Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-02-13

preventing reinforcements from reach
ing the Port Arthur garrison but in
fiictins dTnage on the Manchurian
railroad
| The British view that the Japanese
VIII in the meantime be able to occu-
py Fort Arthur is chiefly based on the
latest information that the Russian
guns cannot be brought to bear OH any
1orelgn force landing at Pigeon bay
| Which is on the western side of Port
Arthur, and it is believed that the
Japanese admiral will follow actions
almost similar to those intended to be
| pursued at Santiago. the troops storm
ing the batteries in the rear while the
Japanese fleet lies waiting for the
ships of Viceroy Alexieff. who in the
| event of land attack being success
full must either make a dash for liberty
| with his fleet or fight where they are
| against practically hopeless odds.
In spite of the lack of news it is con-
fidently held here that the Japanese
land forces are actively engaged in a
| most important movement. which will
come to a climax as swiftly as did
| Japan'S first naval attack.
The Japanese minister said:
only those who went through the
Chinese war can quite understand the
emulation of which exists between the
japanese navy and army. In the for
mer war the army was all to the force
and no little jealousy existed between
the two arms of the service though
our navy was then in it's infancy
| Knowing the army as | know it there
must now be tremendous anxiety to
| score SnccpSc n hat inc do,
by the navy. You may look for some
very keen land fighting
| New York. Feb. IA careful study
| of the reports that have reached Amer
| lean and Europe from the East includ-
| Ing press dispatches and cOmmunica-
| tionS through official channels would
| indicate that but two atcual conflicts
of any moment have so far occurred
These are the Japanese naval attack on
| Port Arthur. Monday night and Tues
day morning, and the affair at Chem
| ulpo of Monday and Tuesday. In cir
ClcS whose knowledge of conditions In
That part of the world allows them to
| speak with accuracy the various re-
| ports of other engagements are corr
| siderod but echoes of these two fights.
! News travels slowly in North China.
Gable and telegraph facilities are
| very limited and il is evident that as
reports OF the Port Arthur and Chem
ulpO affairs reach various points they
are promptly cabled by resident cor
respondents resulting in q natural con-
| fusion of dates. The circumstantial
report of another engagement sent by
the Reuter- Telegram Co. from Toxic,
under date of Feb. 100 published in this;
country. yesterday afternoon, is be-
iieved also to have referred to the orig
| inal Port Arthur attack. news of which
had Just reached Toxic or that the dis
patch was delayed in transmission.
! This belief is strengthened by the fact
| that no official confirmation has been
received of subsequent engagements
and it is pointed out that such official
advices We're received through the va
rious embassies at Washington prompt
" Oil the heels of the press reports OF
the events of Monday and Tuesday.
The food of conflicting dispatches
from various North China points dur
ing the Boxer revolution is recalled.
| For this reason the report cabled by
| the Ticn Tsin correspondent of the
London Standard that Il Russian fleet
had hon,barded Hakodate is entirely
disreSarded. Naval men in this city
say that so far as is known the only
| Russian vessels in position to make q
move are those at NladivoStock and tha;
| it cannot for Il moment be thought
that they would be withdrawn from the
defence of that important depot, even
if they are free of ice. and not blocked
up by a Japanese squadron as as been
reported. In view OF the fact that there
| is no cable cOmunica ton between Jap
an and China except by way of Shan
| ghai it is to say the least improbable
that such important news would be
heard in the inland town of Tien Tsin.
The official note sent out. last night,
from st. Petersburg that the cabde
| from Nladivostock to Nagasaki the tel
| ecraph line from Seoul to Masamphc
| and the telegraph line from Seoul to
Wonsan are broken. limits communi-
| cation with Japan to the cables that
land at Shanghai which are under jap
anese censorship. This is additional
| reason to disCredit the vague reports
of further engagements.
| Copenha gen. Denmark. Feb. H.
United States Minister Swensen deliv-
cred Sec tretary Hays note to the Dam
iSh government, today.
1t is understood that the government
regards the note With favor.
Chec Foo, Thursday. Feb. 1.-THE
I.ritish steamer FrPing when leaving
| Port Arthur was fired upon by Rus
Sims. Three Chinese members of the
crew we're wounded. The Russians
afterwards apologized for firing on the
| vessel. The Flu Ping upon its arrival
ut Wei Hal Wei filed protest with
the British commissioner.
The American consul has reported
to United States Minister COnger that
the Russian authorities have refused
to allow the American steamer Plei-
ades to leave Port Arthur. The Plei-
AIDES sailed from Seattle on Feb. .,
with Il cargo of lour.
Vienna, Feb. 12.--Cnited States Am
bassador Storer. today, presented Sec
rotary Hays note on the subject of
China. to the foreign Office and after
wards had a long interview with Count
/ = IJIip aci., 1,