The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-16
A Russian Cruiser Blown Up By Mine
At Port Arthur.
Russian Officials Getting Over Their Surprse..Rus
sian Troops Arrive at New Chwang.
sLAv TROOPS REPORTED FREEZING In SIBERIA

at Chemulpo, the first division OF q
large number that will be thrown into
Korea as rapidly as possible IN the
effort thoroughly TO occupy the STRAIT
egio points in the Hermit Kingdom
while the Russian fleet is bottled up
in Port Arthur BY one conversant
with japanese plans il is stated that
the repeated attacks on Port Arthur
are not for the purpose Of seizing that
place at present unless an unexpected
weakness in the Notifications there
should develop. They are part OF q
well defined plan for the harassing of
the Russian feet until Korea can be
occupied. The bottling mp Of the fleet
there enables the landing OF troops on
Korea without the convoy of large
number Of waIships. The reports OF
disorder in various parts of Korea has
tened the operations Of the japanese,
that they might obtain possession be-
fore anarchy became prevalent and
foreign interests menaced in oonse-
quenoe.
SECOND IN WAR PROGRAM.
The taking of Port Arthur viii form
the second number of the war pro-
gramme. First, however. it is learned
that the japanese purpose to cut the
lines Of communication well mp on the
railroad running from New Chwang to
Port Arthur. IL is expected . large
japanese force will land at New
Chwang shortly for this purpose. The
navy department denies positively
that any American naval officers were
aboard the japanese ships in the fight
ing at Port Arthur 1t is said that
our government requested permission
Of both Russia and Japan to place an
American naval officer with each Of
the fleets not as . combatant, bnt pure
ly in the capacity of an observer.
While Mother power refused the re-
cues. outright, still they did not &C.
cede.
The war department 10 having
equally bad luck in trying to place
American military observers with the
land forces Of Russia and japan.
Eight officers were selected for this
duty, and requests were made that
they be permitted to accompany the
forces in the field. but q favorable re-
Spouse has not yet been received and
il 10 feared that it will not be.
Mr.. Takahira, the Japanese minis
ter. called upon Secretary Hay today.
and it 10 understood that the reported
detention OF about 100 Japanese sub
jects In Port Arthur was under discus
sion, There seems to be lack Of posi-.
tive information on this subject, and
until the facts are known the state de.
partment is inclined to 90 slow in
making representations to Russia. II
is bound to do so. however. il Japan
formally requests 1t, as the depart.
ment has undertaken to represent ia
pan so far as the interests Of japanese
subjects in Russia are concerned.
Taking notice Of the reported escape
from Port Arthur Of the American
cargo iship tleiades under cover of
storm. the department officials are in
clirfed to believe that she may have
brought away some of the detained
Japanese. Ii is said that large license
is accorded by International law to
commanders in such cases as
these, and they freely exercise discre-
tionary power as to the ingress and
egress into and from towns practical
ly besieged like Port Arthur Of persons
who might carry damaging informa-
ton to the foe.