Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-02-25
CAPTURED BY COSSACKS
A Japanese Officer and Some Important
Papers.
FIRST SEIRMISH ON LAND AT WIJU.
Russian General Declares Situation at Port
Arthur Unchanged and All Quiet In Manchuria
..Meanwhllc the Wary Japs Are Secretly
Moving In Various Directions and May Strike
at Any Moment Scouts Cross Yalu River

St. Petersburg. (By Cable). - Major
General Plug, the chief of staff of Vice
roy Alexietf telcgraphcd from Port
Arthur as follows:
The situation at Fort Arthur is un-
changed.
A sotnia of Cossacks, marching from
Wiju captured a japanese major, Tat
saru, with five soldiers and two civil
ians
The reports regarding the enemy arc
generallycontradicto and scarce.
1t is confirmed that troops of Yuan
Shat Ka commanders chief of the
Chinese Army, are being dispatched to
Tsinchou and kupantzc.
All is quiet in Manchuria.
A Press dispatch from Port Arthur
saws the first land encounter has occurred.
A picket of CossackS attacked a small
dctachmcntof of japanese troops on Korean
territory. The Cossacks captured some
japanese prisoners on whom they found
maps and papers.
The collision HuS presumably bctw cen
reconnoitcrihg parties \ general en-
gagement not anticipated Immediately
The japanese fleet was observed Feb
ruarv 1s cruising off Port Arthur. All
Arthur and practically only the garrison
remains.
Reports from Northern Korea say the
Koreans are showiuCa decidedly friendly
attitude to the Russians.
The Manchurian Railroad is conveying
troops without difficulty to the various
points of concentration.
Native reports say that the Chinese
pirates. since the outbreak OF hostilitics,
have been displaying such activity in
Eastern Asiatc waters rs almost to
paralyZc the coastin" trade.
Russians Lose Two Cruisers
Toxic, (By Cable \ heavy storm
spared the Russians from II desperate
torpedo attack at Port Arthur on the
morning Of Sunday, the llth instant.
During the preceding night the vessels
Of the japanese tlotilla of torpedo craft
were parted by the force Of the windHnd
waves, in binding snow storm So that
only two of the larger dcNtroy"rs sue
cccded in forcing their way through the
fierce gale to Port Arthur.
When they arrived there they attacked
separately, ard the officers OF one of
them are confident that they succeeded
in torpcdoing IA Russian warShip lhc
destroyer Asargiri, in charge of Lieu.
tenant Commander lShikawa, arrived of
Port Arthur about 3 clock in the morn
ing, and was met with Il sharp fire from
the fortress and Russian ships acting rs
scouts. The Asargiri discharged several
torpedoes at n big warShip, bat the re,
suit is unknown. \ cannonadc was
opened upon the scouting vessels and
maintained until they Withdrew. The
destroyer lIcyatory, Lieutenant Com
mander Takcnouchi, arrived ,.o hours
after the Asargiri, and ran up close to
the mouth of the hnrbor where She
found two warships, names unknown.
She fred torpedo at one, and the tor
pcdo exploded
Admiral Togo, in reporting the attack,
says although the results are unknown,
he feels sure tho moral effect upon the
enemy will be excellent. Commander
Nagai commanded the entire torpedo
fotilla. The number OF the craft in the
dotilla and the point Of their departure
Is concealed.