Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-04-21
FAR EASTERN NEWS.
A Belief Spreading That Japanese
Sunk the Petropavlovsk.
JAPS AGAIN BONBARD PORT ARTHUR.


| Arthur Now Sealed.
81. Petersburg, April 16-Unoficial
dispatches received here from Port
Arthur repeat that 1t was the Beg
strashni and not the Strashni, as re-
ported in the Official dispatches. which
became separated from the rest of the
feet and was sunk by the Japanese
boat destroyers.
Information which has already
reached st. Petersburg has modified
the opinion at, first prevailing concern
ing the original cause Of the destruc-
ton of the Petropavlovsk. There is
gradually developing disposition to
admit the possibility that after all
Japanese torpedo boats may have
dropped mines at the entrance to Port
Arthur harbor. An official remarked
to the Associated press last night:
at would be far better II the ship
was actually blown up by the enemy's
mine instead of by Russian. The
latter would be the result Of mex
cusable carelessness and would prop
erly arouse the emperor's anger. The
former, while 1t would speak volumes
for Japanese ,craftiness, could not
readily be avoided. On dark nights 1t
would be almost impossible for the
searchlights of the batteries to pick
up the torpedo boats, however care
fully manipulated"
skIrmlshes on tho Yslu River.
London, April 16.-The Times cor
respondent at sea off the coast OF Ko-
rea under yesterdays date, gives the
following story of recent skirmishes
on the Yalu river:
ION April a Japanese cruiser sent
to reconnoiter the mouth Of the Yalu
found the enemy holding both banks
of the river. Recommending by steam
launch was abandoned and last Sun
day Lieut.. Kyaguchi, with five men,
disguised as Korean fishermen, in a
native junk surprised Russian post
at village on the left bank. The Rus
slams retired without resistance. A
quarter of an hour later two squadrons
Of Japanese cavalry, from Cheng Ju,
arrived and destroyed the Russian
post. Lieut.. Kyaguchit then deter
mined to reconnoiter the right bank
Of the river toward Antung and met
in midstream junk engaged in a sim
liar reconnaissance for the Russians.
The junk drew of and stranded on a
sand bank. One of the Russians was
killed and the rest took to the water.
The Japanese continued to fire, when
the Russians threw away their rifles
and were obliged to wade ,neck-deep
in order to reach the mainland.
Meantime a second Russian junk,
with II men, landed ON the sand bank
and tried to rescue the stranded boat,
but they were forced to abandon the
effort and with difficulty escaped.
1.-THE japanese are still busy at
Chinnampo landing. q quantity of
bridging material and other neces-
saries for a determined advance
through the difficult country"
Japanese Again Bombard Port Arthur.
st. Petersburg, April 16.-A telegram
from Admiral Alexieff from Port
Arthur to the emperor says that from
9:15 o'clock yesterday morning to mid
day the Japanese feet in two divisions
bombarded the fortress and the town
alternately from the Lao Tishan pro-
montory, firing 1856 projectiles. The
Russian squadron, including the bat
tleship Pobieda, replied from the an
chorage by a plunging fire. The bat
teries also participated. The losses on
land were seven Chinese killed and
five soldiers and three Chinese wound
ed. The Russian warships sustained
no damage and there was no loss OF
life on them.
Press Correspondents with the Japanese.
Chinnampo, Korea, April 16.-The
first contingent Of press correspondents
who are to accompany the Japanese
army are awaiting here the arrival
Of q steamer with their personal eff
fects. When these arrive the CORE
spondents will proceed to Ping Yang.
The weather is yet cold and 1t is rain
ing. The roads are in bad condition
and there is much fee to the north
ward. The Koreans here are pursuing
quietly their usual vocations. The
Japanese officers are providing for the
correspondents with unusual hospi- |
tality.
Japanese Driven Back BY Russians.
London, April 16.-The St Peters
burg correspondent Of the Standard |
sends a rumor to the effect that Vice
Admiral Togos feet escorted q Japa-
nese landing of troops to the westward
Of the Yalu river. When 1000 men
had been landed the Russian troops,
which were lying concealed. suddenly
attacked them, driving them back to
the ships with heavy losses in men
and guns.
The Entrance to Port Arthur Sealed.
London, April 1.-THE Times this
morning prints dispatch from It's
correspondent at sea on the coast Of
Korea The dispatch n dated yester-