Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-20


 to the reported purchase by Russia or four ships in the United States. it IS now said that the deal was negotiated at Constantinople by General Will Hams. the agent of q Philadelphia shipbuilding firm. and the Russian ambassador to Turkey, M. Zinovieff.
 The admiralty still lacks definite in formation as to the cause of the Petro- paylosk disaster The authorities at Port Arthur evidently are not yet coh- yinced that they have the true eXpla- nation. The general staff here is di- vided between two opinions, a mine or a boiler explosion. although a few still cling to the theory that the battleship was sunk by q submarine boat The boiler explosion theory is based on the knowledge that the Petropavlosk had been steaming at full speed and that her, sudden showdown may have caused an accumulation of pressure which burst her boilers. Those who accept the mine theory, and they are dn the majority, believe that the ex- plosion of the mine detonated the magazine, which blew up before the boilers. The main objection 1ad- vanced against the mine idea is that the water where the catastrophe oc- cured is too deep for anchored mines.
 T can scarcely imagine that Vice Admiral Togo would dare to turn loose a lot of floating mines" said one of the highest placed naval authori- ties. "The tides are high and the currents strong at Port Arthur and floating mines might easily be carried out to sea and endanger his own ships"
 Tien Tsin, April 2O.-It is under stood here that only four Russian regi- ments remain on the Ydlu river, and that the Russians first line of defense extends from Feng Huan Chang to Mo Tien Ling pass.
 During the last two days many Chi nese refugees from Manchuria have arrived at Tien Tsin.
 On the maps Mo Tien Ling pass is about 90 miles northwest of Chiu Tien Chong, near the mouth of the Yalu and about 40 miles southeast of Liao Yang. Feng Huan Chang is about half way between Chiu Tien Cheng and Mo Tien Ling pass.
 Port Arthur, Tuesday. April 19, de layed in transmission ).-It is persist ently asserted that a Japanese cruiser was sunk off Port Arthur April 15gantl that the Japanese armored cruisers Nisshin and Kasuga were damaged respectively above and below the wa ter line.
 London, April 20. 2:O2 p. m.-A dis patch to the Central News from st Petersburg says it is reported that a Japanese force has landed near New Chwang.
 Nagasalzi, April 20, II a. m-Con- tact mines have been found floating seaward forty miles from Cape Shan tung. Three of them were discovered and destroyed by the Japanese fleet.
 Cape Shantung is a headland on the Japanese coast bearing east, southeast and about twenty-five miles distant from Wei Hai Wei. the British naval rendezvous on the China station.
 New Chwang, April 2O.-The core spondents of leading French, Italian and British newspapers. of one Amer fcan newspaper and of the Associated Press have been permitted to proceed to Mukden They left here to-day.
 United States Consul Miller enter tained the correspondents at the con sulate previous to their departure They are the first foreign newspapel men admitted to the Russian line: since the declaration of war.
 Seoul. April 2O-The Japanese au thorities here admit that constant skir mishing is occurring between the op posing armies on the Yalu river. Bu they claim that no decisive action ha taken place up to date, though neW' of such an engagement is expected a any moment. Q
 BOYS BOUND OVER.