THE WAR IN THE ORIENT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 13.

THE WAR IN THE ORIENT.

Circuitous reports from the Orient indicate that considerable havoc has been wrought in Port Arthur by the bombardment of the Japanese, and that many in the forts and town have been killed. General Kuropatkin is reported to have advised the commander at Port Arthur that he will be expected to hold the fort with the present garrison. The Russians have lost another torpedo-boat destroyer by the explosion of a mine. All but four of her crew, numbering about fifty, were killed. Some reports state that this was a mechanical mine laid in the entrance to the harbor at Port Arthur by the Japanese. The two Russian fleets are apparently attempting to join their forces; but the Japanese fleet has so far prevented their doing so.

The land operations so far have been confined to concentration of troops and skirmishes between outposts. One report states that a company of 200 Japanese has been annihilated by Russian soldiers. The Russians are reported to be withdrawing across the Yalu River. The Japanese continue to advance toward that river, and have occupied Ping Yang and other places. Newchwang also is soon to be occupied by the Japanese, if reports are correct.

One of the most serious phases of the matter is the extreme probability that the Chinese may be drawn into the conflict and other nations thus become involved. China continues to move her troops toward the disturbed zone, in spite of the protest of the Russian Government. Russia has warned China that at the first hostile move, she will descend upon and capture Peking. Other governments are putting forth efforts to encourage China to keep out of the conflict. Whether they will be able to do this now seems problematical.