Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-03-11
RUssO-JAPANEsE WAR.

- ~ oAtuotAVb III VIC lux E6bL as
developed in the last few days NAV
be summed up as follows: The
japanese fleet renews the lombard
meDt of Vladivostock, seven ships
taking part. The Russian Vladiyos.
took fleet cut eff from it's base by
Japanese and unable to get into any
home port because Port Arthur, the
other Russian harbor, is also block
AIDED. The Russian Port Arthur
heet locked in the blockaded barbor
by the main japanese fleet.
Cars on the Ice railroad over lake
Baikal are now drawn bv horses, a
locomotive which performed this
service having broken through the
ice.
In reference to the severity of the
censorship exercised by the japanese
Government over the news dispatches
of foreign correspondents, Baron
Hayashi, the Japanese Minister says:
"We are fighting against numerical
odds which are quite out of proper
ton to the odds against any com
blatant III recent wars. We are fight
ing for our existence, and our only
hope of maintaining it's to strike
swiftly and secretly at the beginning.
To get in the first blow means more
to us than | think it has ever meant
to any beligerent."
The city of Tien Tsin, China, is
like slaughter pen. Headless bodies
are everywhere. Decapitations con-
tinne with sickening frequency. This
killing is the result of the fierce
efforts of the viceroy of China to pre-
vent an outbreak in the Chimes
army an outbreak directed at the
Russians by the agitators, but which
1t not put down in summary fashion,
would be disastrous to all foreigners.
General Sand Cheng, of the Chinese
army has addressed a note to Pekin,
asking that an alliance be made with
Japan and that they be permitted to
attack the Russians.
JAPAN PREPARING FOR A COUP.
1t is generally believed that recent
movements of Japan's land force III
dictate preparation for decisive blow,
while Russia is still unprepared.
France is now ready to aid Russia,
and the first great defeat suffered by
the Russians, the first great loss sus-
tanned, will, it is believed, fire mine
that is ready. Other nations will be
dragged in.
London knows this and fears the
result. The first over act by France
will drag England into the conflict,
and the greatest navles on earth will
De forced to battle against each other.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST RUSSIAN.
Russian soldiers operating in the
vicinity of ANU are committing all
manner of excuses, maltreatiug the
native women and perpetrating rob-
berry.
Korean soldiers attacked BODY of
the invaders on Friday last and sue
ceeded in killing thirty of them. 1t
10 reported that as u result of COL
lision between Russian and Korean
soldiers at Ksng Ge the Russians
were driven beyond the Yalu river.
THE WAR HARDLY BEGUN.
Although almost four weeks have
elapsed since the japanese fleet first
attacked Port Arthur, in Russia the
war is considered hardly to have
begun.
Heavy land fighting, upon which
the fate of the campaign depends, is
not expected much before the end of
April. BY this time Russia will
have in the field half million or
more men. All that. has happened
so far, or is going to happen until
these forces are III the field, is con-
sidered, according to the Russian
view, to be nothing more than the
prologue to the real drama.
The Russian plans do not contem-
plate taking any chances. on the
score of inferior numbers. By sheer
weight of men and guns, if nothing
else, when the proper time arrives,
Russia counts on overwhelming the
japanese, and rolling them back
through Korea.
DIE BEFORE SURRENDER.
1t is well understood that no Rus
sian naval officer is going to surren-
der to Jap. The determination is
to blow up the ship rather than sur
render it. Indeed it is said an order
exists to this effect. If it loss not
exist it is tacitly understood. AS for
the Japs. "the ship that surrender is
to be fired on by its consorts." With
this emo quarter" policy, the war be-
tween Japan and Russia, on. the wa.
ter at least, is going to be desperate
affair from beginning to finish.
General Stoessel, commander of
Port Arthur, has issued general
order directing the attention of the
troops and inhabitants to the fact
that the Japanese intend to land and
seize the fortress.
"Our troops know and the inhabi-
tants are herewith informed by me
that we will not yield. We must
tight to the finish, as !, the comman-
dant, will never give an order to sur
render. l bring this to the notice of
those less daring and call on all to
become convinced of the necessity of
lighting to the death. Those who
leave without fighting will not save
themselves. There is no way out.
On three sides there 10 the sea and
on the fourth will be the enemy.
There is no means of escape except
by lighting"