will be army t. rerel them. The only two points feasible for landing are Chin Wan Tao and Tien Kiau Cheng, which are connect ed by rail respectively with Shan Hai kwar and Kau Kiau on the Pellin rail- load A landing at either place would slve the Japanese possession of a splendid strategic line by which to strike the Rus stan flank, and if desired to hold Pelkin in suhjugation.
 Little Faith in Chinese.
 The government has little faith in the Chinese generals, Ma and Mu. who might disregard orders from Pekin and join forces with the Japanese.
 The Russian military authorities have felt themselves compelled to consider tie foregoing possibility, and to take the necessary precautions. The interna tional compncations which might arise out Of Japanese landing on neutral Chinese ter ritory have also received careful consid eration, for although 1t is specifically de- clared that 1t is not believed Japanese would care to violate the agreement made in response to the note of United States Secretary of State Hay, as we'll as in Japan's other public provisions, there is reason to affirm that the Russian line of conduct in such contingency has all ready been decided upon In principle. The a.surances obtained from Pekin require that the Chinese authorities should op- pose with their army such step on the part of Japan.
 high Russian official said to the As- socated Press:
 ..It would have worse consequences for other powers than Russa, if Japan shoild enter neutral territory, for such a step would obviously be for the purpose of in- veigling China into the fight. If Japan should be successful in this there would be an uprising against foreigners which would be tenfold greater than the Boxer affair The mere possibility Is pregnant with all sorts of dangers. but we can hardly believe that Japan will venture to violate the neutrality of China, as she did that of Korea
 It is learned that the Russian military attachee at Pekin Is now at New Chwang watching the movements of the Chinese troops.