Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-13
GOING TO FRONT.
Emperor Nicholas Bound TO
Visit the Far East.
Insists That He Shall Assume Charge
Of Active Operations.
Simply Following Teachings Of Royal
Blood Feeling.

| st. Petersburg. May 12.-1.28 p. M
| Emperor Nicholas Is arranging to go
| TO kharkOff, May IS, to bid farewell TO
the 10th Army Corps upon its departure
| for the Far East. The Associated Press
| learns from the highest source that the
Emperor Is exceedingly anxious to go
10 The front. To his intimateS, recently,
he has spoken on the subject but he
realizes that conditions of state demand
| his presence at home. Nevertheless 1t
| Is considered not impossible that he
VIII follow the example of all the Ro-
| hlaiioif dynasty during the past cen
fury and undergo his baptism of fire.
To fight with the army is one of the
traditions or his house. Alexander
entered Paris with the allies. after the
battle of Waterloo. Nicholas died In a
| common soldiers howell i'm the Crimea,
ana Alexander III with the heir-appar--
ent we're at the front during the Turk
ish war.
Perhaps an additional reason why
Emperor Nicholas desires to meet the
enemy is that he carries on his body
the mark of a wound inflicted by a
fanatieai Japanese policeman when he
| he was attacked in theatre at Otsu.
during his visit to Japan in 1891, only
being saved from death by the noble
action OF his cousin. Prince George Of
| Greece.
Should he finally conclude to go, HIS
Majesty would not assume active COM
mand of the troops, but would have an.
imperial headquarters, taking with him
all the members of the military celeb
racy. But Of course, the chief advan-
tage would be the stimulus which the
presence of the sovereign would have
on the officers and men.
From the official advices received
here it is evident that the Japanese are
proceeding very cautiously toward the
investment of Port Arthur. While an
interruption Of the telegraph and rail-5
road may again occur at any time,
communication with the fortress was
still open, last night.
Advices received by the general staff
show that the invaders who landed at
Iitsewo are marching slowly on Kin
chou, which is an advanced position in
defending the Russian Gibraltar, dis
closing only a small force to cut the
line at Polondien. thus giving rise to
the report that they had effected a
landing at Port Adams.
The Russians have occupied Sistao
bay on the east side of the Lao Tllng
peninsular. opposite Kinchou, showing
that they have no intention Of with
drawing further south. On the con-
trary indications point to a stubborn
resistance. The presence at Port Ar
thur Of General Fock. reviewed in the
official dispatches, may signify that the
garrison of the fortress Is much strong
er than the Russians desired the enemy
to believe.
General Focke commands the 4th ST.
berian Rifle Division OF 10000 men. II
the whole DIVISION is on the Lao Tung
peninsula. General Stosel has at least
10000 men at hs disposal, which would
render the investment of Port Arthur
extremely difficult. unless the Japanese
bring up three times that number Of
troops.
There is talk of the Japanese cutting
off the water supply Of Port Arthur.
but this Is declared to be impossible. as
condensed sea water is the chief source
Of supply. the wells only being used by
the Chinese. WI.