Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-05-16
TRAP FOR RUSSIANS.

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nose within and without the Russian
spbere of influence, the authorities in
St Petersburg do not conceal their ap-
prehension as to the outlook, especially
in the north of the empire, for they pur-
nose to call the attention of the Celes-
tial government to the impending up
rising in Tapadziatsi in order that re-
pressive measures may be instantly
taken.
1t is known and appreciated in st.
Petersburg that all The powers have made
strong representations 10 Peking in the
interest Of the preservation Of the trau-
guilty Of the empire, but it is stated
that Maj. Gen. Pings dispatch of May
IA shows the necessary for further i'm
pressing the Celestial government with
he adyisibility Of aciiug with a firm
hand.
Major General KarbeV.tch reports that
the Chinese attacked his oUtposts on the
Feng Wang Cheng road leading to
Saimatsi.
General Plug telegraphs that accord
ing to reports Of patrols aud missionaries
the Chinese at Tapodziatsi, 100 miles
northwest of MUl:den aud Just outside
the Russian sphere of influence, ale pre-
paring to rise against the Russians aud
Christians generally.
The military authorities in st. Peters
burg claim to have information of n
sensational character, to the effect that
the Chinese have tacitly agreed to CO.
operate with the japanese against the
Russians. The japanese propose, it is
stated, to drive General KuropatSin' s
forces in;o Mongolia, which would place
the Russians in the position of invaders
of neutral territory and enable repTisals
by General Mas army, which, it is as
serted, is kept in that region for that
special object, thus clever!y avoiding the
slightest infringement of the neutrality
of China by Japan, and the Chinese
troops, by not crossing the Mancburian
frontier, could not be charged with a
violation of pledges in respect to nonln-
terference in military operations IN
Manchuria.
The opinion of an eminent strategist
of st. Petersburg given to the Associated
Press Yesterday is that the japanese in
tend to attack not only Liaoyang, but
all along the line, in au effort to drive
General Kuropatkin into Mongolia,
where the Chinese are waiting for BIN.
Knowing these conditions, General
Kuropatkin, he said, would not be likely
to make a serious resistance at Kaiplng
or Haicheng, but would withdraw to the
north. This would enable the japanese
to march on Niuchwang with little
hindrance and their unopposed use OF
that point as a base from which men
and supplies could be sent north without
any violation of the neutral zone west
of the Lao river.
A young Russian officer has scored the
first success for his navy in the war by
the torpedoing and crippling, although
not the sinking, of an armored japanese
cruiser. The Russian attack was care
fully planned on May 10, while the Jap
anese squadron was concentrated outylde
Dalny, devoting lis whole attention to
Taienwau bay, and was carried out the
same night. The attacking force was
not regular torpedo boat, but was only
a small naphtha launch, in command OF
:. young naval officer, who had with
him three sailors. The launch mounted
a small machine gun and carried three
torpedoes. When darkness fell the
launch crept out of Port Arthur,
hugging the shore, with no lights
aboard and no glow from the engine
to betray her presence. 1t was late
when she gained the outer line
of the japanese squadron. Slipping
through the torpedo boat pickets and Sc
lectiug the nearest warship, a big armor-
ed cruiser, she stole toward her and sue
ceeded in exploding against her side a
single torpedo. A deafening roar fol-
lowed the lexplosion, which echoed far
ashore. Immediately flames enveloped
the cruiser, which evidently was badly
crippled. The crew of the cruiser was
seen to be fighting the fire, which they
at last succeeded in extinguishing. A
sister ship took the damaged vessel in
tow and disappeared to the southeast.
The launch escaped the hot fire directed
against her by the japanese ships, but
being unable to return to Port Arthur ol
to get into Dalny, she was beached no
far from Dalny.
The Russians, on May IL, apprehend'
ing that the presence of the japanese
squadron meant an attempt to capture
Daluy, blew up the piers and quietly
evacuated the place.
Two thousand japanese have reoccu
pied the road to Sanchilipu, again cut
ting off Port Arthur. A strong force II
advancing against Polandien.
A Startling Test.