Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-09
Cars Officials Uninformed of
Enemy's Movements.
NEWS FROM THEPAPERS
INVESTMENT OF PORT DALNY
UNcoNFIRMED, BUT NOT DENIED.
Russian Newspaper Unduly Excited
Foreign War Correspondents Re-
fused-War Loan With France.

ST. PETERSBURG. May 8, 430 D. M
The Russian authorities are completely in
the dark as to what is happening In me
territory occupied by the enemy, except
such news as comes from the newspapers
abroad and originating from Japanese
sources.
The reports Of a Japanese landing at Taku
Shan and the investment OF Port Dalny,
etc, while not conflrmable here officially,
are not denied
The Novoe Vremya this morning Is great
ly excited over the action OF the Swedish
authorities IN mining the entrance of the
harbor of Site. on which the island of Goth
land, In the Baltic sea. demanding that the
foreign office ascertain the cause, seeming
ly forgetting that Site was occupied as a
base by the British feet operating against
st. Petersburg at the time of the Crimean
war.
viceroy Alexiefr refuses to receive any
more foreign war correspondents.
The $15O,OOO, 900 Loan Concluded.
At a meeting of the financial depart
ment of the council of the empire, under
the presidency of Count Solsky today, the
report of the committee regarding the con.
clusion of a new per cent loan of $780,
100000 to be issued in France, was ap-
proved and signed. 1t will be sanctioned by
the emperor today.
Headquarters Transferred to Harbin.
viceroy AlexiefT has telegraphed to the
emperor announcing the transfer of his
headquarters to Harbin.
1t is expected that Gen. Kuropatkin will
remove to Mukden.
The admiralty reports that Rear Admiral
Jessens squadron is at vlodivostok
Apprehension at st. Petersburg.
The swift march of events at the theater
af xyir uol oh nd l,yf flna
Russians of all their advanced positions
along the Manchurian lttoral--has created
deep impression among the people and a
feeling of apprehension which the authori-
ties contend is unwarranted by a calm
consideration of the situation
While not attempting to minimize the i'm
portance of the advantages gained by the
enemy in the occupation of the Lao-Tung
peninsula and the advance from the Ya1u
river, the general staff nevertheless declares
that IL 1t had not been for Gen. Zassalitch's
rash stand at the Yalu the retreat and
concentration of Gen. Kuropatkin's army
upon fits normal line of defense would have
been regarded as mastery piece Of
strategy.
War to Be Long and Bitter.
The equanimity of the government is
shown by the free publication of all news
kilograms from abroad. some being of a
most sensational character.
At the general staff the one dominant idea
is that the developments of the last few
Gays make 1t certain that the war will be
long AMI bitter. There IL is said that half a
million men would have been required to
hold southern Manchuria The real truth
seems TO be that Gen. Kuropatkin has not
much over 100000 men south of Harbin, and
he is determined to pursue the plan which
he mapped out at frsl-to allow the enemy
tc follow him back into the heart of Man
ohuria, until strong enough to assume the
offensive.
Situation at Niuchwang.
The Associated Press is informed that
while the Russian garrison is still at Niu-
chwang the untenabilty of the position is
fully realized and preparations for dismant-
ling the forts and removing the garrison
have b zen completed The Russian gunboat
Sivouch there will be destroyed.
The same thing applies to Hai-Cheng,
twenty-five miles southeast of Niuchwang.
The question of holding the Russian posi-
ton at Liao-Yang depends upon circum-
stances. The Russians hold the pass which
commands the westerly approaches, but 1t
is realized that the position there also will
be rendered untenable IL the enemy succeeds
in bringing up superior force along the
northern road to Mukden.
Chinese Uprising.
An ultimate retirement to Hardin might
possibly incur the danger of a Chinese up
rising which increases with the Japanese
successes and sh ould be taken into consid-
Grafton. Should the news of the enemy'e
victories fnfiame the Chinese residents Of
Manchuria against the Russians, the latter's
withdrawal north of the zone of their hos
tilty might become imperative. The pos
slblity of active operations against Flaadi-
vostok also have to be reckoned with
The general staff inveighs against a too
pessim.stic view of the situation, pointing
out that the Japanese must land another
army Eefore they can hope to make q
strong advance movement, which will re-
Cuire time. In the meantime the strength
of Gen. Kuropatkin's army and his position
will daily increase.
The general staff repeat the words of the
commander-in-chef: Patience, patience,
patience" They also insist that the full ex-
tent of the Russian losses on the Yalu river
has been published
TT is 10 guesswork CT our losses" said
member of the general staff. Every man
has been accounted for. Let the enemy pub
li..n Ia,,trc