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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-06-10, Page 2AN{T.ER 1116 LOOKED FO! ATTLE EF I RE LONG. Kouropatkin May Attempt to Take the Japs in the Rear. Attack n Port Arthur to .egin o e15. Bevera.r e to C ssacks ease Y ess SL ' et London cable says—The accurate news which the St. Petersburg correspondent of Paris newspapers send to their jour- nals alternates with such erratic non- sense that it is difficult to decide in which class to place the report received yesterday that Gen. Kouropatkin is rushing southward to take Gen. Oku in the rear and succor Port Arthur, while Gen. Katdrotovich holds Gen. Kuroki in check. The Daily Mail, whose Paris corre- spondent claims to learn from ta, well informed souwee apart from the French newspapers that Gen. Kouropatkin has begun moving south in a serious fash- ion, and that a serious battle is to be expected shortly, gives great prominence to the statement, and describes the movement as a desperate one, to which the Russian Commander -in -Chief is im- pelled by political pressure. According to this view Admiral Alexieff is the mov- ing spirit, he having induced the Czar to force Gen. Kouropatkin into a dan- gerous line of action. If this is so, Gen. Kouropatkin, it is pointed out, is acting like Marshal McMahon, the French com- mander, when, in 1870, he yielded. to Em- press Eugenie and made the fatal at- tempt to join Marshal Bazaine at Metz, which led up to the disaster at Sedan. That Gen. Kourdpatkin is either con- ducting or directing some forward movement seems pretty certain. The Chefoo correspondent of the Express says that the main• armies about Liao - Yang are moving. The Russians are re- ported to be marching south under ur- gent orders from the Czar. Gen. Kouro- patkin is striking out to a position slightly southeast of Liao -Yang. His activity is caused by the steady circling movement of the Japanese, who threaten to . surround him unless he breaks' out and offers battle. According to the cor- respondent, it is not considered that the southward march has any connection with the Port Arthur position, but is as attempt to restore the prestige of the Russian arms. The Japanese have several cavalry brigades operating to the westward, who are in touch with the Russians. The Japanese are moving up infantry and gins from Feng -Wane - Cheng. The simultaneous advance of both armies causes the belief that a bat- tle is imminent. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Daily News refers . to the same movement, which, like some other cor- respondents, he represents to be the outcome of a conference between Gen. Kouropatkin and Admiral Alexieff, The News also makes Gen. Oku's rear the Russian objective, adding that Gen. Kou- ropatkin's advance guard is believed to be already rapidly nearing iemchau. This is obviously gathered from the same source as the Paris story, to the effect that the Russian vanguard is further south than Wa-Fang-Tien, which is 65 miles north of Port Arthur. Finally, there are Gen. Kouropatkin's own announcement of a Japanese ad- vance from Duan -Tien, and Gen. Ku- roki's report of aet:vities at Ai-Yang- Pien-Men and elsewhere northward of Feng -Wang -Cheng to show that it is very improbable that the Russian commander will remain inactive at Liao -Yang in view of reeent events. So, while the cur- tain.temporarily falls on the Liao -Tung promontory scene, it appears about to rise on interesting, perhaps decisive, events further north. RUSSIAN STORY OF FIGHT. An Officer Gets Through Jap Lines With Despatches. London cable says—A despatch to the Daily Mail from Tashichao, dated May 29, says that a Russian staf officer, who managed to get through the Japanese lines, has arrived there from the Kin - chose Isthmus, with despatches from Gen. Stoessel, the commander at Port Arthur, t.i Gen. Kouropatkin. The officer con- firms the reports of the recent fighting. lee says that the Russians retired in good order upon their next line of forti- fications, leaving the Japanese in posses sion of Dalny and Talienwan. During the fighting Gen. Stoessel sent troops over the Port Arthur Railway to reinforce (:'en. Foek, thus greatly prolonging the Russian resistance, and making it more stubborn. The Standard prints a despatch, dat- ed. "Japanese Headquarters, May 20," saying that news of skirmishes is re- ceived daily. The Japanese etre show- ing great activity in road -making. The Japanese who landed at Takushan seem to have struck the fringe of the rainy season. There have been the heaviest downpours. They discovereda new Reisman search - The Tashichao correspondent of the light station, and one or two new forts .uses U i - q rs;s';,irge Mail says heavy rains prevail through- out southern Manchuria, and are re- tarding military movements. