The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 20, 1904, Page 4

T HE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 19 SLAVS DEFEATED WITH LOSS OF TWO THOUSAND MEN LONDON, May 20.---The Standard’s correspondent at Tientsin. wires that while the Japanese fleet was covering the landing of troops near Kaichou on Monday a fierce engagement occurred at Hsinyencheng. Two thousand Russians were killed or wounded. Russians retreated and the Japanese occupied both Kaiping and Kaichou. ‘Hundreds Perish on Sinking Jap- anese Craft. - TogoReportsLoss ol Two of His Warships. ring a fog off Por hino sank, only ed 3 She car- guns, ght 4.7-inch unders. REJOICING IN RUSSIA. Disasters Are lessening Japan’s Pre- ponders on the Sc m war- A receited was trans vesterday Japanese that port mes- by rly two ofr he E that last 1 brought m reports of the shima and thg Fujt Russian réfugees to circulate and citement. Without e disaster as divine Russian cause Russia upon the the Em a sign that remark generally the was 1 circles the Japanese catas- natter of rejoicing, though 4 that brave men es, just as Japan » the world when h the Petro- Ing of = in the greater w inflicted on eply affect Japan course of the cam- ressed hy vesse admiraity ex- Vice Admir the naval com- have faithful- is most nourishing, because richest in cream; most ect, PR e skillfully Its purity is rnnm-d under forfeit of $5,000 to anyone able to prove any adulteration in our product. t on the campaign, | S ~ BrESHIP [IRISUSE,. ~ i /, W i i i HI il f The -+ Newvchwang Reports Rout of Ku- roki’'s.- Army and lts Retreat to Fengwangcheng. NEWCHWANG, May 19 (evening).— It is reported here from a reliable source that the Japanese army from the Yalu River has received a heavy blow and has been driven back to Fengwangcheng. i TOKIO, May 19.—It is unofficially reported here that small skirmishes are taking place south of Kinchou, on the Liaotung Peninsula. The Japanese line extends from Chi- chaton to Chulishan, across a ridge of hills a mile and a half north of Kin- chou. It completely dominates that town, which can be taken in half a day when the Japanese are ready to do so. Kinchou is seven or eight thousand meters north of the narrowest part of the peninsula and forty miles north of Port Arthur. The Japanese line, therefore, is less than forty-five miles from Port Arthur. MUKDEN, May 19.—The momentary relaxation u%‘he Japanese advance, specifically from the South, as official- ly reported, Indicates a temporary withdrawal from ' the vposition won during the fighting which apparently ended on May 17. L 4 VICTORIOUS SE.GENERAL AND TWO OF ADMIRAL TOGO'S WARSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN SUNK OFF PORT ARTHUR. | -+ 1y duplicated the plan which resulted in the sinking of the Petropavlovsk. Wherever off Port Arthur the Jap! ese squadron appeared during the da that same night Russian torpedo boats stole out and carefully planted contact mines, which, below the surface, would n- not be touched by the destroyers, while | ships of heavier draught cruising in the mine fields would be sure to strike them The Japanes Promontor been thick Other points be mined, and it has bec for the Japanese those waters. The effect of the disaster undoubted- Iy wouid be to cause Togo to be more cautious, for he must save his squadron for the contest for the supremacy of the sea with the Baltic fleet when it ar- rives in the Pacific. The loss of the ships, irrespective other casualties which may have o curred, is of the most importance, ac- cording to the general staff, in that it | tends to restore the equilibrium afloat. Despite the number of casualties in the Russian fleet, it has really lost only one battleship, the Petropavlovsk. It s true that the Retvizan and the Ce- sarevitch were torpedoed at the begine ning of the war, but both were safely towed into Port Arthur. The damage they sustained was serious, particu- larly to the Cesarevitch, but repalrs have been made since then and the of. ficlals state that the Retvizan is read to resume her place in the fighting line. The Cesarevitch is still undergoing re- pairs, and it will be some time before | she can put to sea. Prior to the isolation of Port Arthur several thousand shipwrights entered | the city and they have since been rush- | ing the work of repairing the ships. | e JAPAN'S YALU VICTORY. Official Figures Show the Extent of the Russian Disaster. TOKIO, May 19.