Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-08
Intense Interest Over Port
Arthur at St. Petersburg.
CZAR HAS CONFIDENCE
ADMIRALTY rs CONVINCED OF
THE LOSS OF JAP SHIP.
decisive Battle Expected to Occur
Near Hal i-Cheng-Alexieff Sends
Emperor a Letter.

ST. PETERSBURG, June s, 2:0T p.m-
The reports of sorties from and attacks on
Port Arthur coming in from foreign sources
arouse the liveliest interest here. The gov
errment. not having means of communica-
ton with the fortress, accepts them with
reserve. The authorities generally believe
that the reported march of events in the
front of Port Arthur is a little too rapid.
The tension over the situation at the
theater of war is manifestly increasing.
The general staff is becoming more reti-
cent and the public is convinced that an
important battle which may decide the fate
Of the campaign is impending. The out
post engagements between the main armies
of Gems. Kuropatkin and Kuroki have sud
denly ceased. Such lull frequently oc-
ours after two armies have been for some
time In touch and just before they are
ready to strike.
Kuroki Has Not Yet Moved
Kuroh has not yet moved, according to
the latest advices, but is drawing in his
administers as if preparing to do so. De-
velopments on the lower part of the Lao
Tung peninsula may determine when and
where the two armies will come in collision
Kuropatkin has elabora tely fortified his DO
sidon at Liao-Yang in anticipation of a
possible forward movement on the part of
Kuroki and the army landed at Taku-
Shan.
But kurokis failure to assume the ag-
gressive and the approach of the the rainy
season, which would stop operations as
well as the pressure to impede General
Okus army may have been determining
factors in dispatching a force southwark,
the strength of which is as much mystery
ever.
Not Averse to Advance.
The japanese apparently are not averse
to this advance, having already withdrawn
before IT to below Wafandian. If Kuroki
should now push in behind this force across
the head of the Liao-Tung peninsula, Kuro-
patkin. in the opinion of military experts
with nothing to fear on his flank is GER
tain to come down from the north and
decisive battle might occur in the neigh
borhood OF Hai-Cheng
The admiralty is convinced that either
the battle ship Yashima or the battle ship
Shikishima has been lost off Talien-W
This belief Is based on Chinese reports
which have heretofore proved reliable.
The emperor in discussing the war situ-
ton at Tsarskoe Selo with a prominent
diplomatist, although expressing complete
confidence in the ultimate outcome of the
war, displayed considerable concern over
the fate of Port Arthur against which he
his principal energies
His majesty told the visitor that the re-
port that there was not enough coal at Port
Arthur for the squadron had not a vestige
OF foundation, and the emperor also said
that from the reports he had received he
was satisfied the Japanese had already lost
three battle ships.
Dispatch From Alexieff.
Emperor Nicholas has received the fol-
lowing dispatch from Viceroy Alexieff
According to the report of Rear Admiral
Wittsoeft on the battle of Kin-Chou our
right flank was strongly supported by the
gunboats Bobr and the torpedo boats Burni
and Boiki, which afterward returned to
Port Arthur.
"On the night of May 26 ten torpedo
boats were sent out against the Japanese
boats operating in Kin-Chou bay. One of
the torpedo boats struck the rocks and
sank. Her crew were saved.
THE casualties among those serving the
naval guns were Sublieutenant Shimono-
bovsky. missing, and six sailors wounded"