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Telegraph represents Gen. Kouro- patkin's position as being shaky. . His military rivals represent the Russian reverses as being the outcome of his faulty strategy now, and his neglect' tc make needful, preparations when he was Minister of War. The Czar, ac- cording to the correspondent, is daily growing snore dissatisfied with General. Kouropatkin, and would dismiss both 1 im and Admiral Alexieff if it were not for the unfavorable light that would thus be thrown on the Govern- ment. The general impression in all circles in St. Petersburg is that - the fall of Port Arthur, which many think still is impossible, ought to connote the end of the war. Officials, profes- sors, politicians, and even former oc- cupiers of positions of the highest trust in the Empire, maintain that it s to Russia's interest to make peace if Port Arthur is taken, but nobody at court has the moral courage to suggest it to the Emperor. The intelligent classes maintain that the continuation of the campaign after the fall of Port Arthur will entail the necessity for German diplomatic support after the war, implying German influence in Russia's policy. The correspondent claims to have confirmation of his pre- viously asserted statement that there is an agreement between Russia and Germany, assuring the former of the latter's energetic support, and, if ne- cessary, arnied intervention against any atempt on the part of Great Brit- ain or the United States to submit the far eastern question to an inter- national congress. The writer adds his testimony to the previous reports of internal unrest in Russia, which, he says, is stronger among all classes than ever before. Ile declares that there is no doubt whatever that' the attempt to blow up the forts at Cronstadt was the work of the Revolutionary Commit- tee, as were also the attempts to sink the battleship Orel. Trying to Minimize the Victory. St. Petersburg cable says—A semi-offi- cial telegram iron Mukden, dated. to- day, says: "Owing to the impossibility of de- fending the position southward of Kin- chau without the aid of the fleet, the Rus- sian defence at that point was only of a demonstrative character. The de- fending force was armed with guns taken from the Chinese in 1900, and had little ammunition. The occupation, of the posi- tion by the Japanese at a great loss to themselves docs not alter the situa- ticn." COSSACKS DEFEATED. Report of Reverse Causes Uneasiness in St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg cable says—A'reported defeat of Cossacks at Ai Yang Pien Men was the only news and almost the only topic of conversation in St. Petersburg last night. No official .despatches were given out last evening, but officers at military headquarters were reluctant in accepting the Japanese despatches. They think it possible that the Japanese met Gen. Mistchenko s command, which re- cently has been raiding in Corea. It is formed of comparatively raw recruits, though now tolerably bard- er. ed by three months' campaigning. It is conceivable that they might have been defeated, but not Rennenkemp's force in the Ai Yang region, who are veterans of that old .command which accompanied him on the famous ride through Manchuria. Thew men are esteemed here as the hardest riders, and the most reckless fighters in the Trans -Baikal army. Any disaster to them would have a L neater sentimental effect than more ser- ious reverse at li;inovho. Ignorant of the War. Mukden cable says --(Delayed in trans- mission.)—A correspondent of the Asso- ciated Press has just returned here from a 60 -mile journey in the neighboring country, which has disproved the reports of the presence of Japanese in this vicin- ity. He found that perfect order pre- vailed, and the conversation of the peo- ple showed that they had no knowledge cf the hostilities. A. Gunboat Struck. A cable from Tokio says—Four gun- boats, two destroyers and two torpedo boats, sent to Port Arthur early on Monday morning' by Vice -Admiral Togo effected a eareful reconnaissance, facing a. heavy fire from the land batteries. en the Liao Tien Shan promontory, No. 3 gunboat was, struck by a shell, which killed one petty officer, injured three men and damaged one of her guns. The other boats escaped without any dam - STOESSEL'S FORCE. Takes ,Up Strategical Position Under Guns of Port Arthur. Mukden cable -- Anoraks to advices received here Gen, Stoessei's force has taken up a strategical position near Port Arthur, which