Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-14
THE RUSSIAN GIANT
 STRETCHING LIf1BS--
 PREPARING TO FIGHT
That's What Russian Correspondent Says About the St uation---Great Suffering of Women and Children Who Fled From Manchuria--The Deadly Shore Fire Prevented Japan From Saving Some of Their Men in That Battle of Last Friday.

Tokio, March 14.-A supplementary eeport from Vice-Adnliral Togo, con- cerning the effort made by crews of the Japanese torpedo boat destroyers an the action off Port Arthur on the 10th inst. to rescue the crews of the disabled Russian torpedo boat destroy CTS. reached here to-day. Captain Shojiro Asai, commanding the fiotllla of torpedo boat. destroyers, states that the Japanese would have been able to rescue many more of the enemy but for the deadly fire of the shore bat teries and the close approach of the Russian cruiser Noyik. The report also explains that four men rescued were not part of the crew of the Stereguschtchi, as originally reported. When the Japanese rescuerers reached the Stereguschtchi only the dead re mained on board and it is believed the living of the crew jumped overboafd and perished. Three of the Russlans rescued are engineers and the fourth Is a torpedo operator. Two of the cap dives were slightly wounded. Ihey were all placed aboard a Japanese bat- tie ship and were given food and medl- icine.
 St Petersburg, March 14, 3:46 D. m.
 
 fo the front writes to the St Peters burg telegraph bureau from lrkutsk, Siberia, as follows:
 "Our express train travels slower than the slowest train in European Russia. The seat of war Is still re- mote, but it's presence Is felt. The long rows of cars filled with soldiers, fhe caravans and the primitive sleighs' drawn by shaggy horses, which we pass along the way at the crowded stations, break the monOtony of the snowbound wastes and endless for ests, and the stiffness is broken by the songs of the jolly reservists and the bells of the village churches sounding clear through the frosty air. This hustle and activity amidst the iberian desolation strikingly illustrates the Russian giant stretching his limbs pre- naratory to punishing the foe. Gen eral Ronnenkampf, who is to lead the Cossack division, is travelling on the same train. He tells me that all these l.eseryists will become such splendid. hardened soldiers a fortnight after reaching the front.
 At Irkutsk we met the first victims pf the women and children trying to get back to European Russia. On our entrance into the semi-dariness of the station we were greeted by the wailing of children issuing from the dirt heaps and baggage encumbering the floors. Their waxen faces and bloodshot, sleepless eyes would melt heart of stone. The wild, panic stricken flight of their mothers from Manchuria after the startling outbreak os the war led to T great suffering They reached this place after untold ehardships, only to find that they Will have to wait weeks more till there IS sufficient train accommodation to en- able them to proceed further. So the children have been pfning. sleepless and motionless in fetid atmosphere, because outside reigns deathiy frost.
 The St Petersburg Zeitung asserts that the proclamation leaves no further doubt that the United States has a firm intention to observe strict neutral itv. and adds: Ut bears the stamp or strong and most distinguished person ality.''
 The paper also makes a display of denial of the New-Chwang report that tho United States intends to sup port the protest of the commander of the United States gunboat Helena against the plan of the Russian author. tics 10 sink iunls at the entrance oi the Iiao river. evidently considerine that this puts an end to the statement which caused furry here yesterday and that further comment is unneces sary.
 The Alexander committee announces that in addition to the regular army pensions supplementary pension ol So5 q year will be given the widows and orphans of the non-commissione( officers and $24 to those soldiers anc sailors killed i'll the face of the enemy