The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-08
TO PROTECT HE
BALTIC SQUADRON.
Continued from Page One.)
STR ENGTH ENING POSITIONS

STRENGTHENING POSITIONS.
Toxic, Nov. s.--Reports from Shankhe
river state that both armies are still
strengthening their positions along the
river and are otherwise busily preparing
for another great battle. The scouts are
constantly In touch and frequent outpost
skirmishes occur but there Is no likeli-
hood OF general engagement for the
present.
Relnforcements OF Russian troops, guns
and supplies are constantly arriving at
the front. filing the gaps caused by the
crushing losses at the battle OF Shakhe
river.
TERMS OF SURRENDER.
Chefoo. Nov. s. $50 p m.-The Japanese
besieging Port Arthur. Ignoring Lieut..
Gen. Stoessel the commander OF the Rus
sian military forces there, have offered
terms OF surrender 10 the Russian sol
diers. according TO sdvices leaving Port
Dalny yesterday.
OF picks and spades, gradually advancing
the trenches spell ineXorable fate 10 the
watching Russian soldiers.
said the soldiers composing the garrison
OF Port Arthur, in want and dlspirited.
saw the hopelessness Of the struggle.
Dispairing OF relief. with food scarce
ficient, II was admitted by the Russians
that japanese victory was ultimately In
evitable.
The soldiers. according to the prisoner.
see no reason TO prolong the resistance
which brings glory to their officers, but
chiefly hardship and death TO them.
BY LIGHT OF A LANTERN.
Upon hearing the prisoners story Gen.
Nogi assembled his staff. discussed the
matter briefly and then by the light OF
bicycle lantern drafted letter to be cir
culated among the soldiers themselves.
the prisoner having promised TO deliver
II in mercy 10 his comrades.
The letter related Gen Kuropatkin's a
retreats and his inability 10 make an i'm
preston on the army OF Field Marshal
Oyama 10 say nothing OF breaking
through his forces and relieving Port Ar
thur. The letter also pointed out that the
second Russian Pacific squadron has just
started on its slow voyage.
Continuing 1t calls attention 70 the re-
sistless advance OF the japanese trenches
making II a matter OF weeks when the
Japanese would walk into the main Rus
sian strongholds. In conclusion, the let
ter offered humane treatment to all who
surrender. saying II was in the interests
OF humanity 10 prevent further useless
slaughter
In the darkness OF the early morning
OF Nov. several copies OF the letter.
written In Russian, were given TO the
prisoner. who regained the Russian lines
unobserved by his officers.
That night the Russians returned say
ing his comrades would answer within
a few days. He said the temper OF the
men seemed TO show that while they were
mutinous towards fate they also did not
like the idea OF an unofficial surrender.
AN ILLUSION DISPELLED.
The letter did much, however, 10 dis
pell among the Russian tropps the I'M
pressio nfostered by their officers that
a massacre would follow a Japanese VIC
tory. The company TO which the prisoner
belonged originally numbered 500 and now
totals 80 men.
AS the japanese are sufficiently near
the SUBMITS OF the hills to render tun-
nelling highly practicable, much OF this
work is now being done. The Russians
are building counter tunnels. whichever
si6e nnds its tunnels under the enemy's
blows up the latter's tunnel. To pre-
vent explosives being rolled down into
the trenches the Japanese have made
ranges or hillocks OF earth above the
trenches.
Five Russian mine sweeping steamers
have been sunk by Japanese shells.
NEW JAPANESE LOAN.
London. Nov s.-The prospectus OF the
new japanese loan OF 60,0oo. 600 will be
isssvsd tomorrow or Thursday. Half Of
the amount will be offered in New York
and half in London.
The price Is 90ia with interest at s per
cent. The loan will be secured by sec
ond charge on the Japanese customs.
Dealings IN the loan have already COM
menced at ~ premium.