The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-08

almost four weeks have elapsed since l
the Japanese first attacked Port Ar
thur, here the war is considered hard |
ly TO have begun.
Heavy land fighting, upon which |
the fate of the campaign depends, is |
not expected much before the end of |
April.
By this time, Russia will have in |
the field, exclusive of the large army |
of men required to guard the rail- !
roads, four army corps, each with
| cavalry division and an artillery bri-
| gade. All that has happened so far or
is going to happen until these forces
| are in the field, is considered. accord
| ing to the Russian view. to be moth
| ing more than the prologue to the
| real drama.
The Russians are determined to de-
fend Port Arthur as heroically as they
| did Sebastopol. No large garrison
| will be rtained there; ten thousand
men are as good as 100000 for defense
| while the more men the more mouths
to feed. There are enough provisions
| now to last for eight months. lin ad-
| dition, there will be a division of Cos
| sacks, with mountain batteries, on the
| peninsula to oppose landings and har-
. | raSs the enemy If they succeed in IN
| yesting the city.
Il Viceroy Alexieff still retains his
Headquarters at Mukden. through
which 5000 or 1000 soldiers are pass
: ing daily to the positions which the
main armies will occupy.
, The Russians plans do not contem-
\ | plate taking any chances on the score
! of inferior numbers. By sheer weight
| of men and guns, If nothing else
| when the proper time arrives, Russls
counts on overwhelming the japanese
and rolling them back through Korea
a A Note to the Powers.
Toxic March 5.-Japan addressed :
note to the powers today in response Z
= | the recent communication from Rus
!, | sia The note has not been puDliShe'
here and it's contents are unknown
y 3ussia's various communications Z
s. the powers, attacking Japan Tor IL
Al | conduct of diplomatic negotiations DE
q | fore their rupture for its attack upol
= Russia without declaration OF wal
l. and for it's alleged violation OF III
s | neutrality of Korea, have been receiS
> ed in Japan largely in the spirit Q
amusement. The japanese reseii
- what is alleged to be a deliorate al
N tempt to place them in a false positio
e resardine certain incidents. but in tn
r main do not take the correspondent
p seriously. Responding to the charge
| violating the neutrality OF Korea, the
IS point to the action Of Russia In MAI
J. churia, where thousands OF trooi
Is were assembled. long before diplomat
'e | rupture occurred. They say tnat Inc
70 | are fully prepared to accept the 1udt
p ment Of the powers on comparison
their course in Korea where they Ian'
ed troops only after state or W.
existed, and upon the written permi
al sion of the Emperor OF Korea The
deny that Chemulpo was a neutr
mort after japanese landed on Feor'
:" ary Sth but whether it was neutral
ns belligerent, Russia began hostiitl
>. | there. When the Russian gunboat Il
-. ! reitZ steamed out OF the haroor
,et Chemulpo on the afternoon Of Feor1
ae | ary sth she opened fire on the Jap
ne | nese SQUADRON. making the openil
dt shot of the war. The japanese gu
did not respond, but the japanese TO
pedo boat destroyers answered the IL
and discharged two tOrpedoeS befo
the KorietZ retired
H.. | The Japanese are confident OF
Justice and strength Of their origin
position in the integrity or CHINA =
the fairness of their proposal. duri
ere serving notice of their relations a.
a | fed in commencing hoStilitleS All
IN breaking of diplomatic relations a
serving notice OF their reiations d
on take independent action Thsy 9
,ad | sure their recent assurances tnat !
no. bad NO intention OF taking poseeSsl
lge ~ chinese territory and would Sus
antee the Independence Of Korea wo'
he accepted by the powers
er-
uc Peddiers Band Is Against the Japari'
Seoul, March a-Twenty members
the Peddlers band are reported TO a.
lie taken oath to kill all officials
mn favor an alliance with japan 2
ent | japanese minister. Oh Df -.
OF of this promptly informed the kor1
government that IL IL did not arrest
= a conspirators the japanese ofnci
law. | would do so. AS a result four lead
ork of the Peddlers have just been
rille rested
4. ne cabinet today decided to REQ