Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-19
ADMIRAL TOGO'S FLEET
 A PUZZLER TO RUSSIANS.
Appears and Disappears so Quickly That it is Diff fcult to Keep Tabs it-Russia Confident China is Secretly Helping Japan-Slavs of New York Pledge Support to Russia.

St Petersburg, March 19.-The em- peror's naval experts who have been studying carefully the puzzle as to coaling and provisioning, between it's appearances off Port Arthur, are be- coming more and more convinced that it is using as base some quiet spot on the Chinese coast. After each disappearance not a word is heard of the fleets whereabouts until it reap pears. A calculation of time of dis tance shows it is quite impossible for the fleet to steam to Nagaski or Hir- oshima,. take on board coal and am- munition and come back. It is also certain the Japanese warships could not take on coal, much less heavy projectiles, at sea in the face of the prevailing rough weather. The idea that they are using Chemulpo. Fusan or some other place on the Korean coasts for this purpose is rejected, and it is believed that if such were the case the numerous secret correspond ents and agents of the Russians in Korea would certainly report the fact. So by process of elimination the Russians seem compelled to arrive at the conclusion that the vessels of the Japanese fleets must be refilling their bunkers in some inlet on the Chinese coast either on the gulf of Liao-Tung or the Shan-Tung penfnsu- la, so far from ports and inhabited centers that the correspondents are unable to get wind of it.
 The dwindling number of Japanese battleships appearing off Port Arthur is increasing the conviction that many of them have had to put back to Japan for a thorough refitting.
 A high naval officer said: '.We probably shallneyer konwhow many of their ships were crippled or sunk, at least until the war Is over"
 The failure of the Japanese to rush their operations evokes agreeable dis appointment here, as it gives the Russians the time necessary to com piete their prepara tions. A Jananese landing on the Liao-Tung peninsula to besiege Port Arthur, would rather be welcomed now, as it would not be a large force, yet would weaken the frontal attack from Korea
 It was reported that soon after the Japanese began operations against Port Arthur that they nad seized one of the. Elliott islands situated 1n the Korean gulf, less than one hundred miles east by north of Port Arthur, for use as base, and the Tokio cor respondent of the London Times, March ', cabled that Japanese squadron took possession of Hai- Yang-Tao, one of the Elliott group. February %. The correspondent added that the Japanese found there only stores of coal and signalling flags, the Russians having evacuated the island February g.
 Che Foo, March 19.--A private dis patch received from Mukden states that a battle has taken place on the Yalu in which the Russians claim to have taken 1,SO0 prisoners.
 St Petersburg, March 19.-The rep, resentations of the United States min ister to Japan, MT Griscom, concern ing American interests affected by the creation of the Japanese tobacco monopoly will. the Noyoe Nremya be- heves, sharpen American-Japanese re- lations It considers the tobacco monopoly to be absolutely necessary for Japan in the present conditions of her finances, but says the compensation rltimed by the Americans would more than eat up the income from the monopoly in the first years, thus ere ating for Japan situation ''the full meaning Of which it is probable is quite appreciated at Washington.
 St Petersburg, March 19-Russan troops continue to pour into North Korea. They are in excellent condi- ton. It is said here that typl11s fever