New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-21
PORT ARTHUR BESIEGED.
japanese Ships off Harbor-Td
Uore Troops to YaIu.

Yins-Kau. Feb 2O.-By means OF a special per.
mission obtained from Major General Plug.
viceroy AIexief-s chief OF staff. newspaper cor
respondent succeeded IN passing the lines under
official escort and visited Port Arthur. which II
closed to all civilians. The correspondent gives
the following account OF conditions;
Only 80 per cent OF the population remains al
Port Arthur and many OF these are leaving
there The trains are still crowded with ref
ugees. Railroad conditions are excellent. and
trains are running on schedule time. There ars
only a few unfinished side tracks and one unan-
ished bridge. between New-Chwang and Pors
Arthur
The peninsula Of Liao-Tung Is quiet Ads-
quate guards are maintained at all culverts and
bridges. and preparations for defence are being
continued The troops IN the vicinity OF Kin
ChaU are active. a strong force is guarding the
narrowest section Of the peninsula
AUTHORITIES CONTROL FOOD PRICES.
The authorities have mitigated war condi4
tions a. Port Arthur by fixing the prices Of food
stufs- The prices OF other commodities. how
ever have advanced. The authorities have
taken possession OF all food supplies in the stores
which were deserted by Chinese and other mer-
chants. They are providing for a siege by send
Ing wheat milling machinery to Port Arthur.
and say that there is a sufficient food supply
there for a resistance Of two years.
Japanese refugees under the personal super
vision OF the vjceroy and General Plarcon. are
leaving Port Arthur on released ships. The local
agents OF two British steamers. the Foxton Hall
and another which were deserted at the time
OF the Japanese attack. are endeavoring to in
duce the captains OF these vessels TO return and
reclaim them. The Brand. the only ship now re-
naming a. Port Arthur. viii leave there on
February 2t with refugees and dispatches.
Although the harbors on the Liao-Tung PENN
sula have been reopened. the authorities DO not
expect further arrivals. The japanese feet.
which IS sighted at intervals from Golden Hr1.
completely controls the gulf. and under the i'm
perfect police system all incomers are treated
as spies
REPAIRS on DAMAGED wARsHIPs.
The repairs to the Russian fleet are proceed
ing The cruiser Novik has been docked. but
the condition OF the battIeships CzareviSch and
Retvizan remains unchanged Engineers say
that the Retvizan will be 1oated IN a fev~days.
The Official reports commend Captain Essen
OF the Novik ard Captain Bersian. OF the
cruiser Bayar for gallant conduct on February
g. and indicate that. in spite Of the fact that no
Japanese losses were reported the Russians ala
some damage
CAPTAIN stepanoR. who was IN command of
the torpedo transport Tenisei which was re-
ported to have been blown up from accidental
contact with a mine. IS said to have met n
heroic death IN trying 20 save hts crew.
Shippers are OF the opinion that the harbor
OF Dalny viii be unsafe for years to come on
account OF stray mines from the Tsnissi SONS
OF which are reported by the last merchantmen
arriving at Port Arthur as drifting IN the open
sea.
The 'Novikraf' has suspended publication.
and only issues bulletins.
RUSSIAN PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
The city is darkened every night but vicsro5
AlexieTs house IS lighted. although the people
understand that he is at Harbfn. General
vaIkoff is IN command OF the non-combatant
force at Hardin Generals Linevitch and Won
Dratevitch are at Liao-Tang. about hals way
between New-Chwang and Moukden When ths
10Th Regiment IS near Kin-ChaU. the 9th Regf-
ment near Liao-Chang and the 18th Regiment
near Liao-Yang. It is intended 70 begin a sim
ultaneous march toward the Talu River While
Major General Pfug IS advancing the troops
from Noukden 10 the YaIu he VIII at the same
time be strengthening his centre ard p-epsr-
ing 10 defend the railroad and the North Gulf
Coast in force. The military authorities are
Thoroughly aware OF their urpreparedness to
rush reinforcements.
An enormous consignment Of artillery Is r.
ported to be on the way from Russia. and il =
said without hesitation that there were not
over 125.OOO troops IN Manchuria and at vIadi-
vostok when the war began
The adrninistra ton authorities az Port Arthur
assert that the japanese have landed in Corsa
only.