The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-24

in She far east, ene opinionls strength
ened tasat while Admiral Alexief may
remain viceroy, the active direction
Of operations will pass out OF MS
haeds. Tne action Of the commander
OF the United States gunboat V9css-
bzrg in declining TO join the com
manders of other foreign warshaps in
protest against the attack Of the ,Gapa-
llese heet at Chemulpo, which resulted
5a the sinking of the Russian cruisers
Variag and Korietz, promises to
cause much discussion here.
The Novoe Wreyma's London CORES
pondent cables that the protest of the
British captain against the Japanese
attack on the ground that it was
breach of neutrality proved ineffective
because the American commander
would not consent.
JAPANESE VESSELS NOT IN
JURED.
Toxic, Feb. .21.-The reports from
various quarters saying that Admirat
Tego,ssneet was badly crippled in the
operations at Port Arthur are un-
founded. It has been unnecessary to
send "a single large ship to Sasebo for
repairs. Two torpedo boat destroyers
have been damaged, but not in light
ing, and 'they will be ready for service
soon. The battleship Shikishima on
Feb. % struck bottom. Her accident
was at first regarded as serious and 1t
was thought Japan would have to de-
fer ,wartuntil the Sbikishima had been
repaired, owing to the then evenly
balanced strength of Japan and Russia.
When,docked it vas found that the
damage to; the Shikishima was slight
and repairs were effected In few days.
Admiral Togo's men Of the torpedo
SQUADRON who were sent to reconnoitre
at Dainy on the night of Feb. 8 were
bitterly disappointed that they missed
1the Port Arthur fight aud have almost
demanded of Admiral Togo that be
permit them to engage the enemy at
tshe aextopportunity.
Toxic, Feb. 2S.-Rnssian cavalry
men are reported to be at Wiju and
that they have cut the telegraph
lines, cutting of communication with
the territory adjacent to the Yalu
river and the Corean frontier.
RUSSIAN WAR DEPARTMENT TO
BE REORGANIZED.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 23.-Gen.
Sakihais has been appointed interim
minister of war, while Gen. Kurapat-
kin is absent in command of the
army in Manchuria. The war depart
ment and the entire army is to be re-
constructed on the German pattern.
Great inehicienc; in the present organ
ization has. developed since war be-
gan.
AMERICAN SQUADRON ON THE
SCENE,
Nagasak, Feb. 23.-It has been re-
ported here on apparently good author
ity that the American squadron has
been ordered to 60 to the mouth OF the
Yalu river for the purpose of observ-
ing the naval operations IN that quar-
ter.
London, Feb. 23.-The Nagasaki
correspondent of The Daily Telegraph
cabling under date of February 22, re-
ports that the japanese squadron has
captured four Russian boats at Port
Arthur by using Russian signals.
This dispatch appears to confirm re-
ports from various quarters of fresh
attack on Port r5hur by the japanese.
Indefinite reports of the movements
of troops in the vicinity of the Yaiu
river and statements of attempts to cut
the Siberian railroad are also publish
ed this morning.
The Wei-Hai-Wei correspondent OF
The Times describes visit to Chemul-
DO, Corea, on Feb. 19, and the Japa'
mesa landing operations there, which
he says demonstrated that the Japanese
military organization is superior to
that of any European power. A
general japanese advance along the
rPeking road to Ping Yang, Corea, the
correspondent continues, is expected
shortly. AS soon as the ice breaks up
troops will be established at Ping Yang
in sufficient strength to guard against
sudden Russian descent.
Everything suggests an immediate
dash for strategic position in north
ern Corea, the correspondent con-
cludes, and it is possible the Russians
are considerably further south than
supposed.
ANOTHER RUSSIAN SHIP LOST.
Chefoo, Feb. 22.-The captain Of
the German steamer Pronto just arriv-
ed fuam Dalny says positively that be-
side the torpedo guuboat Yeniesei,
accidentally destroyed by one of her
own mines, the Russians have Just lost
another ship by accident on the 18th
instant. This was a small craiser
whose name was not learned. In
avoiding some mines she ran upon
rocks from which she eventually slip
ped of into deep water and sank.
There was no loss of life attached to