The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-15

day and presented to the emperor,
but the public remained In suspense.
The impression was that Admiral Ma
karon had decided the attack upon
the enemy's fleet
AS far as Is known here, this Is the
first time torpedo boats have engaged
each other at sea Although the odds
were against the Russians. as the
Japanese fiotilla vas supported by the
cruiser squadron, the Russians made
a heroic dash for the foe and appar-
emily had the better Of the combat,
sinking one japanese torpedo boat.
until the cruisers got within range.
and one of the latter's shells crippled
the Stereguschichi. The gallant ac-
ton of Vice Admiral Makarof in
transferring his flag to the fast
cruiser Novik and sailing out In the
face OF the enemy in an attempt at
stamping him at the outset OF his
command as a man OF force and ac-
ton, who insists on being in n a
of the fighting.
The removal Of the battleship Ret
vizan, from the mouth of the n
harbor. which marked the assump-
ton Of command by Admiral Naka-
rolf, will permit the free exit OF the
heavy armed ships.
With the channel open, 1t is
thought Admiral Makaron will make
the squadron an aggressive force
Approaching the misfortune VI the
division Of the leet before the war,
it is believed that Admiral Makaron
will attempt to unite his forces by
bringing the V~ladivostok 10
Port Arthur.
Repairs on the ~battleship Retvizan
will be completed in a few weeks, but
the battleship Czarevitch Is so badly
damaged that it is not thought THAI
she can participate in any Of the OPP
erations for a long time.
Japanese Mystify the Russians.
London. March 12.-Although there is
some confusion Of dates in the official
messages from the far east regarding
recent attacks on Port Arthur and 9TH
er engagements which is probably due
to the fact that these affairs occurred
during the night time. no fresh action
is known to have taken place on Friday.
A correspondent Of the Daily Tele-
graph at Seoul describes these Japanese
attacks on Port Arthur as successful
preparatory bombardments," thereby
intimating that a greater attempt to re-
duce Port Arthur is imminent
The official announcement from Muk-
den that the Russian army corps Whlch
has arrive at Hardin will be held there
because of the landing of japanese
troops at different points and the vari-
Gus reports of the intentions OF the
japanese commanders, is an unlnten-
tional tribute from Viceroy Alexien to
Japan's extraordinary success In con-
cealing her plan Of campaign n mys-
tifying the enemy as to her movements.
A correspondent at Che Foo, OF the
Daily Mail gives alleged Information of
the Japanese landing movements to
March 9th and says that disembarka-
ton is proceeding at Chemulpo and
points to the northward with marvellous
.rapidity. During the last ten days. six
teen transports have landed 10000 men
at a town the japanese call Kaishoe
(probably Hwang-Ju ninety four miles
northwest of Chemulpo, on the Tai
Dong river, twelve miles by sea from
Chemulpo.
Dispatch boats began to run on We'd
nesday between Chemulpo and Gilman
po. The correspondent calculates tnat
up to the present 10000 Japanese have
been landed in Northern Korea.
Russians Retreating Fro mthe Talu.
Tien Tsin. March ia Chinese ref
ugee from Nsu-Yen insists that he has
seen Russians retreating from the Yalu
river and destroying villages en- route.
Japanese-Korean Protocol Signed.
Tioko. March 1.-THE Japanese-Ko-
rean protocol was published at Seoul,
in an extra edition of the Gazette yes
terday. The Korean government will
publicly that the publication
of the protocol nullifeS the concessions
granted to Russia, such as the nom
alienation of the coal mining at Koch
leo island and Roze Island and the for
estry concessions in the Ulleungdo, Tu-
men and Yalu Valleys.
First News for United States.
New York, March 11.-Following an
arrangement effected by the general
manager Of 1.-The Associated Press
all Of the war news collected by the
great European news agencies from
Japanese, korean and Chinese territory
will after today be transmitted to Lon
don via the Pacific cable and the Unit
ed States and will be delivered en- route
to the Associated Press newspapers.
Hitherto this matter has been transmit
ted from the Far East via India and
has been repeated from London to New
York. Under this new arrangement
first publication of all this news will be
made in the United States.
Russian Army Corps at Hardin.
Mukden, Manchuria. March lit is
officially announced that in consequence
of the many conflicting accounts of the
landing of Japanese troops at different
points and the various points of the in
tentions of the Japanese commanders.
the Russian army corps which has pr
rived at Hardin has been detained
there. 1t will be most difficult to find a
convention for this great body of troops
and their detention at Hardin will n
terrain much hardship on the soldiers.
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