The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-18

st. Petersburg. March 15.-From The
highest official quarters the Associated
Press has received Information that
there is absolutely no foundation for
the rumors persistently sent out from
Toxic hat the Russians are abandon
ing Port Arthur.
1T is veriest nonsense" said the Of
fetal informant Of the Associated
Press. Nothing a occurred there to
warrant such reports. The Japanese
fleet has not been seen for forty-eight
hours. The motive Of the government
at Toxic in spreading this story is
probably to influence public feeling In
Japan for the purpose Of creating en-
thusiasm, while a wal Dan is being
floated."
The newspapers here manifest tho
greatest indignation over the report.
the Boerse Gazette characterizing it as
outrageous and a British invention.
General Kuropatkin expects to reach
Mukden. March 26th. Everything will
be sidetracked in order to get him to
the front on schedule time He bears
an autograph letter from the Emperor
to Viceroy Alexieff, to whom he will
report. 1t is understood that the vice
roy then will turn over the entire di-
rection of the land operations to Cen
eral Kuropatkin. General Kuropatkin
has his plan of campaign practically
perfected before he left here for the
Far East.
On, account Of the difficulty of hous-
ing the vast number Of troops poured
into Nukden. fourteen thousand have
been sent forward within the last Few
days towards the Yalu river, as REIN
forcements for the seven thousand
troops already at Kasan and Anju and
the stream Of soldiers from European
Russia is now being held at Hardin
The housing problem will disappear
with h advent Of warmer weather,
but in the meantime the government is
hurrying forward large numbers Of
portable collapsable wooden Quatcrs,
1,S00 of these having already been dis
patched from St. Petersburg and 5000
from MOSCOW.
Prince Louis Napoleon will soon pro-
coed to h far east. where he will take
| supreme command of tn cavalry under
General Kuropatkin.
! The statement by General Zalinski
that the Russians found poisoned
| swords left by the fleeing japanese has
aroused much comment. Similar swords
were used by the Chinese during the
| Boxe rebellion, specially in Manchuria
and the slightest wound inflicted by
| them proved fatal. The use of such
weapons is prohibited by the Geneva
and Hague conventions.
Russians Abandoned Port Arthur.
Toxic, Tuesday, March LIT i:
strongly believed here that the Rus
sian fleet abandoned Port Arthur at
ter the fourth attack was made upon
it by the Japanese fleet and is en
deavoring to reach V~ladivostok. Con-
frmation of this movement is not OBJ
tainable from any reliable source, but
recent scouting in the vicinity of Port
Arthur has failed to reveal the pres.
ence of any Russian warships. Z
seems logical enough hat the Russians
should attempt a ash for V~ladivostok
where it is possible to dock larger
ships. effect a junction with their ar.
mored cruiser squadron. and secure /:
base for operations while possessing
adequate LAM d%efenses. The hopeless
ness at Port Arthur is manifest. while
a dash for Vladivostok might succeed
contrary to the opinion previously ex
pressed.
Vice Admiral Togo is unwilling t.
run the risk of dividing his battlesh;I
squadron and continues to operate N,
six battleships together. If the Rus
slams should make an attempt t.
reach ~Vladivostok. it is believed the,
will try a dash through the Koreal
straits rather than enter the Japan sc;
through the Sugaru straits.
Report of Another Engagement
Tien. Tsin. March ia foreigue
Just arrived from Port Arthur report
that a short engagement took place be
tween the Russian and japanese fleet
on Sunday last, the Russian protecte,
cruiser Diana. receiving some injuries
About twenty or thirty shells wer
exchanged.
The imperial Chinese railway com
pany is considering the withdrawal o
its station force and all Of its moyabl
property from New Chwang.
Newspaper Correspondents Ordered Z
Return.
Seoul. March 15.-The Japanese au
thorities have ordered the newspape
correspondents at Ping Yang and All
to return They also refuse to homo
h permits formerly given for corrc
~spondents to accompany troops to tn
front and are holding them at Seou
h action Is regarded as signiican,
Heavy Loss OF Russians at Port Ar
thur.
London. March 1~6.-According to
correspondent OF the Daily Mail a
New Chwang. General Kuropatkn ha
wired Lieutenant Genera Stoessel tina
he must hold Port Arthur with tn
present garrison.
While there Is no actual news frog
4 the theatre of war minors are ulent-
' ful. The Daily Express correspondent