is supported by the guns of the outlying batteries and the fortress. It is believed here that Gen. Olcu has received strong reinforcements from the Japanese army which landed at Taku- shan. There is little change in the sit- uation to the eastward of Liao Yang. BANDITS ATTACKED Both Dalny and Talienwan When the Russians Evacuated Them. Che Foo cable says that one hun- dred Chinese refugees strived hereto -day from Dalny and Talienwan. While their statements differ in many respect re- garding existing conditions on the Liao Tung Peninsula, the majority agree upon the point that the Russians have left both places before the junks sailed on the •28th inst. Upon evacuation by the Russians, bandits attacked both towns and commenced burning and pillaging. The Japanese arrived later and topk steps to protect the Chinese merchants. One Russian official was killed by the bandits. - The Japanese troops captured the naval guns taken from Port Arthur to Nanshan Hill. Oared here to be untrue. LEFT DALNY IHASTILY. Russians Fled Precipitately, Leaving Much Valuable Property. Tokio cable says -= The Russians evacuated Dalny hastily and failed to destroy much property, which will prove highly valuable to the Japanese. Gen. Oku's scouts report that over 100 bar - leeks and store houses remain uninjured. The railway station, with 200 passenger and freight coaches, are also uninjured. The Russians destroyed the big pier and blocked all the dock entrances with sunk- en steamers. They destroyed all the r:mal1 railway bridges in the vicinity of the docks, but left the jetties uninjured. It is evident that the Russians. fled quickly when Nanshan Hill was lost, ex- pecting that Gen. Oku would immedi- ately take possession of Dalny. All pre- vious reports of the occupation of the town were false. Daily Fighting Reported. A St. Petersburg cable report says— Refugees who continue to arrive here from the southern part of the Liao -Tung peninsula .report dailyfighting there, and severe losses fore both armies, but the reports are not ceefirmable officialy. The Russians here are depending on the press bulletins for nears from that vicin- ity. The very highest Russian authority here, while not believing that Port Ar- thur will fall, admits that its loss would be a terrible blow to the Russian arms. The same aut';tority says Russia may send a. large anny to the south of New Chwang in the event of Gen. Stoessel be- ing able to hold his own. at Port Arthur. This, however, is not possible at present, awing to the positions occupied by the Japanese armies operating from the Yalu River and Takushan. The Russians are not sanguine as to the outlook for Port Arthur. More contraband of war is arriving here. Tivo cargoes of flour and tinned meats and some specie were rushed to Mukden as soon as they were utivenloaded: Heavy rains are daily mak- ing the roads almost impassable. The Chinese brigands are becoming ac - IN A FORTNIGHT. Date Decided Upon for Storming Port Arthur. London cable says—The Tokio corre- spondent of the Chronicle says that 10,- 000 Russians are travelling in junks up the Liao River, their destination,being Titling, some forty miles north of Mukden. The Russians are building a pontoon bridge across the Liao River' above New Chwang. The despatch adds that it is expected that the attack on Port Arthur will be- gin on June 15. The correspondents will leave Tokio on Jame 10, in time to see the capture of Port Arthur, which is expected to occur about June 20. CONTRADICTORY ACCOUNT. Running Fight in the Dark Between Jap Cavalry and, Cossacks. A New Chwang cable reports — The •\, ar Office bas received a detailed report of the fight at Ai Yang Plan Men iabout 60 miles northeast of Fong Wang Cheng), on Saturday night, in .which two battalions .of Japanese infantry and ene squadron of Japanese cavalry, number- ing 2,700 men, attacked free squadrons of Cossacks. The Russian losses were seven Cossacks killed and one officer, wounded end nine horses killed. The Cossacks were encamped 12 miles northeast of huan Dian Sian, which was held by sev- erai Japanese battalions, two of which and one .squadron of cavalry 'left May 28 for Saimatsza. This force encounter ed the Cossack bivouac at 10.30 o'clock the same night and attacked the Cos- sacks, who retired in good order, keeping up a running fight along the road to FAit atsza. There was a great deal of fir- ing on both sides, but, like most fighting in the dark, it was very ineffective, as shown by the smallness of the Russian losses. et is believed the Japanese did not sustain any greater casualties, but aceording to one account, the majority of the Japanese squadron was wiped out. After reaching Saimatsze May 29 the ,:apanese returned to Keen Dinan Sian, apparently not liking the vicinity of the Cossacks, and in, view of the possibility A MURDERER CONFESSES TO SAVE ACCOMPLICE. Frenchman Predicts Feder tion of " The United States of Europe." Washington, Pa., +me 0.