The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-09
STARTLING DISCOVERY
1t PORT ARTHUR.
Jauaaese Said 10 Have Laid Mines
10 Blow Up Fortiiisatloas.
Rsported From Tisn Tsin That
laps Bonbarded Port Arthur
Three Days in Succession.

lnF6S UdyS H SSoSo0S'o
New York, March 5.-Tbe New
Work .Iournal prints a special today
! f,oro an, Tier Tsin stating that the Japa-
nese hombarded Port Arthur a. lnsel-
yaIs Monday, Tuesday and Wednescay,
the feet steaming by the fortlhcaslons {,
at 4 distance Of seven to fifteen kiio77
matars. No statement OF the execu-
ton done by the bombardmene Is
given.
READY TO BLOW UP PORT i
ARTHUR.
Harb;n Manchuria, March "a
6d;snatch from Port Arthur this morn
;ng ;nforned Viceroy Alexief that
yswh;le Aha Russians we're placing mines
g nne;er the Notifications at that place
81 81. that they might blow them up ana
s destroy them In case of their capture
hy the Japanese, they discovered mines
niacad there already by the japanese,
which we're ready to be exp1odeo at
any moment.
y,adiyostock Wednesday, March 2,
ria ST Petersburg. According to IN
{ = fosmat;on :. received here 40 japanese
transnorts. escorted by the entire
naval feet, have been energetlcahy
landing troops in Corea at Fusan ana
ChemnIpo. It is estimated eaas iuiiy
lls1 OO0 men have disembarked, and IL
- -, nnosed that an immediate advance
;,,te, northern Corea is contemplated.
From the fact shat the japanese
feet is thus employed 1t IS leis snas 40 40
immediate attack Rpon viaoivostock
or Port Arthur win be made.
Che reported landing OF 2,oo Japa-
1nese al Song-tChiD, Plaksin bay, on
sha east coast of Corea, mas been con-
The The enrolment of volunteers is pro-
caeding with enthusiasm at Vladiyc-
stock.
London. March 5.-Little change
IN the far eastern situation is reported
this morning. It is apparent snas the
japanese are busily engaged IN trans,
norting their forces into Corea, and
This work is being facilitated by tne
enforced inactivity OF the navy.
According 10 the Sebestopol cores
nendent of the Daily Graphic, Admiral
skrydlof has learned privately from
Part Arthur that the Russian battle
shin Retyizsn lies in such a position!
as TO block effectually the exit OF
hastseships from the harbor, the pass
are being practically only for cruisers.
The correspondent adds that Russaa's
rev battleships now building on the
Raitic will not be ready for active
commission before the end OF August.
The japanese official who mas
charge OF Japan's financial and COM
mercIat interests in England declares
that his government f2resaw the posi-
biIity OF coal being declared contra
band of war. and that it has been col
lectine large stores OF Welsh steam
coal for years, so that today 1t mas a
srDply sufficient for the needs OF the
navy for years to come.
Paris. March lit is reported here
on apparently good authority that the
EoynSian Government mas decided to
close the Suez Canal against the PAS
SAGE of all warships Of belligerents.
If the report be true, it will be seri-
ous obstacle to Russia in case it is de.
cided. by that power to send additional
varships to the seat of war in Chinese
waters.
s. RUSSIAN DESERTERS SHOT.
Tien Tsin, March Thirty Russian
sailors who attempted to escape from
Port Arthur were captured after
short pursuit and were shot by order
Of the commanding general.
Toxic, March Japan addressed
&C