The Bourbon news., 1904-08-02
KUROPATKlRS ARMY.
It is Almost Completely Sur
rounded at Port Arthur.
There Are Some Unofficial Indications
That Matters Are Rapidly Matur-
ing For Either An Engage
ment or a Retreat.

Lao Yang, July 29.-The Russian
retirement from Ia Tche Kiao was
terribly CALLING to the rank and file
who, after two days hard fighting.
held their positions and believed
themselves on the eve of a great vic
tory.
ST. Petersburg, July 30.-It is an
nounced that there was no news from
Port Arthur and no more reason to
credit the report that it had fallen
than the many similar ones previously
in circulation.
Che Foo, July 30.-Refugees who
have just arrived from Port Arthur
confirm previous reports that a gen.
eral assault has been begun by the
Japanese on that fortress and they
declare that the Russians are san
guine that the Japanese could not
succeed in capturing the place even
| though they had twice as many troops.
| The Russians, according to the refu-
| CESS story, are still hoping for succor
| from Gen. KurOpatkin. They are un-
willing to believe the reports of his
defeat at Ia Tche Kiao. The refu-
gees further confirm the reports that
the Russian feet is in state of re-
pair, but say that the fleet is unwill-
ing to attack that of Adm Togo on
account Of the mines which the JAP
anese place nightly at the entrance to
the harbor. 1t was believed at Port
Arthur that if the Vladivostok squad
ron or reinforcements from Gen. Ku-
ropatllin should arrive the Russian
fleet would take the risk of going
out.
st. Petersburg, Aug. Although l.
public attention has been distracted
from the events of the war during the
past week, first because of the fear of
international complications, and Sec
ond, because of the assassination of
Minister of the Interior Won Plehve,
the situation at the front is regarded
as critical.
The envelOping movement Of the
three Japanese armies of Gems. Kuro-
XII, Nodzu and Oku around Gen. Kuro-
patkin's position appears to be almost
the Japanese seems to be the only
drawback to concerted action. 1t is
realized here that the Russian gen.
eral must now either fight or with
draw the whole army northward. He
is being closely pressed at Hal Cheng.
At that place Gen. Kuroki's northern
column makes it extremely danger
10 IN,
holding the position to give battle
against the Japanese, whose advance
is nOtoriously always slow and care
full, Gen. Kuroki might pass through
and cut his railway communications
to LiaO Yang.
While nothing is definitely known
there are some unofficial indications
that matters are rapidly maturing for
either a battle or a retreat. For in
stance, the refusal to accept further
press kilograms at Hal Cheng is shown
by the fact that one of the press cor
respondents had to ride through to
Mukden to file an account of the Ia
Tche Kiao fight. This might be con-
strued either that preparations are
|.
wires are very crowded, incident to
a concentration at Hal Cheng or Lao
Yang
A few days are expected to deter
mine which course Gen. Kuropatkin
has elected to pursue.
There is no inclination here to doubt
that there may have been pretty Sc
we're fighting at the outer positions of
Port Arthur, possibly accompanied by
a bombardment from the sea, but it
! is not believed that the Japanese are
| yet ready to storm the fortress. RI.
Adm Without, in command of the ma
val forces at Port Arthur, is relied
on to put to sea if the condition of the
fortress becomes desperate. While
no definite information is obtainable
the report that the fortress is short
of ammunition is considered by the
public as the most disquieting feature
of the situation there.
The Vladivostok squadron is expect
ed back in port Sunday or Monday.
| London, Aug. 1.-The correspond
ent- of the Daily Mail at New-Chwang,
in a dispatch dated July 81, says that
there has been heavy fighting for two
days in the marshes south of Hal
cheng during the gradual Russian re-
tirement from To Tobe Kimo.
/ Survivors of the Steamer Norge.
Boston, July 29-Several survivors
of the steamship Norge arrived here