—General Kuroki re- ports the Japanese losses at the battle of Kuliencheng on May 1, as follows: | Killed—5 officers and 213 men. | Wounded—33 officers and 783 men. Thirteen hundred and sixty-three | Russian dead were buried by the Jap- anese, and eighteen officers and 5% men were taken prisoners. The Japanese captured twenty-one quick-firing guns, nineteen ammunition wagons and 1417 shells for these guns; eight machine guns and 37000 shells for them: 1021 rifles and 350,000 rounds yof rifie ammunition. They also cap- tured sixty-three horses, ten wagons, 1244 carts and 541 tents. At Fengwangcheng the Japanese cap, { tured 357 shells for mountain guns, 188,- 900 rounds of rifie ammunition, 1720 carts, 40,000 loaves of bread and other supplies, and tools and telegraph stores. b Rarats favorite point selected by the for bombarding is Liaoshan y, and the water there has sown with Russian mines. come dangerous ships to cruise in of Koreans Harrassing Japanese. PARIS, May 19.—An official dis- patch from Seoul says Korean feeling against the Japanese is assuming seri- ous proportions. Lack of organization prevents the Koreans adopting ef- fective measures, but they are secretly { embarrassing the Japanese by lending { assistance to the Cossack detachments | operating in Northeast Korea, down to | Gensan. These bands, with the co- operation of Koreans, it is added, have cut the telegraph line from Chemulpo to Pingyang. SPRERAC, S Russians Destroying Bridges. SEOUL, Korea, May 18.—At the Jap- anese headquarters here it is saM that Colonel Kinoshita’s infantry battallion, which is pursuing the Russians, ar- rived at Kaichyong on May 15. Small parties scouted the country ahead and reported that the Russians were cover- ing their retreat by destroying bridges and blocking the passes in the hills, de Liaoshan have been | Russians Claim Two Battleships Hit Mines. | cHmEFU, May 19.—Persons just ar- rived here from Dalny have reported to the Russian Consul that the Japan- ese battleship Shikishima sank within two minutes after contact with the submarine mine and that there was | no time to save the crew. The accident occurred, it is said, within sight of Port | Arthur. | . The battleship Fuji (not the cruiser Asama), which struck the mine on the port bow had a heavy list and also wag down by the bow, but was righted and went off in tow of two cruisers. It is believed impossible, nowever, that she could reach port. The rumor at Dalny to the effect that the Asama had sunk in Kerr Bay probably refers to the sinking of the steel cruiser Miyaka, which took place there recently, through contact with a submarine mine. The Russian Consul personally had a telegram from Dalny saying that it was rumored there that two Japanese | battleships had been sunk off Port Ar- thur. Refugees coming in say that the town suffered no damage from the bombard- ment and that considerable land fight- ing is going on to the north of Dalny. Two Russian destroyers have escaped from Port Arthur and are still at large. The Russians are using Chinese junks to place mines in the path of the Jap- ane fleet patrolling the peninsula coast. The Japanese have sunk a tug and several junks that were discovered placing mines. Japanese destroyers have laid many mines outside Port Arthur, hoping to | catch the Russian destroyers in the attempt to return tc Port Arthur. Many of these mines were improperly | anchored and are adrift. They are re- | ported to be all over the gulf. i = | THROWS OFF RUSSIAN YOKE. {Korean Government Annuls Timber Concessions on the Yalu. SEOUL, May 19.—The Korean Gov- |ernment has annulled the Russian Yalu and Tumen rivers timber con- | cessions granted in 1896. The Rus- sian companies interested were backed | | by Bezobrazoff, the friend of Viceroy Alexieff, and reputed moving spirit of | | the Russian war party and many Rus- i sian noblemen. There have been fre- | quent differences between Russian | semi-official concerng and the private | |Japanese lumbermen, which consti- | | tuted one of the annoyances which in- | | directly led to the war. Korea, in | several diplomatic relations with St. | | Petersburg, has not felt bound to re- | spect Russian commercial contracts. | WASHINGTON, May 19.—Minister | Allen cables the State Depmmen!f from Seoul to-day as follows: “The Korean Government, by an imperial decree issued last night, has | annulled all treaties and agreements with the Russian Government. This annulment comprises the Yalu timber concessions.” | This Yalu timber concession is said | to have been one of the principal fac- tors in bringing about the present war. So long ‘as the Russians remained on the western bank of the Yalu the Jap- anese, though very much discontented at the fallure to evacuate Manchurfa, were not willing to plunge into hos- tilities, but the procurement by Russia of a large concession ot} land on the Korean side of the Yalu precipitated the crisis. | The Japanese felt that the alleged tim- ber concession was really intended for military purposes, and they were con- firmed in their suspicion by & + FULL EXTENT OF DISASTER i IS IN DOUBT The wide discrepancy - in names and details between the Russian and the Japanese ac- counts of the sinking of war- ships of Admiral Togo's fleet leaves the extent of the disaster in doubt. Unless the Russian