— Milavor Kovovick, now tinder sentence of death for the murder of Samuel Ferguson, a wealthy contractor, last September,' has made a confession to the authorities exonerating Milavor Patrovik, who was recently convicted for murder in the sec- ond degree for the same crime. In his confession Kovovick names three of his countrymen as accomplices, and says they are now in Croatia, beyond the hands of the law. The crime to which Kovoviek confesses was a fiendish one. On Sept. 25 last as Contractor Ferguson was driving along a road in Washington county, on his wav to pay the men at the Ferguson railroad camp he was blown from his buggy by a dynamite mine placed under a small bridge on the road. In his pos- session was a satchel containing $5,000, which was stolen. Detectives will leave shortly for Cro- atia in search of the three accomplices of Kovovick. United States and Europe. Chicago June 6.—A union of the ma- jority of the nations of Europe into a, great federation has been predicted by Anatole Percy Beaulieu, the French, economist and sociologist, in a lecture+ on "The United States of Europe," given. under the auspices of the Alliance Fran- caise. In . this union, which Prof. Beaulieu• thought was sure to come about, though, possibly not in the twentieth century, three nations, he said, would not bo in- cluded. England, because it would com- bine instead with the United States; Russia, because it would form a great independent nation by itself, and Tur- key, because it would be absorbed by the coalition and lose its identity. The union would be a necessity, the speaker said, to resist American aggression and the "yellow peril." of Gen. Rennenkampff bringing up rein- forcements. The War Office attributes little importance to this engagement, which was heralded from Tokio as a Jap- anese victory. FIRED TOWN OF DALNY. Bandits Killed Clerks and Sunk a Junk, Drowning Fifty Persons. Che Foo cable says that five hun- dred Chinese refugees from Port Dalny and Talieuwan arrived here to -day. After sifting their conflicting stories it appears that the Russians left Talien- wan on May 26 for Port .Arthur, after burning everything likely to be of use to the Japanese. Bandits later took pos- session of the town and were pillaging when the Japanese cavalry appeared on May 27: On May 26 the Russians left Port Danny, previously burning the of- fices and residences, destroying the rail- road and scuttling three large merchant- I men, the Zeid, Boreia and Nagadan, and all the dredges and launches. Some of the refugees also say that the Russians • destroyed the gunboat Bohr (which is, believed to have taken part in the bat- tle of Thursday last at Kinchou and- Nanshan Hill) and three torpedo boats. I Others say these vessels returned to, Port Arthur. The docks and piers at Dalny were not destroyed. Bandits oc- cupied the city after the Russians left and levied tribute on the inhabitants. A Chinese contractor, who had built most of Dalny for the Russians, was held for ransom and his clerks were killed.. The town was still burning May 28, when the refugees started for Cho Foo. The Japanese had not appeared at Dalny up to that time. One junk, which was leaving Dalny, was sunk by bandits, and fifty persons were drowned. The Chinese who have arrived did not leave Dalny or Talienevan because they were afraid of the Russians or Japan- ese. They fled from the bandits who entered these towns. The Russian gunboat Bohr was a small vessel of 950 tons. Japs occupy Dalny. Washington report — The Japanese legation to -day gave out the following despatch from the home Government a't Tokio, embodying e report from Gen. Oku, as follows: "Gen. Oku, commanding the army operations against Port Arthur, reports that our troops occupied Dalny on May 30. Over one hundred warehouses and barracks, besides telegraph offices and railway station ,were found uninjured. Over one hundred railway ears were usable, but all small railway bridges in the neighborhood are destroyed. All dock piers, except the great pier, which was sunk, remain uninjured. Some .steam launches were also found at the mouth of the docks." To Relieve Port Arthur. Tien Tsin cable says It was reported here that the first brigade of the first Russian division, consisting of the first, second, third and fourth Siberian Regi- ments, left Tashechao (a point on the railroad about 20 miles south of New Ghwang), for Kinchou yesterday. The purpose of this movement is not known, Mut it is believed that the troops are moving to the relief of. Port Arthur, They are to be followed by an entire di- vision. Peter the Great Gulf Maned. Vlaadivostoek cable says—It is believed from information received here that the Japanese have mined Peter the Great Gulf (on which this town is situated), a task easy of accomplishment because of the recent heavy fogs. One small Coreau sailing vessel was blown up yes- terda They. region is quiet as far as military operations are concerned.. USED WRONG RIFLES. U. S. Palma Trophy Team Broke the Regulations, London, May 31.