The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-19
Officials Absolutely Refuse TO
Disclose the Destination
Of the Squadron
VIVID ACCOUNT GIVEN OF
RECENT BOMBAROMtKTS
Inhabitants of Port Arthur Are Be-
coming Accustomed to Japanese
Firing and Many Stores
Reopen for Business.

Paris. March 1S.-The Petit Parisienne
st. Petersburg correspondent cables as
follows:
Il learn from a reliable source,that the
Russian Vladivostock squadron has left
port. The officials absolutely refuse to
discuss the destination of the squadron.
Seventy-two hours have passed since the
ships left Vladivostock.
External Aspect Is Unchanged.
st. Petersburg. March ia correspon-
dent of the Associated PPress, who has
just visited Porth Arthur. telegraphs to-
day from Mukden as follows:
Despite the various bombardments at
Port Arthur, the external aspect of the
city remains unchanged although the
enemy fired an enormous number of pro-
jectiles.
1.-The marine monsters in the harbor
look like enormous black bulls and the
battleships and cruisers bear the marks
of the fighting. The black clouds of smoke
from their stacks over hang the town.
The cruiser Pallada stands almost ready
in the docks
Near the entrance of the harbor can
be seen the charred works of the Jap
anese fireships. Aboard one of the far
thest out was found the body of a Jap
snese officer who had shot himself Be
side him lay chart showing the course
of the fireships, and the spot where they
sank.
six hours of firing by the heaviest
guns during the last bombardment did not
demolsh a single building. but cost a
few lives. The husbands and child OF the
Baroness Frank who WAS deeapitated by
fragments of shell flying in through the
window were unharmed.
THE enemy In endeavoring to stand as
far as possible outside the range of the
Russian batteries, rendered their own fire
ineffective. The people are getting used
to the bombardments, and the Japanese
cruising In the offing create no alarm.
Occupations are resuming their wonted
course and many stores have been re-
opened.
Women Refuse to Leave.
mot few women heroicly refuse to
leave Port Arthur, regardless of the
tragic death of Baroness Frank Dur
Ing the height of the cannonading one
woman, armed with dressings for
wounds, wandered the streets to afford
aid to the wounded.
"A branch of the Russo Chinese bank lis
doing business. and wives of the soldiers
are acting as sisters of mercy. The land
defenses are being strengthened every
day. and the troops are eager to fight.
The gaiety and good spirits of the troops
is surprising.
During the engagement between the
Russian and the Japanese torpedo boat
dpgtrOXprS the bOatc Mt ri
quarters, being within only few fathoms
length of each other. torpedo from the
Russian destroyer Vlastini tore off the
stern of one of the enemy's destroyers
her captain standing on the bridge as she
sank amidst wild cries.
Composition of Squadron.
The Japanese squadron is now reck-
oned to consist only of the batteshps
ShiNshima the Hatsuz, the Yashima, the
Mikasa the Asaki and the Fuji
Port Arthur Is exceedingly gloomy at
night. all lights being out. Pickets patrol
the streets stopping pedestrians.
'The Chin Chuns 1Chinese bandits) at
tackled house in the center of the town.
The master of the house killed two of the
bandits and a third was killed by the Of
fcers.
The understanding at Port Arthur Is
that the Japanese are preparing to effect
a landing west of the Lao river"
Japs Have Ping Yang.
st. ePtersburg, March 1S.-Under today s
date Viceroy Alexieff cables to the en-
peror from Mukden as follows:
General Mishtchento reports that Ping
yang is occupied by Japanese infantry
with some guns and that Korean carts are
carrying their supplies The enemy's cav
airy is not visible in large bodies, and
only isolated horsemen are seen. Their
horses are poor.
"Our patrols discovered the presence of
the enemy's infantry on the banks of the
Cheng Cheng river Ave versts about 1-S
miles) from Anju. The enemy opened fire
and killed one OF our horses
COGHIAN Is RELIEVED