The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-06
SOUTHERN MANCRUR|A
FULL OF RUSSIANS, WHO
ARE AIDED BY CHINESE
Kuropatkin Marshaling His
Troops and Preparing for Ad-
vance Against Japanese.
PICTURESQUE DETAILS
Of Last Attempt to Bottle" the
Port Arthur Fleet-Japan's
First Army.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 5-A corre-
spondent of the Associated Press at Port
Arthur, who returned TO the fortress yes
terday from an inspection trip through
southern Manchuria, telegraphs that that
country is strikingly full of an unusual and
active life, that the troops sire vigorous and
healthy and animated by a desire for ac-
tive operations and that the entire native
population. including that of the CONNER
cial world, is friendly to Russia and full
of faith in the Russian arms. The corre-
spondent says:
Russian money. which was shaky at
the beginning of the war, is again firm.
The Chinese volunteer militia formed there
presents a good appearance, wearing a spe-
cial uniform with epaulets bearing the Rus
sian national flag. The natives provide
provisions freely and selling horses
brought from the surrounding country. The
mandarins are exception to this general
rule they cautious and are trying to
carry water on both shoulders. AS their
conduct is passive it does the Russians no
harm.
THE railroad holds out splendidly and
works regularly. all the attaches of the road
being imbued with the high Importance of
their task Sentries are posted at the boun-
dary and are doing duty in the neutral zone
dividing China and Manchuria. The wealth
er is warm and the rivers are open. In Port
Arthur all is quiet and the inhabitants have
become accustomed to a state of war;
though some of them impatient that
the enemy has been for a long time in
visible
In a second telegram the correspondent
gives picturesque details of the last at
tempt of the Japanese TO block the harbor
as follows: Following a reconnaissance
our fleet. returned and anchored i'm the in
terror of the harbor. After midnight the
darkness became more profound and our
searchlights were constantly in operation
piercing the gloom. Suddenly a shot thun-
dered and then a second and third. Golden
hill and Tiger cliff opened fire when the
enemy was discovered. From the battle
ship Petropavlovsk launch put off with
Vice Admiral Makarof and other officers
heading for the gunboat Bobri. AT the
same time the torpedo boats SLIM and
Reshitelny signaled to prepare for action
and to attack the enemy. The gunboat
Otvajny discharged her siX-inch guns and
the torpedo boat SLIM fired a broadside
while hurrying toward the enemy, and let
go a torpedo which fairly struck the Prov
of the first japanese steamer, carrying il
away. Other japanese steamers came on
at full speed, raining Hotchkiss bullets at
the Siln which fired second torpedo at
the steamers and then ran aground. The
commander of the SLIM discovered five of
the big ships valiantly rushed to attack, fir
ing their guns they did so. The enemy
then separated and disappeared in the dark
ness
Meantime the Bobri am the Otvajny
continued to fire on the stranded steamers
and on the small boats putting off from
them. Commander Travinsky, of the
Reshitelny, saw a large steamer making
toward the center of the channel fired a
torpedo, which exploded on the side of the
target. Lieutenant krinitzky, commanding
the Sini having fought five of the ene-
mys ships for a long time in the dark
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2, COL. 81