The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-07

Small outpost fights constitute the
sum of activities reported from the VI
cinity of Mukden. The Japanese
blockade of Port Arthur is so effective
that General StOessel has been unable
to inform the war office at st. Peters
burg OF the situation there. The report
of the arrival of the Russian armored
cruiser Bayan of the Port Arthur
squadron at Hanchau Bay near Shan3-
hal, has no official confirmation.
St. Petersburg. Oct 3, 5:55 p. M
Emperor Nichols returned to st. Pet
ersburg today from the south and the
Associated Press hears on very high
authority that the appointment of a
cOmmander-in-chief will be announced
within forty-eight hours. While Ger
eraI Kuropatkin's friends will insist
that he be appointed. mber Of the
EmperOr's encourage express no doubt
that Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholale-
witch will be chosen.
The official advices from the front
TODAY report that all is quiet along the
whole line OF he opposing armies. A
slight Japanese movement has been
observed at Fengtiapu. about 16 miles
southeast of Mukden. but there has
been no collision. The war office ap.
aprently does not anticipate fighting
on a large scale in the near future.
The principal cause of alarm at tn"
war office is occasioned by the lack
of definite information regarding the
exact whereabouts of Field Marshal
Oyama's right. The Russian scouts
have lost touch with General kurokIS
main army. which may give increasing
importance to the thanking movement
west under General Oku, which hith-
erto has been regarded as a feint for
the real turning movement to strike at
General KurOpatkin's line of
cations from the east. 1t also may con-
tain the potentialities of a big sur
prise. Ten days ago Kuropatkin and
the war office were convinced that the
Japanese were concentrating at Slams
chan and that an immediate advance
was imminent in force.
Accordingly the Russians fell back
from the passes of the Da mountain
range, without offering resistance. But
"ANNA NoS5 my NNN NS
covered that the japanese were MT
pressing forward and therefore the
Russians scouts pushed out to ascer-
tain the cause. They penetrated as far
as Sianschan and Siaodyr. bringing
back the startling Intelligence that not
more than a brigade of Japanese
troops were there. This forthwith was
OllOwed up by the important cavalry
movements and the re-occupation o:
the Da range passes, but Kuroki'S main
BODY was not located. There were no
indications. however. that he had sue
ceeded in reaching a position, further
eastward, whence he could make n
pivot movement against the railroad
and consequently 1t was concluded that
his main force must still be between
Yentai mines and Bensihu, five miles
east of Yentai station.
In a word the present advices ind
cate that the Japanese Preparations are
being more slowly pushed than sup
posed. K~uropatkin'S plans are care
fully guarded. While he is disposiug
his forces to take advantage Of any
situation that may offer. the best opin-
ion is hat he will not accept a gener-
al engagement but will withdraw u
Tie pass, where heb ulk of his army
is maSSed.
Che Foo. october $50 p. m. An
OII1Cidl TSDOTI 1TOIn GSnSTd SlOcSScl
dated September 2S, reached Che zoe
today. confirming a previous report of
the Japanese attack on Port Arthur
which began September 18th and n d
ed september 2nd. The fighting was of
an extremely severe character. The
Japanese having retired. General Stoes-
sci. issued the following proclama-
ton:
GLORY, Thanks to Cod Glory to our
heroic garrison, Glory TO 1lmann
Sychaff and Poggorsky-heroes ali.
Thanks to our valiant volunteers who
routed the enemy from the trenches,
destroying them. God has permitted
us to repulse h enemy Praise 10
God"
The volunteers referred TO by General
Stoessel in the proclamation were made
up Of regulars called upon to lake q
high hill which had been captured by
the Japanese.
From Semi-official sources it is learn
ed that the attack began on the 18th
along the whole line and lasted four
days, various positions changing hands
many times.
The high hill mentioned was a very
important position TO the Russians. The
japanese attacked repeatedly, day and
night, finally occupying the position or
the night of September 22nd after suf-
fering very sever losses. The attempt
to re-take this hill being extremely
hazardous, General Stoessel refused to
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