Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-21
EMPERoRs RIGHT HAND MAN IN
THE FAR EAST LAYS DOWN
WORK.
CORRESPONDENTS ARE
ADMITTED TO MUKDEN

ADMITTED IO MUkDEN
Russians Allow Newspaper Men to Go
Inside Lines-Persistent Reports at
Port Arthur Say Japanese Lost Ship
April 15-contact Mines Discovered.
London, April 2o.-A dispatch to the
Central News from st. Petersburg
says that 1t is reported that Japan
ese force has landed near New
Chwang.
Port Arthur, Tuesday, April 1e.-
'(DeIayed.)-AlI is quiet throughout
this district. 1t is persistently assert
ed that Japanese cruiser was sunk
off Port Arthur on April is and that
the Japanese armored cruisers Niasin
and kasaga were damaged respective
ly below and above the water line.
Nagasaki, April 2o.-contact mines
have been found floating to seaWard,
forty miles from Cape shang Tung,
and twenty-five miles from Wei-Hai-
Wei. Three MINES were discovered
and destroyed by the Japanese fleet.
Paris, April 20.--The ST. Petersburg
correspondent of the Petit Parisen
says that when it was asserted that
one Of the two Japanese caught in an
attempt to blow up the railway near
the Mongolian frontier was member
of the imperial family, instructions
were asked from st. Petersburg.
The reply, according to the cores.
pondent, was "Hang," and the order
was promptly carried out.
Tien Tsin, April 2o.-It is under
stood here that only four Russian reg
inents remain on the YaIu river, and
that the Russians first line of defence
extends from Feng Huan cheng to
Molten Ling Pass.
st. Petersburg, April 90. - Viceroy
Alexieff has resigned his position as
personal representative of the czar in
the far east, and has asked that his res
ignation be accepted at once. This re-
quest will probably be granted
Alexieff's resignation was received
by telegraph last evening. An answer
will be sent tomorrow, and there is
reason to believe that the czar vel
comes the chance to be rid of his vice
roy without the necessity of asking
him to resign.
Called Hoodoo.
1t was only few days ago that the
czar speaking of his viceroy, said:
sThat man brings us nothing but
ill luck!"
The immediate cause of the resigna
ton is Vice Admiral Skrydloff's ap
pointment to succeed Vice Admiral
Makaroff as commander of the Russian
fleet in the far East. Skrydloff and
Alexieff have long been enemies and
the Admiral has of lare severely criti
cised the viceroy's conduct of the wal
Skrydloff had a long conference with
the czar yesterday and discussed the
question of the formers relations with
Alexieff. 1t is believed he protested mild
1y against serving practically under the
orders of man he detested, and fo1
whose ability he had no respect Con
sequently, the czar, who is most anx
ious to have Skrydloff, in whom both
he and the Russian people have the ut
most confidence, was considerably re
lieved when the viceroy's telegram ar
rived.
Turns Against AIexieff.
A great change has of late come over
the feelings of the czar in regard te
Alexieff, and M Bezobrazoff, who rep
resented the militant party, which was
anxious that Russia should maintain
her supremacy in Manchuria.
It was to these two men that the
Anglo-Japanese entente first lost its
terrors. They believed that Grea
Britain would not go to war, and tha
Japan could not. To the indignation
of Japan they succeeded in turning the
policy of the empire from carrying
out the treaty for the entire evacuation
of Manchuria, pending further demand:
on China
Appointed in August.
On August 12, last, after Japan hat
submitted an inquiry as to whethe
Russia was disposed to reopen negotia
tions respecting Manchuria and Corea
viceroyalty in the far east, specia
secretary of state, and an advisor.
committee were created, Alexieff be
ing appointed viceroy and Bezobrazof
was relieved of his portfolio as ministe
of finance.
1t was through his new official ad
visers that the embperor conducted ne
gotiations with Japan, and it is claim
ed that they misjudged the temper AM
purpose of the Japanese, and left tn
czar in ignorance of the preparation
I for war which Japan was making, an
/ the rising war spirit of that empire.
Should Have Kept Gar Informed.
The enemies of Alexieff have persist
emily asserted that, as the man on tn
spot, he should have kept the empero
informed concerning these vital points
Correspondents Go to Mukden.
New Chwang. April 90 Cores
pondents Of the leading French, Italia