version is incorrect, there were two series of disasters, involv- Ing the sinking of two battle- ships and a cruiser and the damaging of another battleship, besides the injury the Kasagi must have sustained in ramming the cruiser Yoshino. Admiral Togo's official report says that the Yoshino was sunk in collision with the Kasagi and that the battleship Hatsuse was destroyed by contact with a Russian mine at sea off Port Arthur on Sunday, May 15, dur- ing a heavy fog. Russian refugees from Port Arthur, arriving at Chefu, de- clare that the battleship Shiki- shima was sunk and the battle- ship Fuji badly damaged by a mine within sight of Port Ar- thur on Monday, May 16, It is to be noted that, besides the differences in names and dates, the Russians say the dis- aster was plainly seen from the heights of Port Arthur, there being no mention of a fog. Until further advices are re- ceived the full extent of Japan's loss will not be definitely known: but, even though it be confined to ll_n- warships mentioned in Togo's report, the catastrophe is one that has seriously crippled the naval strength of the Mikado. . . RUSSIAN CRUISER BOGATYR AGROUND AT VLADIVOSTOK PARIS, May 19.—The corres- { pondent at St. Petersburg of the Echo de Paris says: “The Russian cruiser Bogatyr grounded during a fog on the rocks near the entrance to Vladi- vostok. Her position is critical. The crew was saved.” <+ opposition to the application of Japan, Englahd and the United States to have free ports opened at the mouth of the (Y-lu River and above Wiju and An- ung. The practical effect of this decree is to break off all diplomatic relations between Russia and Korea that may have survived the expulsion of Rus- sian Minister Pavloff from Seoul. e — e e — Marshall Wins Chess Honors. CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa., May 19.—The chess masters’ tournament, which began here on April 25, was con- cluded to-night, Marshall winning the first prize and Lasker and Janowski dividing second and third prizes. Mar- cos was placed fourth and Showalter fifth, while the sixth prize was divided between Schletcher and Tschigorim. Thus two Americans and five Euro- peans were prize winners, Newchwang Is Not Yet Taken by Japanese. ST. PETERSBURG, May 19. — The Admiralty denies that it has been offi- | cially advised of the Japanese occupa- tion of Newchwang. The fact that nothing has been received convinces | the Admiralty that a small Russian force is still at Newchwang. # NEWCHWANG, May 19.—A courier of the Associated Press, who arrived here shortly before midnight, reports that the Japanese fleet was sighted from Tower Hill, ten miles north of Kaiochau, on Monday. The bombard- ment of the coast was extensive, cov- ering a distance of twenty-five miles. Only the Japanese marines, it was re- | ported, were landed. This, however, is not confirmed. The Japanese force | marched several miles inland, destroy- ed four miles of railroad and other property, captured a Russian commis- sary train and returned with a number of carts, animals and native drivers. The Japanese then re-embarked and left the vicinity of their landing place. The transports shortly afterward could not be seen from Tower Hill, but their course was southward. It is believed now that the landing was a feint to cover movements elsewhere. A regiment of Russian infantry re- turned here yesterday afternoon. It was reported at 10 o'clock last night that batteries of artillery would reach here to-day. The Russians seem to be bewildered and disheartened, and un- able to form lasting plans. Officers who left here (though their personal bag- gage remains at Newchwang) after bidding touching farewells to friends in Newchwang, returned a few hours later and began directing the work of building intrenchments a mile south of here, but this task was abandoned in a few hours. It is believed here that the Russian authorities at Muk- den are responsible for this vacillation. In addition to the recrudescence of military activity, the sailors are re- fiitting the Russian gunboat Sivouch, which had been dismantled and loaded with wood and oil in order to destroy her, as well as two small river boats in the mud dock. The Russian statements in regard to the situation are absolutely unreliable. Many Japanese spies are here or in this neighborhood. One spy has been executed. It is believed he was an officer in the Japanese army. Bandits continue capturing rich Chinese, holding them captives until ransoms are paid. The Chinese vic- tims make no complaint, fearing as- sassination. Newchwang is filled with bandits armed with rapid-fire pistols, concealed in their garments. o The Cossacks continue to harass the rear guard of the Japanese army advancing from the Yalu River. ——— American Warships Going to China. WASHINGTON, May 19.