Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-12

New York, May 12.-An explanation of the explosions heard at Port Arthur which led to reports that the Russians were destroying their warships in that harbor is furnished i'll a World dispatch from St Petersburg. It is to the effect that the garrison at Port Arthur is en- deayoring to clear the harbor entrance of the stone laden ships sent in by the Japanese In order to remove the oD- Structions divers are said to have been sent down wno placed charges of dyna- mite ill position and succeeded 1n DloW- ing away enough of the cement ana rock cargoes to admit the passage ot torpedo boats through the channel.
 St Petersburg, May F, 1 :2S D. m,-- Emperor Nicholas is arranging to go to Kharlxoff May 23 to bid farewell to the tenth army corps upon it's depart ure for the far east.
 The Associated Press learns from the highest source that the emperor is exceedingly anxious 10 go to the front. To his intimates recently he has spoken much on the subject but he realizes that conditions of state demand his presence at home. Never theless it is now not considered impos- sible that he will follow rne example of all the Romanoff dynasty during the past century and undergo his bap- tism of fire. To fight with the army is one of the traditions of his house. Alexander I entered Paris with the allies after the battle of Waterloo, Nicholas I died in common soldiers hovel in Crimea and Alexander II with the heir apparent were at the front during the Turkish war. Per haps an additional reason why Emper- or Nicholas desires to meet the enemy Is that he carries on his body the mark of a wound inflicted by a fanati- cal Japanese policeman when he was attacked in a theater in Otsu, during his visit to Japan in 1891, only being saved from death by the noble action of his cousin, Prince George of Greece. Should he finally conclude to go his majesty would not assume active com- mand of the troops. but would have an imperial headquarters, taking with him all the members, of his mili- tary cabinet. Being on the spot the emperor could the more easily advise General KuropatlSin on any question of great military moment which he might desire to submit to his majesty But of course, the chief advantage would be the stimulus which the per-. sOnal presence of the sovereign would have on the officers and men.
 From the official advices received here it is evident that the Japanese 5, are proceeding very cautiously toward the investment of Port Arthur. While an Interruption of the telegraph and railroad may occur again at any time communication with the fortress was still open last night. Advices receiv- ed by the general staff show that the invaders who landed at PftseWO are marching slowly on Kin-Chou, which is an advanced position defending the Russian Gibraltar, detaching only a small force to cut the line at Poland fen, thus giving rise to the reports that they had effected landing at Port Adams The Russians have oc- cupied Sisthao bay on the east side of the Liao Tung peninsula opposite Kin Chou, showing that they have no in- tention of withdrawing further south. On the contrary indications point to a stubborn resistance.
 General Flock, revealed in the ofhc1al
 The presence at Port Arthur of dispatches, may signify that the gar- rison of the fortress is much strong CT than the Russians desired the ene- my to believe. Fock commands the Fourth Siberia rifle division, of ten thousand men. If the whole division is on the Liao Tung peninsula General Steossel has at least thirty thousand men at his disposal, which would rem der the investment of Port Arthur eX- tremely difficult unless the Japanese bring up three times that number of troops
 There Is talk of the Japanese cut ting off the water supply of Port Ar thur but this is declared to be impos- sible, as condensed sea water is the chief source of supply, the wells only being used by the Chinese.
 St Petersburg, May F, 4:16 D. m.- Viceroy Alexieff has telegraphed to the czar announcing that the Russians have blown up the docks and piers at Port DaIny, Liao Tung peninsula, pre- sumably to render more difficult a Japanese landing at that point
 Port Dalny, on Talienwan bay, on the east coast of the Liao Tung benin sula, was intended by Russia to be the chief commercial emporium of it's eatsern dominions. An edict provid. ing for it's construction was issued by the Russian emperor July 30, 1899, and Port Da1ny, fully equipped with all modern improvements, docks, ware houses and railroad facilities, was opened toened to commerce in Decem- Der. 1901,
 Talienwan bay is one of the finest deep water harbOrs on the Pacific It is free from ice in winter time and ships drawing thirty feet of water can enter at low tide without difficulty and without the aid of pilots can sail or steam alongside the immense docks and piers, where their cargoes can be loaded into railroad cars and run di- rect for 5000 miles into the city of St Petersburg. Five large piers had been constructed, each supplied with numerous railroad tracks and immense warehouses and elevators, gas, electric lights and water. and a large break water was being constructed so that ships could lie at the piers and load and unload regardless of weather. Docks for foreign vessels, steam and