— At the spring meeting of the National Rifle Associa- tion, held in Loudon of -day, Lord CheYlesmore, the President, referred to the correspondence between the Na- tional Rifle Association and the Ameri- can Rifle Association relative to the allegation that the American team, which won the Palma trophy in 1903, did not use the national arxn of the United States, and therefore did not conform to the regulations. The object of the council of the association in sifting the matter was not to seek to reverse the result of the match, or arouse any bitterness, but to clear up the serious question which had been publicly raised. Replying to a communication from the National Rifle Association, General B. W Spencer admits the general truth of the allegation, but he denies that the Americans wilfully contravened the rules of the contest. He says they brought two patterns of rifles, and as no objection was raised to the pat- tern ultimately selected they thought they were entitled to use it. In reply tae secretary of the Na- tional Riff Association said he regret- ted the rifles used by the Americans were fitted with barrels which were not in all respects the patterns issued to the troops for service, and thus one of the rules was infringed. "It would be offensive to the competing team," wrote the secretary, "to assume that they intended to commit a breach of the rules unless prevented by protest," General Spencer formally acknowl- edged the above, promising to lay the matter before the exoutive committee. The meeting approved the action of the council. THOUGHT HE WAS RICH, Told the Dentlet to Take Out His Taeta, and He Did it. Hempstead, L. I., June 16.—Robert Dawson, who has 'been working for some time a ars a 'blasksmi.tlr. ear mem- bers of the Mea,dowbrook Hinit Club, beseeme insane iy_+esterday and im- agined he had $10,000,000. He decided to give up life at the forge and left for Hempstead. He went to several ,stores and told tale proprietors that he had fallen heir to a very) large fortune in England where lie form- erlyi lived. The goods he asked for were at once forthcoming. Among the things he ashes for 'were two diamond rings a handsome gold watch, Veld eye- glasses and sonic ort the beat suits of clothing. As he was 'being fitted for one of the suits, Dawson noticed that his teeth needed attention, and decid- ed at once to have two of the fin- est mets that could 'be purchased and at the same time to do away) with: toothache forever. HS went to a dentist. "Pull them out and `give me the best acts 1 tali beyi, for I hive , plenty, of money 'to pay for them." The dentist did as he was told and out came all of Dawson's teed. Now the dentist is 'wondering where his pale r is coming from. De weon is now under arrest. • THE DREYFUS CASE. Az other Startling Denouncement at Paris Over it. Paris, June G.—(ljh,e Minister of 'War has caused the arrest of an officer, ,who is understood to have been connected fere-tie the Dreyfus age fair. The officer, ;who is held in close confinement in the sfartrees of Mount Valerian, is said to be el,arge ed with using non,siderable sums of .money at the court martial in Rene nes, in order Ito secore the convic- tion onviction of Dreyfus.. All official informba- tion concerning the ease is width-. held. . DROWNED IN THE RIVER. Fell to Death as FIe Prayed for Death. Wilkesbnrre,. Pa., Jane 0.— While kneeling on Plymouth bridge pray- ing for a relative who was drowned five years ago, George Shepla, this afternoon fell into ttne river and woo serceened. He wee a foreigner, but, knowing the American custom of services for th,e dead on er a aortal Da;y, he de- cided to go to the bridge and peaty(. thinking It appropriate to do so, 'be- catme the bodfyl otr bias relative wino never recovered, and the river was the oneyf grave it knew„ ; The mother of the bride was surprised, "Married only three weeks and quarrel. ing already 1" she .exclaimed. °tit's all George's fault," boo -hoed the bride. "Ne insists that he loves me more than •a