Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1904 — SIX BIG BLASTS AT PORT ARTHUR [ARTICLE]

SIX BIG BLASTS AT PORT ARTHUR

Suggest the Idea That the Russians Are Destroying Their Shipp and Docks. JAPS ARE CLOSE TO MUKDEN They Are Also Reported Northeast of Teng-Hu&ng-Cheng. JAPS LOSE TWO 810 WABSHIPB? Knropatkin'* Taction Are a Continuous Retreat to Mukden and Then Harbin—Tokio Kei ports Serious Fighting. 8t Petersburg, May 20.—The admiralty denies that it has been officially advised of the Japanese occupation of New Cbwang. Tokio, May 19. —Vice Admiral Togo has reported as follows: “A report from Rear Admiral Dews Bays that the cruisers Kasuga and Yoabino collided during a fog off Port Arthur on May 15. The Yoshlno sunk, only ninety of her crew being saved. On the same day the battleship Hatsuse sturck a Russian mine and sunk.” Paris, May 19.—The St Petersburg correspondent of The Matin says that official advices have been received to the effect that the Japanese have occupied New Cbwang. Chicago, May 19.—A special to The Daily News from Chefoo, dated yesterday, says: "The Doily News’ dispatch boat Fawan, while passing Port Arthur about 10 a. m. today, heard six heavy explosions. They appeared to proceed from the inner harbor, and suggested the idea that the Russians were blowing up their ships and docks. Tokio, May 19.—Two Japanese divisions have arrived near Mukden with the object of cutting General Kuropatkin’s line of retreat northward. Reported Hooey lop Loo. Chefoo, May 19, 11:30 a. m. Russian refugees who arrived here today on a junk from Port Dalny say that the Japanese bombarded Port Arthur last Monday. Russian officers who were on Golden Hill declared, according to the refugees, that during the bombardment a Japanese battleship and a cruiser struck mines and sank. The warships reported to have been sunk off Port Arthur are the battleships Sblkishima and the armored cruiser Asaina. The story la not believed here, but the Russians who brought the news insist that it ia true. dap* Report Uvaty Fighting. Washington, May 19.—The Japanese legation has received the following cablegram from Tokio: “"The commander of the landing forces in the Liao-Tang peninsula reports that between the sth and 16th instants tberehave been daily skirmishes, Japanese detachments soccuessfully driving the enemy back and destroying the telegraph and railways. At Pulantlen and vicinity on the 16th, after serious fighting the Japanese occupied the heights three and one-half miles from Kin-Chow. The Japanese casualties were 146, including nine officers killed.” Advance of the Japanese. Paris, May 19.—A dispatch to The Temps from Mukden says that the mandarin of the district northeast of Feng-H uang-Cheng has notified the Tartar marshal at Mukden of the arrival of the Japanaaa in his territory, which indicates that their objective Is so turn Liao-Yang by the northeast Japanese Avtnj Located. Liao-Yang, May 19.—The northern wing of the Japanese army, moving from Feng-Wang-Oheng, has occupied Knandyasyan (Hal-Yang-Teen?), fortyfive miles northeast of Feng-Wang-Cheng. "FALL BACK” 18 RUSSIAN TACTICS Knropatkin Will Plant Retreat to Mnkdao and Then to Harbin. St. Petersburg, May 19. —Confirming the intimations that it IsGenaral Kuropatkin’s purpose to avoid a decisive combat with the Japanese at the present stage of the war the statement is made by the general staff that the commander-in-chief ki making preparations to fall back on Mukden and then on Harbin. While the superior numbers of the enemy compel a retirement it does not follow that* General Knropatkin will not strike a stinging blow should a strategical mistake he made which wifi enable him to throw a stronger army upon one of the advancing columns of bis antagonist Kuropatkin’s decision to withdrew from Liao-Yang can only mean, according to the experts, that there will continue to be affairs of outposts unless another General Zassalltch should develop. ► The controlling strategic point at H&i-Cbeng will not be held, as believed, Knropatkin deciding it to be unwise to isolate more troops. This

la one of the reasons that dictated the withdrawal of the Russians from New Cbwang, official details of which have not yet been made public. The opinion prevails here that the Japanese will not occupy New Cbwang until Kurokl’s columns arrive at Hai-Cheng or Its immediate vicinity.