Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-14
JAP FORCES
ARE MOVING
CAUTIOUSLY
st. Petersburg Believes Important
Military Events Are Impending.
90 TRANSPORTS READY TO LAND
Railroad to Port Arthur Open and
Train Load Of Ammunition Sent to
Garrison-Japs Believe Warships In
Harbor Were Blown Up to Prevent
Capture.

Harbor Were Blown Up to Prevent
Capture.
ST. Petersburg. May 12.-impending
events of great importance to the mil
itary situation in Manchuria are fore
Swallowed in official dispatches given
out late last night by the war commits
sion.
On MAY the Japanese forces eau
tiously moved from Feng Wang Cheng
towards Hal Cheng. which is % miles
east by north of NewchwanS. and it is
the opinion Of the general stan that
they should certainly reach their des-
tination within two days. II the Japa-
nese occupy Hal Cheng. with Port Ar
thur effectively cut of. Newchwang.
which the Russians have already dis
mantled would pass into their hands.
The entire Lao Tung peninsula, in
fact. save Port Arthur. and perhaps
Kaipng. would be commanded by
them
The satisfaction felt at the re-estab-
lishment of communication with Port
Arthur is increased by the knowledge
that a train load of ammunition has
been safely delivered to the fortress.
This was done in the presence of the
enemy's army which landed at Pitsewo.
and which is apparently on the eve of
being reinforced by another division
on board 30 transports now lying of
Port Adams.
The troops sent by General Kuroki
~
which il is established do not belong to
third army none having landed at
Takushan. crossed the Tayang river
May 4 and should by this time be oper-
ating in the Lao Tung peninsula. pro-
vided they continued. as is regarded
probable. the plan being to complete
the mastery OF Southern Manchuria.
Besides acting energetically in South
ern Manchuria and moving on Hal
Cheng. General Kuroki kept in mind
the necessity of outiianking General
Kuropatkin at Lao Yang. as is shown
in the fact that on the morning of
May 10 he started a formidable force.
consisting of division of infantry and
40 guns and 1900 cavalry. toward Sal
y
Kuropatkin's statement that an exam
ination May 10 of the line between
Saimatsi and Feng Wang Cheng failed
to show the presence of Japanese. the
authorities are puzzled as to where the
japanese force came from.
The authorities are looking with con-
siderable philosophy on the division by
General Kuroki of his army into three
seperate commands. for they expect
General Ksropatkin promptly to take
advantage of the numerical inferiority
OF the enemy.
The fact that il was considered ne
cessary To send train load of ammu-
milton to Port Arthur has aroused COM
ment. and il is accepted in certain
quarters as an indication that the Rus
SLAMS have not sufficient supplies of
war material there.
The Associated Press has received
the following assurance from a men,
Der of the general staff:
There are ample supplies of NUM-
tions of war at Port Arthur but nat
urally General Kuropatkin desired 10
send as much as possible to the for
tress. During the expected siege great
quantities of shells and explosives will
be fired and we cannot afford to per-
init the reproach of the defenders that
they could not hold Port Arthur be-
cause of lack of powder and she'll.
But assure you there are enough sup
plies there for one year
With such a large force of the enemy
before Port Arthur il is well under
stood that ii is question of DAYS. per-
haps hours. before communication is
again cut off. II is predicted that there
will he daring attempt al a repeti
tion of Lieutenant Colonel Spiriionoff's
plan to get ammunition into Port Ar
thur.