The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-24
VICTORY FOR
JAPANESE
Toxic Claims to Have Won
Fight.
PIT. ARTHUR IN STRAITS
Japanese Are Closing around the
City Which Is Hard
Pressed.
PIT. ARTHUR IN STRAITS

LONDON, March 24-By the sinking
Of one battleship and the bottling up
Of the rest of Admiral Makaroffs war.
ships the entire Russian feet at Port
Arthur has been put out of action, ac-
cording to dispatches from Tokyo.
These dispatches and others report
that fourteen Russians were killed or
wounded, that seven japanese were
killed and that the Russians are ready
to evacuate Port Arthur and will burn
the town on the first sign Of danger
from the Japanese.
A dispatch from Koje, on the south
ern coast of Korea, confirms the news
of fierce battle outside Port Arthur
harbor and says a Russian battleship
was sunk in the engagement
An informal meeting of the foreign
consuls stationed at Newchwang has
been called for the purpose of discuss
ing means for securing the protection
Of the property of the neutrals in view
of the fact that Newchwang Is now
surrounded by large Russian forces,
having breastworks and batteries es-
tablished at the railway station on the
east side OF the river Lao and also at
the fort on the west side This situa-
ton exposes the treaty port to the dan
ger of cannon fire should the japanese
come up the river.
On account Of the fear that the Unit
ed States gunboat Heleha will be with
drawn American residents here have
telegraphed to United States Minister
COnger- at Peking requesting the pres
ence Of an American man-of- war In
constant communication during the
continuance Of the war for the purpose
Of especially protecting property dur
ing the disorder that it is expected will
attend the interregnum between Rus
sian and japanese occupations
The Japanese hold two enormously
strong positions at Pingyang and on
the Miokaksan range between Hwang-
ju and Seoul The latter is probably
impregnable and secures Seoul from
land attacks from the northwest.
Russian officials admit their fear that
Japan " about to land on the peninsula
TO cut off Port Arthur and to begin a
general bombardment and siege.
In ManchuTia the Russian first line
of defense is said to extend from Feng-
huangcheng to the north thirty miles.
The second line has formed from Muk-
den TO Haicheng Troops are being
massed at these points.
The Russians intended to make Anju
their base, but owing to the delay in
the arrival of re-enforcements they
were afraid they would be cut Off and
so retired. Meanwhile the japanese
advanced to Pingyang by forced
marches, the troops being almost with
out equipment
Advices from st. Petersburg say the
reports printed in Europe and the
United States to the effect that a state
Of siege such as has been proclaimed
In Siberia and in Saratoff province, in
southeastern Russia, through which
the Siberian railroad runs, will be ex-
tended to the whole Of European Rus
sia is officially declared to be absolute
ly false. No such measure has even
been contemplated, II being considered
quite unnecessary.
A Tokyo dispatch says the special
session of the diet entered upon the
business for which II was called. NJ.
Katsura, the premier, and NJ Komura,
the minister for foreign affairs, ad-
dressed the house. The premier said
the diet had been summoned at an un-
paralleled moment in the annals Of the
country. He counted II great honor
10 share with the members the duty
Of upholdng the noble policy Of the
emperor for the maintenance Of ia
pans position. Russia not only had
failed to meet the Japanese proposals, 4
but denantly resorted to actions cal
culated to injure the national rights Of
Japan, and Japan was compelled in
self defense to terminate. the negotia-
lions and take independent action. He
was confident the world would recog- 4
nize the justice and patience uniformly |
exercised by Japan in carrying for 4
ward the negotiations with Russia. 4
The minister said he was anxiously de- 4
sirous of peace, being mindful OF the
woeful consequences which war brings
TO mankind.