Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-01-05
SITUATION IN THE EAST.

japanese govern nent officials say Tue
situation makes talk Of peace futile and
that the energies Of Japan's military and
naval commanders will now be directed
against Kuropatkin's army in ilanchuria
and the Russian second Pacific squad
ron. japanese warships have been
sighted of the coast Of Sumatra.
General Kuropatkin now has about
225, 900 troops at his disposal in Man
churia, but the transportation over the
Siberian Railroad is inadequate. Gen
eral NOgi will soon send so, 900 or Co.
600 men from Port Arthur to increase
Marshal Oyama's forces.
Should the japanese blockade Vladi-
vostok, which now appears likely, the
Russian second squadron will have to
return home or await the third squadron
off the coast of Madagascar.
General Nogi reports that the popu-
lation OF Port Arthur is IS, 900, Of which
Is, 600 are soldiers and sailors, now pris-
oners. The sick and wounded number
20. 900. While meat and vegetables are
scarce, bread and other provisions are
plentiful. There are no medical sup
plies. The japanese are hurrying for
ward medicines and surgical appliances.
The transfer OF war material and the
forts at Port Arthur to the japanese
government has begun. The Russian
officers will be transferred to Dalny and
the prisoners will be detained at tn,
Russian barracks until they can be trans
ferred to Dalny.
The japanese losses in the fve'monhs
siege aud almost continuous fighting were
80, 600 men.
The Car has published a decree au-
thorizing the issue Of loan for SSl,
600, 600.
The protected cruiser Akitsushima,
four torpedo boat destroyers aud two tor
pedo boats constituted yesterday Jap
anese guard off ChefoO. The destroyers
which guarded the Russian hotilla Tues
day night went out at the expiration OF "A
hours, returning Immediately with others.
They have been in and out of the har-
Dor intermittently ever since. Last night
all the Russian destroyers withheld to
the south side of the harbor, where they
probably will remain until their disarma-
ment is complete. 1t is said that the
booty which fell into the hands of the
japanese at Port Arthur only amounted
to so, 900 tons of coal and two month";
rations of rice. Of 270 off ;ers of Il o
Russian navy at Port Arthur at the be-
ginning of the war 80 have been killed
or wounded, many of them while doing
duty in the forts.
1t seems now to be definite that Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky's squadron will
not attempt at present to reach Vladi-
vostok. The decision has been reached
that he will await the third Pacific
squadron, on which work is proceeding
nieht and day and several ships of which
are expected TO be ready for service by
the end OF January. 1t is by no means
certain that Rojestyensky will return
with his ships to European waters. He
may await the third squadron of the
coast of Madagascar and seize and make
his base one of the uninhabted coral
islands of Polynesia. In view of the
report that the japanese intend 70 in
vest Vladivostok, General Batiayoif, who
has been interviewed, has expressed the
opinion that if Vladvoyostok should be
blockaded Rojestvensky would be COM
PEELED to return
4 Dutch vessel which arrived at
Batavia. Island of Java, yesterday, re-
ports that she met four japanese war
ships of the east coast of Sumatra, jan
uary 3.