Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-22
RUMORS OF WAR.
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declaration of her neutrality as being
under Japanese duress and unless the
Corean government formally notified
the powers that she has joined with
Japan and takes up arms Russia will
consider her neutral
st. Petersburg, March 21.-The following
official dispatch dated Mukden, March ~,
was received today:
General Zhilinski reports as follows:
" The troops are in good spirits and
there is no sickness.
According to reports received from
the frontier on the eastern Chinese rail-
way, everything is in order there. AT
ldyini station Captain Uksomoff with
| military cavalrymen has driven off Il band
| of 100 Chunchus Chinese bandits.
The occupation of the towns of Anju
and Ping Yang by the enemys infantry
| and artillery is confirmed. An increased
| movement of troops and transports on the
/ road between Ping Yang and Anju is no.
| ticeable.
''Thirteen of the enemy's transports
| recently unloaded at Chinampho.
| According to reports there have been
no preparations for landing on the coast
| of Ccaljao opposite King Chow.
"'All reports appearing in foreign news
papers of the landing of japanese troops
at different points the coast are in
| ventions'
Tacoma, Wash, March 21.-A de-
| ccri Mt af ha ~ Tho RIIc-
sian fleet at Port Arthur by the Japa-
nese. Feb. S to 8, is given in a letter to
the Tacoma News from Purser Fair
weather of the steamship Pleiades,
which arrived at Port Arthur with 4
cargo of flour Il few days before the at
| tack was made.
| I'VE arrived at Port Arthur on Feb.
| l." says the letter. THE Russian fleet,
consisting of II Sattleships and cruis-
ers, was lying outside the mouth of the
harbor. We got Il berth just beside the
| entrance.
| Monday night Feb. s. about il
IO'clock, we heard heavy firing which
continued until about 1890 A. NJ. Ev-
eryOne thought the forts were engaged
in some kind of night target practice,
! but in the morning. when we saw two
of the largest and best of the Russian
warshipS aground in the bay. we knew
I that something more than practice had
| been going on. 1t developed that Il
fleet of Japanese torpedo boats had
come along close in shore, flying the
Russian flag and giving the Russian
signals. They had passed right under
the forts along the Spit side of the ilar-
Dor and had passed by the patrol boat
at the entrance, giving the counter
sign.
They passed through the entrance
TO the harbor. turned around and
passed out, going up to the other coast
until directly behind the largest ana
best of the warships lying outside
when they turned and fired torpedocs
into three Of them. The remarkable
part of it was the dash Of the torpedo
boats through the narrow mouth of the
harbor and their turning around inside.
THE Russians fired on the torpedo
boats, but apparently I'D no harm.
They then attempted to get their war
ships into the harbor, but two Of the
worst disabled ran aground on the
Tigers Tail and We're in Il sinking con-
dition.
The next morning. at II o'clock, the
japanese fleet moved into firing dis
lance and fired shells for - minutes.
The Pleiades was behind the spit but
in direct line and shells fell around us.
Our deck was covered with pieces
Later the Russians got their grounded
warships off the spot and inside the
harbor. where they now lie on the bot
tom. BY working hard they succeeded
in bringing in u fivefunnelled cruiser.
which sank in the harbor the next day.
We had great difficulty in getting
away and We're obliged to take 800 Chi
nese women away with u.s.
New York. March 21.-Under the til
tie, The War and After Henry Nor
man. NJ. p, discusses the proba BILE af-
ter-elfects of the Russian-Japancse war
in the forthcoming number of the
Worlds Work.
He says that it is most important
that the fact should be clearly realized
that 'it is IL fight for the control of CHI
M. Corea and Manchuria are subor-
dinates or indirect issues. The real OBJ
jeCt is predominant influence in Pekin.
bringing with it the ultimate domina-
ton OF the Far East and in the future
the headship of all of the Asiatic
races"
He points out the probability of war
in the Near East and Englands peril
from such an event and says:
ALREADY the flames of hostility to
England are visible almost everywhere
in Europe-a manifestation which is
not at all surprising in view of the Ian
Euage Of so much of the London press
From the highest to the lowest. moder-
alton of language, respect for the feel
inss of other nations, and Il sense of
responsibility. appear to have vanished
from many newspaper offices. Denun-
citation of Russia is as extravaganza as
adulation Of Japan is exaggerated and
both are making England host of
fresh enemies every week.
For all this a day of reckoning will sire