The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-09
continued from pace ono.

Continued from page one.
St Petersburg June 9--The war office
Is In possession of information which the
officials declare. warrants a contradiction
OF the reports brought by Chinese fugt-
tives TO Chefoo OF a four days land and
sea attack on Port Arthur. and OF exten-
swe damage 20 the forts. An official de-
spatch from Rear Admiral Wttsoeft
dated June Z. reports that the enemy has
been bombardng Port Arthur intermt-
tentiy from the sea but does not mention
serious operations from the land side
The general staff seems certain that the
enemy's seige guns have not yet been
brought up. Discussing the Chinese re-
ports brought TO Cheefoo, a member Of
the general stan said: I'VE have had our
own experience with the unreliability OF
Chinese reports The idea OF the explosion
OF mines by thunder storm Is absurd
and the Chinese statement that the whole
garrison has gone TO the front is wildness,
betraying the deepest ignorance of the
conditions governing the safeguarding OF
a fortress
The troops contesting the advance upon
the fortress are a few regiments of rifle
men which have all the time been on the
Kwantung peninsula for this purpose"
ONE REGIMENT AT RINCHoU.
In this connection an official dispatch
from Port Arthur TO one OF the minis
tories. not the ministry OF war. nor the
ministry OF the navy, says that only one
regiment OF infantry, the Fifth. psrtici-
pated in the defence OF Kinchou.
The admiralty is not disposed to credit
the report that the Port Arthur squad
ron has left Port Arthur or the rumor OF
fts juncture with the Vladivostok squad
ron. although this is evidently part OF the
program. II II comes TO the worst. the
Port Arthur squadron will go out and
give battle.
At the admiralty, the reported action Of
the Japanese warships in Smelling the
coast near Kaichou will be interpreted. if
confirmed. as a demonstration TO discour-
age the sending OF a strong force against
General Okus rear.
STILL A MYSTERY.
The mystihcation concerning the
strength OF the force sent south con-
tinues The war office which seemingly
is not fully advised In regard TO General
Kuropatkin's plans. says the commander
in chiefs ability to detsch an adequate
force will depend upon the number Of
troops at General Kurokfs disposal con
eerning which. apparently, there is no ac-
curate information here, although the
belief is that the Japanese commander
has about AS battalions at Feng Vans
Cheng and 80 In the vicinity OF Taku-
shan.
Inc latest intenigence received AT inc
war Office is TO the effect that the Japan
ese have abandoned their advance north
OF Feng Wang Cheng and west Of Siuyen.
The Russians are holding Slxen and
Saimatsza While declining 20 furnish
specific information on the subject II
seems certain that the Russians are now
in wireless communication with Port Ar
thur. BY no other way could the receipt
OF Admiral Wlttsoeft's dispatch OF June
2, reporting the intermittent lombard
ment OF Port Arthur from the sea, be ac-
counted for.
While the above reports the officials
view regarding the reports and the nature
Of the lighting arounr Port Arthur. the
city is full Of all kinds of wild stories
and the public is inclined 10 credit the
idea that the enemy has already begun
serious work against the fortress.