The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-09
RUSSIAN CRUISER sunk
Boyarin Blown Up With Two Hun
dred Officers and Men.
KOREA TO RELY ON JAPAN

Russian Troops Frozen to Death In Cross
ing Lake Baikal - Admiral -AIexiefr
Leaves Port Arthur For Harbin-Im-
periaI UIkase Issued at st. Petersburg
-Japanese War Loan to Be Issued.
st. Petersburg. Russian second
class cruiser Boyarin was blown up
by a mine in the same manner as was
the Russian torpedo transport Yenisei.
She had on board 1877 officers and men,
all Of whom, it is understood, were lost.
No details Of the disaster have been
given out.
The Boyarin was 34S feet long. forty
I49ne.feet beam and sixteen feet draught.
Shetwas of 5000 tons displacement and
herrtrial speed was twenty-five knots.
Her armament consisted Of six 4.7-inch
guns, eight 1.8-inch guns. two 1.4-inch
guns and three machine guns. She
was also fitted with six torpedo tubes.
Captain StephanOf, who was blown
up with the torpedo gunboat Yenisei.
and who himself invented the system
for laying submarine mines which is
considered responsible for the catas-
trophe. had caused the Yenisei to be
fitted with his device for the rapid lay
ing Of mines, whereby trolley line ex-
tended beyond the vessels stern along
which the mines slid out and dropped
into their appointed places. This plan
did away with the cumbersome work
of laying the mines from small boats.
The accident was due to the excessive
strain on the Yenisei's anchor cables
while the mines were suspended, pend
Ing their immersion. The two cables
snapped and one mine collided with
another.
Tokio.-The Emperor of Korea has
promised the Japanese Minister at
Seoul never to intrust the country to
any other power and to rely entirely
on Japan.
The war loan will be issued on
March 1.
At meeting of bankers held here
It was shown that the domestic loan
of 100,000.000 yen, to be issued in
March, will be taken up entirely in
Toxic. The Emperor subscribes for
20.0OO,OO0 yen. His Majesty is daily
receiving and bidding farewell to large
patches Of officers. The Emperor of
Korea has sent:a gift Of tobacco and
wine to the japanese troops and has
ordered the local officials to afford them
every facility. He has congratulated
Japan upon her victory. declaring that
in view of KOrea's position her satis-
faction is equal to Japan's.
Berlin.-It Is reported here that 600
Russian soldiers have been frozen to
death while marching across Lake Bal
kal, Eastern Siberia. The temporary
railroad across the lake is not yet COM
pleted. A large detachment of troops
was sent on twenty-five mile march
over the ice-covered lake. and it is
presumed that some Of these troops
lost their way in snowstorm and
periShed.
st. Petersburg.-An imperial ukase
has been issued commanding that all
the troops in the military establish
ments in the Siberian military districts
be placed, in readiness for war. that
all the divisions in the. Far Eastern
viceroyalty be brought to war strength.
in the Siberian and Kazan districts
be called out for active service.
The authorities are empowered to
requisition the necessary horses.
Notice has been given that emigra.
ton eastward is suspended. The ST.
berian Railroad is monopOlized by the
transportation Of troops and war mu.
nitions, to the complete exclusion OF
commercial traffic.
Two small Japanese merchant steam
ships were fired upon Off the coast Of
Japan by four Russian warships. One
of the vessels sank and the other -es:
capped.
New-Chwang.-Vieeroy AIexIef left
Port Arthur for Harbin with General
Plug. the chief Of staff and the gen.
eral staff.
It is said that the Russian army
and navy commands will be reorgan:
lied, and that General Kerpaitsky will
command the Yalu division, which is
expecting to be attacked by the jap
anese forces.
Mines have been constructed and
preparations made for depositing them
at the mouth Of the river here, where
the forts have been occupied by field
battery Of artillery and guns from the
Russian gunboht sivontch.
Atrocities are daily perpetrated on
foreigners and natives, both by the
organized police and incoming troops.
which makes it impossible for the civil
administration of New-Chwang to con-
troll the situation. 1t is feared that a
reign of terror will be caused if the