The San Francisco call., 1904-04-27

aid. Copyright 1904 by the New York
Herald Publishing Company.
KOBE. Japan, April 26.-Under full
steam, a strong squadron of Japanese
armored cruisers was observed this
morning making its way north in the
Japan Sea. IT is believed that the YES
sells are on their way to attempt to
cut off the Russian squadron that ap-
peared at Gensan, on the east coast of
Korea. Yesterday. 1t is feared, how
ever. that, as the Cars cruisers are
superior in speed to those of this
squadron, they will escape in safety
10 the shelter of Vladivostok.
1t is rumored that the Japanese
have succeeded in Turing the Russians
from the protection of the Vladivostok
guns and that there is another Japan
csc squadron between them and their
retreat but this report apparently is
unfounded.
SEOUL, Korea. Monday April Is
Further details of the sinking of the
Japanese merchant steamship Goyo
Maru at Gensan. Korea, this morning
by vessels of the Russian Vladivostok
squadron have reached here. The
Russian vessels entered the harbor OF
Gensan at II o'clock. The crew of the
Goyo Maru' was ordered ashore, but
ii is not known that it went, and
whether the seamen escaped or not
has not been reported The townspeo-
pie took refuge in the hills when the
Russian warships came in and the
garrison made preparations to resist
a landing party. After the Goyo Maru
had been sunk the Russians retired
No attack was made on the town.
This movement is regarded here as
supplementary 10 the recent Russian
occupation of Songjin. which is about
$50 miles northeast of Gensan, by
detachment of Cossacks and for the
purpose of determining the strength
of the Japanese on the east coast of
Korea. 1t is also considered as a di-
version from the activity on the Yalu
River.
The garrison at Gensan. which. num-
bered about 500 men, was reinforced
last week and the troops now there
are engaged in throwing up breast
works. There is some artillery at
Gensan. While the Japanese author
tiles here consider the situation at
Gensan to be serious, they are not APP
prehensive.
GENSAN, Korea. April 26.-There
were two Russian destroyers concern
ed in the sinking of the Japanese mer-
chant steamship Goyo Maru in this
harbor yesterday morning. The de-
stroyers entered the harbor, sank the
steamship and then rejoined three
cruisers lying outside the harbor ell
trance.
At o'clock the Russian cruisers
were seen approaching the harbor, and
fears were entertained that the town
was to be shelled. The townspe)ple
hurriedly gathered their valuables and
sought the protection of the inland
town. and, as the harbor is unprotect-
ed and has a large japanese settle
ment, valuable property was eft to the
mercy of Russian shells.
Before sinking the Goyo Maru the
Russian commander signaled: Re
move crew and passengers; will attack
Immediately" and then, after allow
ing a reasonable time. fired on the
steamship, which sank near the harbor
entrance. No lives were lost.
Up to this hour the Russian ships
have not reappeared.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 26-The
Emperor has received a dispatch from
the commander of the Vladivostok
squadron, confirming the reports of the
sinking of a japanese transport of 500
tons at Gensan. The object of the
squadrons cruise is to destroy all
transports traversing the Sea of ia
pan, show the Russian flag in Korean
waters and impress the population ad-
vantageously; also to compel the Jap
anese to guard all their transport ex-
petitions.
The Foreign Office denies that Rus
sian ships have been sent to guard
neutral territory west of the Lao Riv-
er. The report may have grown out
of the stationing Of a force on the west
bank of the river opposite Newchwang.
to defend thes city in that direction
command the river and prevent the
Japanese ascending the river. No pro-
test has been received from the Chi
nese Government, and it is said China
has no ground for protest.