Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-11
A BIG FIGHT
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sooner or later and that the Russians
should be thankful that they had time
to prepare for the defence of Port Ar
thur until Gen. Kuropatkin could re-
licve it.
The people naturally wish for more
details concerning the re-cstabliSt.ment
of communication with Port Arthur
All they know definitely is that the
railroad has been repaired and that at
: o'clock, yesterday aft rnoon, the first
DISPATCHES passed over the re-cOntruct-
ed telegraph lines.
There probably has been some fight
ing but whether with Japanese vessels
or with the troops north of Pitsewo IS
not known nor have the whereabouts
If the Japanese landed in southern part
of the LAO TunS peninsula been deli
nitciy established. 1t is safe to say,
however, that no engagement of lU-
portance has occurred in order to re-
establish communication. CndOuitedl y
news of such Il victory would promptly
be made pubic. owing TO the state Of
the temper of the people, tonight. All
impaticnce arising from General kuro-
patkin's withdrawal has disappeared.
The japanese, seeing that the with
drawal was thorough and with the care
that has distinguished their past opera
lions, making sure that no lIuSsianS
were left behind, cut the vital line Oh
communication.
The Japanese division operating May
5 ami May east of TlyanGho must
not be confused with the army at ut
sewo, because the latter deEtrked on
May G. If Il third army had landed Ut
Takushan it could have moved to fcnG
Wang Chcng and ilankcd the liusSElhS
in case General \uroki had hncounter-
ed strong opposition. The Sue %cSti"li vi
another japanese debarkati0 Is Scler-
ally discredtcd. The force, acting M
dcpcndcntly, is believed to l." attached
to General kuroki's army whether an
army has landed or not the tact was
| impressed upon The AssDtElted Press
| by a member of the general stair.
The Japanese are placing southern
Manchuria absolutely under control be-
| fore beginning forward movement,
| thus guarding against threatened Cos
sack raids.
Whether General Kuroki intends to
move on Lao Yang and Hui Cheng has
not yet developed though the latter
now does not appear so probable IN
view of the dispatch of i force to ku-
naCinsien.
The marching on Hal heng is not
ne important as it Would have been
| had the Russians continued to occupy
New Chwang.
General Kuroki. in view of an author
| itv here. is undoubtedly Informed on
the preparations for the evacuation of
| New Chwang and knows that the Rus
sim force operating on the Lao TunS
peninsula would promptly retire should
he advance to Hal Cheng. In the light
| of these considerations he may deter
mine to boldly march to Lao Yang.
either by the northern road or on the
road by which the Russians retrcated
and along which he has sent scouting
parties.
| Reports of severe engagements
which are not officially confirmed,
probably grew out of sl,irmishes along
| the Yalu river before Lieut.. General
Zassaitch's retirement.
| information which was received by
the Emperor. today, set at rest all ru-
more affecting the Vladivostok squad
ron.
| The Associated Press was authori-
| tatively Informed. today. that there Is
absolutely no intention on the part of
Vice Admiral Skrydloff to order an at
tempt to make junction with the Port
| Arthur fleet. The squadron will use
Vladivostok as a base for raids but
will be preserved intact until the Baltic
| ncct arrives in the Pacific. when it will
proceed to sea and report to Rear Adj
miral Rojestvensky ut Il certain deter
mined point.
| The Associated Press is further in
formed that the garrison at Port Ar
thur is stronger than heretofore has
been stated.
| "Thcre is no reason to keep the
strength of the garrison at Port Ar
thur Il secret" said the informant of
The Associated Press. THE Japanese
know it because of their perfect infor-
nation. We have 10000 soldiers and
| Il. 600 sailors there. The latter will not
be used on the fortiiiCationS except rs
Il last extremity. The Japanese will not
obtain possession of our fleet, even if
they capture Port Arthur. The orders
to the commanders there are that he
shall, when 4 fall is inevitable. put
to sea and engage the enemy. We do
not propose for the Japanese to find in
the harbor Il number of valuable war
ships which they can add to their fleet.
Moreover, i'm battle the Japanese Will
lsuffcr as Wei as our ships. and those
of the latter which do not escape Will so
down to the bottom