Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-04-28
THE JAPANESE
CROSS THE YALU
PASSAGE EASILY EFFECTED
NEAR RIVERS MOUTH.

Slight Opposition Offered BY Rus
SLAMS, Who Want Japs To Come On
and Meet Them in Manchuria.--
Vladivostok Squadron Sallies Out,
Sinks Transport and Seares Japan
ese.--Two Jap Spies Shot.--SmaIl
Skirmish Reported.
The Japanese have effected a passage of
the Yalu river, in the face of rather per-
functory opposition, have laid pontoons
and will doubtless cross in force immedl-
ately.
The advance was made Tuesday and
Tuesday night. Sunday night, two steam
ers ana two torpedo boats were noticed at
/ the mouth of the river. They approached
/ the shore at daylight and the japanese
commenced to build pontoon on the left
tributary. A second pontoon was being
prepared ten miles.up the stream.
At three O'Clock the same afternoon the
/ Japanese occupied the island OF Samolindo
/ to which they carried pontoon boats, etc.
The night passed quietly, the torpedo
! boats maintaining careful watch in case
the troops ashore should be attacked and
examining the mouth Of the river by
searehlights.
/ At 3:40 next morning the japanese
crossed the river near the village of Tchig-
/ indiagen where, however, the Russian out
/ posts commenced firing upon them. The
/ Russian advance guards had been furnish
/ ed with small gun and they succeeded
in destroying the pontoon constructed
i near Win. The wrecked pontoon YVES
carried away by the current and further
/ japanese bridging operations ceased, but
/ the Japanese continued to cross by anoth-
! er pontoon southwark OF Win.
I A japanese column with a battery OF ar
/ tilIery approached Turenchen at midday,
4 but the Russian skirmishees met them
with sharp firing, evidently giving them
/ trouble, as they retired with the battery,
w hich made no attempt TO answer the
i Russian fire.
The Russians do not plan to have the
+ decisive fighting pulled of near the Yalu.
/ They want the Japs to advance to the
vicinity Of Feng- Huan- -Cheng, in Central
4 Manchuria, where they Will be out OF
reach OF naval assistance, and far from
/ their base Of supplies. The main Russian
army IS disposed with this end in view.
! ON the other hand. Il is intimated that
I the japanese do not intend to penetrate
far into Manchuria. but will keep near
the sea, where their superiority is un-
questioned. The Russian general stat
/ hears that the enemy has three objective
points. An attempt will be made to
/ occupy a line across the Liao-Tung pen
insula, cutting off Port Arthur. Tht
next plan is to isolate Nladivostok,
while the last is to effect a junction OF
the forces in Korea with those near the
mouth OF the Yalu river. General kouro-
patkin viii make il his business to cheek
mate these moves, If possible.
The Russians are trying 10 hamper the
japanese by operating on their bank IN
Northern Korea. A large portion OF Gen
Rennenkampff's Cossack cavalry division
I I,
OF the Yalu and a eonsidera ole force OF
cavalry which crossed the Tumen some
time ago is moving down to the southwest
to effect junction with it. Together with
this force, which it is believed totals 2,OOO
men, he will threaten Lieut.-Gen. lnouye :
flank when the japanese are ready TO cross
lower down on the Yalu. Being composed
OF cavalry, with few mounted guns Ken
nenkampff's force is very mobile. Unless
il should be dislodged it will compel the
IJapanese to leave very strong army 70
guard the communications whereas II a
Japanese force should be sent to drive II
out il would have to move directly away
from the main army, while the RUSSIAN
army if compelled to fall back can recross
in the direction Of the Russian troops con-
centrated in Manchuria.
The Russian Vladivostok squadron, four
cruisers and two torpedo boats, entered
Gensan harbor, $50 miles southwest o.
Vladivostok, Monday and sunk small
Japanese transport, leaving Immediately
Its appearance created CONSERVATION
among the Japanese. Admiral Togo VIII
devote attention to this squadron, whlch
is a menace to the Japanese line OF COM
munications while at large.
/ Viceroy Alexief reported Friday thai
during the placing Of mines at Port Arthur
by some steam launches, Lieutenant Pell
and 20 men were killed through mine
exploding prematurely under the stern OF
one OF the launches.
Gen. Kouropatkin reports the execution
of two Japanese officers, arrested near q
railway station, having in their possession
apparatus for railway wrecking IheS