The San Francisco call., 1904-04-08

4OOV troops lnere. greeting tnem IN the
name Of the Emperor. also inspected the
defensive works OF the town and held
a conference with the commanders. 1t
is reported here that he found the
troops in good health and spirits.
The Russian volunteer feet steam
ship Kasan, damaged during the first
bombardment OF Port Arthur, has been
converted into hospital ship.
The peasant industries exhibit. for
merly intended for st Louis, was being
sold at auction to-day for the benefit
OF the Red Cross Society. 1t includes
wood. leather and metal work. lace and
embroidery artis1cally executed in
characteristic Russian style, and noun
tsins OF ingenious toys, all selling for
a song.
While the first line of defense against
the Japanese advance from Korea is
a strong position, selected by General
Kuropatlxin. near Fengwang Cheng, IL
is believed the Russians intend to hold
out as long as possible at Antung,
which commands the Peking road. The
piece has many natural advantages for
defense. General Kuroki's army, ac-
cording to Russian advices, Is strung
OUT along the road between Aniu and
NViju, it's advance being severely i'm
peded by bad roads, which make it diff
which are delivered by coolies, requir-
ing eight days, a march from ChongJu
TO the Yalu- For seventy miles the
river is 800 fathoms wide and at Yong
ampho 1t is ice-laden and barred by
islands, whence the Russian sharp
shooters can harass the Japanese ad
vance.
ENTRENCHED NEAR HAICHENG.
The Russians have entrenched them
~ Il
the progress Of the japanese, in case
they succeed in landing at the head Of
the Liaotung Gulf.
The Admiralty has received informa-
ton that a Japanese squadron has
been cruising of Port Arthur since
yesterday.
A correspondent Of the Novosti,
writing frcm LiaOyang on March l3,
says that that small town has been
transformed into a military city as n
result Of the arrival of many troops
! Living has become extremely eKpen-
sive, due TO the inability of merchants
10 obtain private freight. No goods
are allowed to be shipped to Liaoyang
! from Port Arthur. A table of prices
shows that the necessaries of life had
risen TO two and three times the nor
NAL prices American beer was quoted
at so cents a bottle, whereas before
the war il brought only 10 cents. No
relief from the high prices can be had.
as the military requires the use Of
practically all the space in the railroad
/ cars.
A correspondent of the Vostchny
! Nostnik states that many of those
slightly wounded in the first hom-
| bardment Of Port Arthur have died as
a result of the poisonous gases em-
anating from the japanese shells. He
notes that many Of the enemy's pro-
1 jectiles fall in or near the hospital,
and adds that it has been determined
10 evacuate the City Hospital at Dalny
if that place is bombarded, because of
an unwillingness to trust to the hu-
manity of the japanese.
DECORATION FOR STARK.
Vice Admiral Stark has received the
Order of St Vladimir, and Rear Ad-
miral Prince Ukhtomsky has been
decorated with the Order of st. Stan
islaus in recognition of their able de-
fense on the occasion of the Japanese
tOrpedO7boat attack on Port Arthur on
February s. The Order of St. Vladimir
has been bestowed upon Captain Reit-
zenstein for his able handling of the
NladivOstok squadron.
A special dispatch from Port Arthur
describes how the cruisers Bayan and
Novik. during the attack on Port Ar
thur on March q, covered the torpedo
boat destroyer SLIM, which was
aground from the enemy's fire. hauling
her off the shoal and bringing her back
to port. 1t further describes how, sub
seouently, the whole Russian fleet
sailed out of the harbor and formed IN
line Of battle, ready TO accept a COM
bat. which the japanese declined.
Three of the japanese fire ships sunk
in attempts to block the harbor have
been raised and towed into the harbOr
at Port Arthur. where they are being
armed with rapid-fire guns for service
against the enemy.
The Novo6rai Of Port Arthur, in it's
issue of March 13, received here to-day
reviews the utterances of some Amer
ican papers to show that American
aims are altogether selfish, being mo-
nopolized by the open-door policy with
out mentioning the yellow peril. which
monopoliZes the attention of the Rus
slams in the Far East
THREE DAYS FAST BEGINS.
General rain throughout Russia
marked the Inauguration Of the Easter
holidays, an augury, according to the
popular legend, Of bountiful crops.
Business and all Government work
were suspended as customary. The an
nunciation of the Virgin was signal
ized by various traditional observances
birds were set free, bonfires were
built, holy bread was placed in the bins
for luck and the village girls unplaited
their hair.
With the exception Of the soldiers and
sailors in the Far East every Orthodox
; Russian to-day began a three days
fast. AS a military measure, to guard
against possible surprises by the enemy
while the Emperor's legions are debil-
itated by abstinence from food, special
dispensations have been granted to the
men, relieving them Of their religious
duties of fasting and confessing.
In all the churches of the empire to-
day solemn scenes-the last supper, the
washing Of feet, the betrayal, the judg-
ment and the sentence-were impress
sively re-enacted.
In the Russian capital the greatest
interest centered in the ceremony in
St. Isaac's Cathedral, where the rites
and ceremOnials were conducted on a
scale of great magnificence, the Met
ropolitan of st. Petersburg, who wore
upon his head a miter ablaze with dia-