Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-22
RUM0RS OF WAR.
Reported That Japanese Have
Occupied Port Arthur.
Possession Ensued After Combined
Land and Sea Attack.
Car Intends to Place $4,000 Men in
Field.

London. March pa number Of ru-
mors are printed in the newspapers.
this morning, but they must be accept
Cd with great reserve.
The Daily Telesraph's Toxic corre-
srondcnt cables newspaper report Of
the japanese occupation of Port Ar
thur after Il combined land and sea at
tack. Saturday AMI Sunday. 1t is "a
serted that a division of Japanese
landed on the Lao Tung peninsula,
saturday and engaged the Russians
near Port Arthur while the fleet bonn
baried from, Saturday evening until
Sunday evening.
Tho same correspondent reports Il
sharp encounter ut Chyong Syong Con
east Ct Wiiu in which the Russians
lost $50 in killed or wounded.
Tho Daily Chronicles Shanghai cor
respondent hears from New Chwang
that the japanese crossed Tatung Pass,
forty miles from Hal Cheng and that
collisions occurred with the Russians.
Reports from Seoul and Toxic are to
the effect shat Marquis Ito has arrang-
Cd t, lcnd 100000 g., SOC, OOO) to Cora
OH easy terms.
According to tho Stcandard's Tien
Tsin correspondent, China is appealing
to the powers for an extension of Il
year il tho period for the payment of
the Indemnity growing out of the Box
er troubles.
TIE Ticn Tsin correspondent of the
Daily Mail reports that Kataoka n
Japanese merchant and Russian spy,
has been aSsassiEatCd by being buried
alive. but that the Japanese authors
ties disavow any knowledge of the as
sassins.
Tie Morning Posts Hamburg CORE
spondent says that Russia has pur-
chased the Hamburg steamer Hafis,
which is now at Vladivostok, for
$3.50, 900, and that the vessels name has
been changed to Alexeittrapani
Paris, March 21.-Foreign Minister
Dclcasse has received Il copy of Secre-
tary Hays dispatch from United States
Minister Conger. at Pekin. containing
Chna's assurances of the unprovOca-
tive action to be taken by her against
either of the belligerents. The author
tiles here have no doubt that China is
ready to give assurances but they con-
slider that the conditions on the Man
churian frontier are somewhat at va
stance with the assurances. 1t is held
that General Kuropatkin's plans for q
defensive campaign have given unusual
Importance to China's activity.
If the Russians had taken the aggres-
sive near the coast, 1t is said, the war
probably would have been short and
decisive. but as Gen. Kuropatkin's
campaign is based upon awaiting the
enemy at Hardin and Mukden. it is
held that this completely changes the
military situation. requiring the Japa-
nesc to push inland, thus giving up
their strong naval support. AS their
land forces are comparatively limited
for an irvason of Manchura, 1t Is the
belief in high quarters here that they
will increasingly feel the need Of aux
lll2rleS. 1t Is not DelicVed that japan
will openly seek the aid of China, but
that China will gradually be drawn
in by Gen. Kuropatkin's tactics of re-
naming on the defensive on the inte-
rior Of Manchuria.
st. Petersburg, March Y.-T,35 p. m.
The foreign office gives an absolute de-
NAL to the statement telegraphed from
here that Corea is regarded as belIig-
crent. Russia. as previously explain
ed, holds all the acts Of Corea since the
(Continued on mage ~