—The Navy Department was advised by cable to- day of the sailing of the battleship ‘Wisconsin, the flagship of Rear Ad- miral Cooper, the Vicksburg and Alex- , ander from Cavite for Hongkong: also of the departure of the Frolic from Cavite to join the New Orleans at Chefu, the nearest neutral port to i Little is known here of the precise nature of the operations east or south of Liaoyang, but eariy and important | events are expected in the immediate region of Liaoyang. The isolated Russian forces north- ward of Port Arthur are withdrawing to Port Arthur and it is reported that the Japanese are withdrawing from the vicinity of Kaichau and are ad- vancing to the passes east of Haicheng and Liaoyang. MIANDOHA (a station on the Man- churian Railroad), May 19.—Vice Ad- miral Skyrdloff left here this morning for Mukden. Several officers of his staff are under orders to proceed to Mukden and Vladivostok, whither Ad- miral Skrydloff will follow. The foggy weather prevailing at Vladivostok will facilitate torpedo boat operations and may cause the Japanese to hesitate about loitering in the neigh- boring waters. The task of safeguarding the rail- road agalnst the constant and deter- mined attacks of Japanese and Chi- nese has caused the Russian artillery authorities unremitting labor. The line must be preserved at all hazards, es- pecially for use in case of retreat, and the task is intrusted to a separate | corps of frontier guards, made up of fifty-five mounted squadrons, fifty-five foot companies and six batteries of ar- tillery, altogether 25,000 men. The road. which is 1400 miles long, is divided into sections of thirty-three miles, each guarded by a detachment of troops, which is cted to constantly patrol. f the detachment makes ceedingly omerous. It is a matter of comparatively little diffi- culty for a Japanese spy or a Chinese bandit to steal up to an exposed peint and dynamite the railroad before the patrols discover the da May 18.— are prais- They inflict , clear wound, though they pos- good stopping effect. Captain sess Vorobreff was struck by twenty bul- lets during the fighting at the Yalu sRiver, but he survived and is expected to recover. Several gunners of the he- roic Third Battery are convalescent, though their intestines were pierced { The last trainload of men wounded at the Yalu has gone north after the sol- | dlers received decorations personally from General Kuropatkin. - RUSSO-GERMAN ALLIANCE. Fatherland Is Replacing France in Muscovite Esteem. May 20.—The St. sspondent of the PARIS, burg cor: s says ‘It is persistently rumored that ne- gotiations are going on with Germany, the object of which is to effect a re- appfoachment and the reconmstitution of the tri e whereby Russia would Germany's diplomati Peters- Echo de support settlement of the Far Eastern An understanding with Germany would prevent British | interven favor of Japan and Russia wou | concede a settl immediate pledge, t of pending eco- nomic and customs questions. ‘The attempt to form a Russo Ger- due to the Anglo- which produced a de- | here. The Russians | ch ial, if | is not st 1 that it w entente which will possible a not affect the Frz but must evi ne atly wreck surely will be DN believe t i ssia has decided the ports of to meet- ns to occupation of Mar i s FLOTILLA REPULSED. | TORPEDO | Japanese Cruisers Drive Russian Craft Back to Port Arthur Harbor. WASHINGTON, May 19.—Advices received at the Japanese legation from | Tokio confirming the press aceou | the sinking of the cruiser Yoshino 3 the battleship Hatsuse state that a the Hatsuse had been struck by Ru: sian mechanical mines a Russian fl | tilla of sixteen torpedo-boats and d | stroyers appeared, but w.is repulsed by the Japanese cruisers, which saved 300 of the Hatsuse's crew, including Admiral Mashiba and Captain Nakao. ps iy i i, Britain Sends Sloop to Newchwang. WEIHAIWEI, May 20.—The British sloop of war Espiegle has started for | Newchwang to protect British inter- ests there. ———— | Prominent Santa Cruz Woman Dead. | SANTA CRUZ, May 19.—Mrs. Celia Miller, wife of the late Captain C. F. Miller, died last night. She resided in | Santa_Cruz for many years and owned | the Neptune bath house, which she {sold to the Tented City Corporation. She was a native of Bristol, England, and was 78 years of age. She leaves five children. BORAXOLOGY “The world wasn't made in a minute—neither was borax.” Nature worked for ages to form those pure white borax crystals. But it must have been a joyous work, this mak- ing of borax. herself - . Nature must have said to “] am E:.“ -"ug man the best thing in the world to wash and clean with.” Insist upon BO! Newchwang outside the zone of mili- tary operations. S T Jews Declare Their Loyalty. POLTAVA, Russia, Wednesday, May {18.—The Emperor during his visit {here to-day was waited upon by a deputation of Jews, 0 assured him of the loyalty of the: and th co-religionists, =l et ‘War News Continued on Page 5,