The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-25

Stories to the effect that the Japanese
 designed an attempt at landing in Pig
 con bay at the same time that the en- gagement occurred are not mentioned in the dispatches but it is assumed
 that these are without foundation.
 London, Feb. 25.-viceroy Aiexieff's
 dispatch to the czar clearing up the doubts caused by the numerous sensa-
 tional versions of the last Port Arthur affair was received in London too late to be published in the early editions of
 the morning papers. but it confirms the
 opinion founded upon earlier rumors
 that Admiral Togo made a daring at tempt to bottle up the Russian fleet at
 Port Arthur; and, although Viceroy Alexieff asserts that the entrance to the harbor of Port Arthur is still free,
 the fact that Admiral Togo's fleet,
 minus the vessels injured in the cour-
 ageous exploit was soon steaming at
 full speed on a southeast course from
 Wei-Hai-Wei, is interpreted as an indi-
 cation of the Japanese admirals satis-
 eaction with the accomplishment of his
 design.
 It is pointed out here that it would be difficult for the Russians, in the dark
 ness of night, to ascertain just what
 had happened to Japanese vessels, or to
 distinguish between hulks it was their intention to sink and torpedo boats. As two injured vessels were observed steaming slowly away from Port Arthur
 and as the Japanese fleet was going at full speed off Wei -Hai-Wei, it is pre-
 sumed that the two injured vessels
 might have gone elsewhere to repair
 Another explanation of the complete ness of Admiral Togo's squadron as seen off Wei-Hai-Wei is that he possi- bly, left some vessels at watch off Port Arthur.
 Further details of this engagement from independent sources are awaited
 with the greatest interest. but 1t is be- lieved that the reports that Japanese battleships or transports were sunk
 should be taken with degree of all lowance.
 A dispatch received here from Tokio this morning explains the recent sus- pension of Japanese naval operations to have been due chiefly to bad weather
 prevailing in the gulf of Pc Chi Lii, where there have been heavy winds.
 snowstorms and fogs The general opin- ion in London is that Admiral Togo, after possibly returning to Jajan to ef- feet repairs will next devote his atten- tion to the Russia Vladivostok squad ron.
 It is officially announced from St. Petersburg that the Russian govern ment has expressed its warnest thanks to Great Britain for the help given the crews of the cruiser Variag and the torpedo gunboat Korietz by the British cruiser Talbot at Chenulpo. In dispatch from Che Foo corre-
 spondent says that five thousand Rus
 sian troops have moved from Mukden
 to Hsin- Min Ting, and that skirmishes
 are reported between Chinese regulars and Russians near shan Hai-Kwan. It is announced from Pekin, this cor
 respondent continues, that Paul Les-
 sar, Russian minister to China, has of fered written assurance that the Rus
 sian gunboat Mandjur shall not leave
 Shanghai until the conclusion of hostil- ities, but Japan insisted that this vessel be disabled.
 The Tokio correspondent of the Times says the Russian movements on the Yalu are not considered serious by the Japanese, who believe that the town of Ping Yang, Corea, is safe.
 It is reported that the constant exo-
 dus of Chinese coolies from Manchuria, the Times correspondent goes on to
 say, is causing great inconvenience to the Russians.
 Paris, Feb. 25.--In dispatch from
 Harbin the correspondent of the Matin
 says that the Japanese, in an attempt to repeat at Port Arthur the experi ment made by the Americans at Santi- ago, sent in three merchant ships to be
 sunk in the entrance to the harbor The Russian battleship Retvizan, although she was still stranded, perceived them lContinued on Third Page