IN HARD STRAITS
Russia Designs Sinking Remnant Fleet
And Abandoning Port Arthur—Japs
—Capture Russian Merchantmen.
Special to the Por.im.
London, March 3.—According
.to the Times, Gen. Dragomiroff,
former governor of Kieff, has been
summoned to St. Petersburg. Dur
ing the war deliberations he severe
ly criticised Russia’s policy, insist
ing that both fleet and army should
immediately evacuate Port Arthur
in order to avoid a si LI greater dis
aster. The report is considered in
military circles here as of the direst
import for Russia. The sinkingo£
the Russian fleet. where . they are
now lying bottled up in the harbor
means the abandonment of all war
tactics except land fighting, and
all experts point out that they have
to d°pend absolutely upon the rail
road and leave the Japanese free to
rule the seas aud land troops and
withdraw them at will, inviting the
worst defeat chronicled for modern
armies; yet the situation at Port
Arthur is recognized as demanding
heroic measures. It is pointed out
.here by M. Diremeau, French naval
expert, that if Port Arthur be evac
uated after the sinking of the"ships
the vessels would have to be utterly
ruined to prevent the Japanese
raising and repairiug them for their
owu use.
Washington, March n.—Official
information from Tokio states that
Japan has Captured a large number
of Russian merchantmen and are
now holding prisoner 400 men be
longing on these vessels.
JAPAN CALLS OUT RESKRVES
New York, March 10.—The Jap
anese government has issued a call
for all reserves. This includes all
Japanese now living in the United
States, and the call is so worded as
to appeal directly to them. The
patriotic devotion of these people
to their country is so well known
that it is expected they will flock
to the aid of their native country in
large numbers.
I GREAT EARTHQUAKE g
! New York, March^.—Adv^W
from Santiago de Cbil£ repoit^JJi^t
slight earthquake shoc^Tffhtinue
to he felt. On the west coast of
„ -Wi. -
South Amefica great damage has
been done, bat outside of the Lima
disaster not many lives were lost
RUSSIA IS BARRKQ
New York, March 7.—A special
from London says it is understood
if the Japanese are successful in
Manchuria steps will be taken to
guard against Russia again assum
ing a dominant attitude in that
p ,rtiou of China. The idea of
Russia policeing the railroad, for
example, is no longer entertained
in Loudon.
PORT ARTHUR KASI1SR
Port Arthur, March 7,—There
is no change in the situation here.
The day is 6pe, presaging an early
spring, when land operations in
this region will be impossible on a
gigantic scale. The Russian fleet
rests easily under the shelter of. the
great land guns, and. the larger
Japanese ships being engaged at
Vladivostock, a greater feeling of
j security prevails.
! ATTACK VLADIVOSTOK
Japanese Bombard Russian Stronghold
Police Expelling Resident Japs—A
Reward Offered For Their Capture—
Special to the Forum.
Vladivostock, March 8.—This
place was attacked by a Japanese
fleet of five battleships and two
cruisers today. Fighting was all
done at long range, about 5V2
miles, and no material damage was
done outside the killing ot one and
fand the wounding of a few men.
Many of the Japanese shells did not
eqplode at all. The attack was ap
parently made to ascertain the loca
, tipn of the forts and to see if the
‘ Russian fleet was iff the harbor.
Tokio, March 9.—It is believed
here that there has already been a
decisive naval engagement in the
vicinity of Vladivostok, and tidings
are anxiously awaited. It is said
the Japanese fleet did not go to
Vladivostok for the purpose of
bombarding that town, but to locate
aud attack the armored cruisers
Gromebo, Rossi, Rurik and Bo
gatis. It is understood the Rus
sian squadron was present there.
Thisy if true, gave the Japanese
the advantage of avoiding the shore
batteries, and there is a possibility
jthe Japanese found the Russian
' ships in the vicinity of Passiot bay
j and gave battle there. The names
I and numbers of the Japanese ships
| are kept secret. The squadron was
! to separate into two divisions. The
| navy department expects to receive
| dispatches from Gensal, where the
Japanese fleet was to call after the
attack had been concluded.