The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-23
FOR WINTER
CONTINUED form First Page,


Der 20.-11 a. m.--(DeIayed In trans
mission.)-The Japanese arc slowly
pushing northward. The outposts are
in touch near Yentai and skirmishes
between outposts n patrol parties
occur daily. L il believed that the
russians are gathering a force at
Yentaf, preparatory TO making a
strong stand for The protection Of the
coal mines.
The Japanese are rapidly changing
the guage of the railroad from New
Chwang, and probably IL will he in
operation to Lao aYng In a fort
night. They are rushing forward up
Little Definite News from tho Front.
st. Petersburg. September e1.-2:2o
p. m.-There Is further delay in the
receipt Of decisive news from the
from. The situation at Port Arthur
remains a blank. though it is feh
that important developments may be
even now occurring there. The move
ments in the north are still of q tenta-
tive and preparatory character on
both sides. which a not yet crystal
lied into a definite clash of forces at
any one point. A resumption of the
japanese advances is now expected to
occur any day. 1t is the third week
since the fighting at Lia Yang. and
the japanese have had time to trans
port achievements from Yinkow, and
bring up sufficient men to the front to
replace their losses, but it Is not inn
probable that several lays Will inter
vene before the armies come to close
quarters The interval is being devot-
ed on both sides to feeling out the
strength and disposition of the oppos-
ing forces.
The Japanese probably will attempt
20 capture the passes of the Da noun
tain ange. running half way between
the Hun and Taitse rivers. The pos
session of these passes is important
for the japanese. as It will not only
enable them to march northward, bur
| ais screen the movement of their
troops from the prying gaze of Rus
sian scouts.
| 1t is fully appreciated here that the
Japanese must try for the possession
of Mukden. as otherwise it will be
difficult for them to provide the army
with winter quarters. Lao Yang does
not afford sufficient accommodation,
although many houses there escaped
destruction in the recent battle.
Movable huts ara quite unsuitable for
the housing of japanese, owing to the
severity Of the climate. The average
winter temperature there is 40 de-
| grees below zero, and the cold is in
tensified by continual winds and an
almost entire absence OF 9 In
spite of this. however, the campaign
probably will continue during the
| winter, if the Jacanese succeed in get
| ting into Mukden. In this contingent
| cy, General Kuropatkin for various
reasons, will not be likely to allow the
Japanese to remain in undisturbed
| possession of this point, which is i'm
1 nnrfonf NOT nnIr For a cfrofnoio h,,f
the political point of view.
Japs Have Not Crossed the Hun River.
st. Petersburg, September 21.-2:25
L. m.-The reports that Genera KurO-
Xxi had crossed the Hun river at Flu
shan turn out to be false. The Rus
slams strongly hold the road to Flu
shan. n E:entstarutze. 1t is pointed
out that if the japanese had occupied
Fushan. the Russians would have
been compelled to evacuate Mukden,
since Fushan is nearer to Tie pass.
In addition to the Russian corps al
ready mobilizipg, seven other corps
are to be called to the colors.
Che Foo, Sept 81, 7:3O p. m.-Mrs.
Anne Kravtchenko, the English wife;
of a Russian army officer who arr1v-
ed here the night Of September nth.
with Lieutenant Prince Radzivil, from
Por. Arthur, is the first woman to run
the blockade from the Russian strong
hold since the Japanese increased their
vigilance to prevent egress from the
port. Her trip was rendered extremely
perilous, because she came out with
the Prince and his companion. Lie
tenant Christoforoff, who carried mes
sages from Lieutenant General Stoes-
sci, the commander at Port Arthur, to
General Kuropatkin. Both of these Of
ficers were disguised and had they
been captured by the japanese they
certainly would have been executed.
Mrs. Kravtchenko was so worn out
and exhausted by her adventure that
she was unable to see the c~OrreSpon-
lent of the Associated Press until to-
day. In an interview she spoke to him
as follows:
I'VE left Port Arthur at 5 o'clock On
the night Of September 18th. There
was a good wind and the moon was
bright. We were successful in avoid
ing the danger of the first japanese
ond line when the moon was under q
cloud. Search lights were flashing OF
all sides, but our junk was not discov-
cred.
I'VE suddenly discovered ourselves
close to another junk with a Japanese
were pirates, but we outsailed them
and drew away.
AT 6 o'clock the next morning We
saw a steamer coming in our direction.
She had the appearance Of a cruiser
] and-I was terribly frightened. When
we saw the cruiser Prime Radzivil
and Lieutenant Christoforof wen be-
low. I stretched myself out On deck
and covered myself with dirty blank
cts Chinese were lying at my feet
and at my sides n for nearly ar hour
although nearly smothered, 1 kept my
position. 1 never uttered a more
thankful prayer than when 1 was in.
formed that the steamer we had seer
was a Red Cross vessel, and that her
captain had no intention of overhaul
ing uS.
There are no contag ious diseases al
Port Arthur, but many deaths ar.
resulting from the bite Of a large rec
headed fly. which feeds on h decon'