Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-20
JAPANESE PROTEST.
Russia Offends Against Inter-
 national Usages.
INFANTRY DISGUISED AS CHINESE.
Tokyo Calls Attention of St. Peters burg to Her Troops viOImt1on of Rules of War--Raan Causes
 LulI In Rattle.


 burg to Her Troops' vioIation of
 Rules of War--Raan Causes
 LulI In Rattle.
 LONDON, Oct. 20.--A special from Tokyo says that the Japanese govern ment has decided to draw the attention of the Russian government to the un- lawful action of Russian troops in us- ing Chinese costumes. The notice will be served through the American state department which will be transmitted through the American embassy at St. Petersburg.
 A memorandum issued by the foreign office says that on Oct. 4 a body of in- fantry belonging to the Russian Third regiment of sharpshooters wearing Chinese costumes attacked the Japa- nese force on the Mukden road and that Russians similarly clad approach ed the Japanese lines and attempted surprises Different reports received, 1t is charged, indicate that the Rus sians are purchasing enormous quanti- ties of Chinese costumes.
 The memorandun points out that combatants not properly uniformed are liable to punishment as offenders against the laws of war and that par ticipation in fighting without uniforms is a violation of international usage, an unlawful act and contrary to the meaning of article 2S of the supple mentary rules of the convention gov erning the laws and customs of war on land.
 1t is pointed out further that this action of Russian troops will prove g source of great calamity to innocent Chinese, who will thereby be exposed to danger owing to their inability from distances to distinguish the Russian soldiers from real Chinese.
 A dispatch from St. Petersburg se- verely criticises the Russian general ship in the latest battle and declares that the information from Mukden in- dicates an early evacuation of that town by the Russians,
 There is popular impression here that affairs at Port Arthur are reach ing crisis, and it is believed that the end is only a question of days.
 The Japanese advance is ten miles south of Mukden. The Russians have built heavy defenses two miles south of the Hun river, where they are ex- pected to make stand. There are no natural defenses at that point.
 Advices from St. Petersburg this morning say that for the moment heavy rains and impossible roads have compelled suspension of opera tions in Manchuria. There was prac- tically no fighting yesterday and none whatever last night.
 A Japanese attack. on the temple on the hill at Towsantun was repuIsed with fearful loss in fifteen minutes by the Semepalatinsky regiment.
 A Japanese who was found in the trenches was brought before General sCossavich.
 The man said his name was Skeda Sakuji, and he came from Shikoko. He belonged to Oku's army and had re- mained in the trenches to attend his mortally wounded brother The Rus sians admired his bravery.
 They admit that the Japanese are the best soldiers in the world.
 It is reported that General Kurold is dying of dysentry.
 Everything is quiet around Mukden. The roads are still like quagnire and operations are impossible.
 Many critics here continue to be- lieve that General Kuropatkin intends to return to the line of the Hun river.
 Special dispatches from St. Peters burg make mention of crushing de feat of two Japanese divisions. There is no confirmation, however, in any reliable quarter of such report.
 According to a correspondent with General Kuroki a Russian battalion which crossed the Taitse river has been almost annihilated. While re- tiring over pontoon bridge. the cor respondent says, the battalion was overtaken by a regiment of Japanese cavalry, which got it's machine guns into position and swept the bridge from end to end.
 A Cadiz dispatch says that the Baltic fleet is apparently to keep together un- til the colliers now off the Spanish coast are picked up. It will then divide into two parts, the torpedo and smal! craft going via Suez and Alden to Sin- gapore and the large warships going around the Cape Of Good Hope.