The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-29
News Is Wildly cheered.

St. Petersburg, March 2S.-4:55 p. m.- Large crowds gathered before the bulletin boards today to read the official accounts of the second unsuccessful attempt of the Japanese to bottle up the Russian fleet at Port Arthur Lieutenant krin- izks heroic work on the enemy's trans port ships and torpedo boats and action of the three officers in boarding the burning steamers, extingushed the flames and cutting the wires connecting with the internal machines evoked enthusiasm, while the universal exclamation applied to Vice Admiral Markaroff as the people turned away was "Molodetz" which might literally be translated, Hes dardy."
 ht action of the Japanese in making use of nfernal machines has aransed in- dignatioli. No further details have been rec eived except the injury to the torpedo destroyer Silni from grounding is slight and that It can easily be repaired.
 The Associated Press has received con- frmatioh of the report that Admiral Makaroff during his reconnaissance of Elliott Island. captured a Japanese ves- sel towing a Chinese junk. but the vessel was a small steamer, not gunboat. The crews were taken off, after which both vessels were sunk.
 Official Confirmation Lacking.
 
 official communication had reached the foreign office confirming the declaration of martial law at New Chwang. Officials are inclined to the opinion that this indi- cated the Russian government had not vet sanctioned Viceroy Alexieff's action. The declaration of martial law Is some what anxiously discussed by the London morning newspapers, among which the question has arisen as to whether Rus sia is desirous of dragging China into the conflict.
 The Standard, while recognizing that the neutral powers may protest, consid- CTS that 1t will be difficult to refuse to either belligerent the right to regard stategic conditions as paramount over all others in Manchuria.
 The Morning Post considers that Rus sias action is calculated to relieve Japan of some embarrassment by removing one of the difficulties Japan would have ex- perienced in dealing with New Chwang in the event of its becoming necessary to attack the Russian forces at that point
 No Further News.
 No further news has been received here regarding the Port Arthur. engagement, with the exception that the Daily Tele- graphs Yin Row correspondent says the Japanese bombardment badly damaged the forward barbette of the Russian bat
  adds:
 According to a rumor sixty-fve trans ports escorted by four cruisers, approach ed New Chwang Saturday and then de- parted southward. it Is stated that Vic- eroy Alexieff will return to Europe In few days
 The Morning Posts New Chwang cor respondent learns that the Japanese will not land an expedition in the Liao river valley before April 20, as their transports are still engaged in conveying troops to Korea.
 The correspondent at Shan Hal kwan of the Daily Mail asserts that the Chinese have received official authorization to t,lrn over the Japanese the plan of the Shan Hai Kwan railroad.
 The Standards Tien Tsn correspondent says that in compliance with Viceroy Alexieff's demand the Tarter general, Feng Tien. has withdrawn his troops to distance of sixty miles from Mukden. He adds that the Russians are now Tn com plete control of the revenue and other departments.