The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1904-04-08

TOXIC, April 4.-1n0 ADVANCE SuaTu
of the Japanese army in northwestern
Korea has occupied the town of Seng
Cheng without opposition. Seng Cheng
is on the Pekin road, $50 miles west Of
Chongju, and about 40 miles south Of
Win.
When the Japanese drove the Rus
SLAMS out of Chongju, the Russians
withdrew in two columns, one going
over the Pekin road. The Japanese
advance from Chongju was made very
rapidly. 1t was anticipated that the
Russians would resist this advance,
but they failed to do so, and it is now
not probable that there will be any
further opposition south of the Yalu
river.
Ready to Force YaIu.
Weihaiwei, April Al have just re-
turned from a four days cruise, in
which 1 visited one Japanese base and
passed close to the entrance of Port
Arthur harbor. My message giving
the particulars of the late Japanese
attempt on Port Arthur was sent by
wireless from the Korean coast, dis
| lance of over 100 miles, showing that
our apparatus is in perfect condition
and can be relied upon in case of
emergency
The situation in Korea, so far as
could be learned at Japanese head
| quarters, is about as follows: Gen.
eral Kurokis, who is in command of
| the Japanese guard, is now in a posi-
ton to force the passage Of the Yalu
| river at any time which the Japanese
general staff decides is the most dan
gerous to strike. He is, however, ap-
parently awaiting the mobilization of
the second Japanese army before at
tempting any important move. This
second development is we'll under way,
but l am pledged not to indicate it's
whereabouts until the blow has actual
ly fallen.
Honors About Even.
In the meantime the Russian and
Japanese Outposts are in constant
touch on the line of the Choug Choug
Ing, but as a rule they do not come to
serious conflict, although a few sharp
encounters have taken place, in which
honOrs were about even. The country
in northern Korea is of such nature
that the Cossacks are badly handicap
ped and are hardly so effective as
well trained infantry forces would be-
The weather is improving, though COM
munication is still extremely difficult.
The Japanese are constantly improv-
ing the roads, and even though they
penetrate far into Manchuria, they will
not suffer so mucn as General Inuoys
men on the marcn to seize Pingyang
last month.
The naval conditions are extremely
puzzling. 1t is impossible to learn
whether the entire Russian fleet was
in Port Arthur at the time of the
last Japanese attack. When the Hal
nun passed the entrance of the harbor
Saturday afternoon We could distingu-
ish no smoke in the harbor and we
, met no vessels on the way. The dense
= fogs that at this season of the year
i. hang over the waters and make navi-
= cation extremely hazardous, may give
Admiral Makaroff the opportunity to
:, practice his own theories regarding de-
, stroyer tactics and attempt a night
dash on the Japanese fleet.
The latest trustworthy reports show
that the Russian land forces are in the
= main on the line between Liaoyang
and Hal Cheng, south of Mukden, while
all of the arrivals from the north and
g the troops that coulu be spared from
Forth Arthur are concentrated at
. points where they are available for
= quick dispatch to the Yalu when they
are needed there. There are also mo-
# bile forces at other points ready fol-
Il dispatch to any theatened point.