PRICE FIVE CENTS.
VOL. XLLTL NO. 13,568.
PQBTTjA-NTD, OREGON, SATUEDAY, JUNE 4, 1904.
IfiNOfiESTHELl
Humphrey Cares Noth
ing for Portland,
AND SAYS SO PLAINLY
Awarded Transport Contract
Against Legal Advice,
CLASH WITH JUDGE-ADVOCATE
Head of Quartermaster Department
Gives Notice That This City
Can " Expect No Favors
From Him In Future.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. "Wash
ington, June 3. Quartermaster-General
Charles F. Humphrey, v,-ho recently
awarded to the Boston Towboat Company
the contract for carrying lumber from
Portland to Manila, today admitted to
The Oregonlan correspondent that he had
acted -without authority of law In Ignoring
the bids submitted by Portland firms, but,
snapping his fingers In the air, sneerlngly
asked:
"What are you going to do about It?"
This morning, at the request of Portland
shippers, Senator Mitchell had an Inter
view with the Quartermaster-General re
garding this contract. He was told that
it had been awarded to the Boston Tow
boat Company, because the act of April 28
requires the employment of American ves
sels In the shipment of Government sup
plies after June 2S, and as the foreign
ships offered at Portland could not land
the Jumber in Manila prior to th it date, it
was necessary to award the contract to
an American line. General Humphrey, fur
thermore stated that before making the
award he consulted the Judge-Advocate-
General of the Army as to whether or not
the bids of Portland firms should" be con
sldered, and had been advised by him that
under the new law he would be required
to ship by American vessels.
Senator Mitchell accepted this explana
tion as correct, but later in the day The
Oregonlan correspondent called qnJudge-
Aqvocaie-utaieftti, -uu ... ....
.had advised -the' Quartermaster-General
that he must ship this consignment of
lumber in American "bottoms.
Davis Gave No Such Advice.
General Davis replied that he had given
jio such advice, and sent for a copy of his
letter in reply to the Inquiry from General
Humphrey asking whether the transporta
tion bids from Portland might be ac
cepted. After citing the provisions of the
law" of April 28, General Davis said:
"It will bo observed that the act above
cited becomes operative Juno 28. Prior
to that date, such contracts are regulated
by existing law. which contains no pro
vision restricting bids to American citi
zens. Until June 28. it will, therefore, be
lawful to accept the lowest bid for serv
ices for the character Indicated.'.'
General Davis further informed - The
Oregonlan correspondent that the existing
law that operates until June 28, requires
the award of these contracts to the lowest-
bidder.
Armed with a copy of General Davis's
letter, the correspondent marched on
General Humphrey's office, but had only
half explained the object of his call, when
Humphrey dropped .his pen, turned red in
the face, and with considerable heat, ex
claimed: Refuses to Discuss It;
"liook here. I've heard enough about
that contract and I'm tired of it l haven't
time to discuss it, and won't. discuss it.
"Did you make tho award under the
new shipping law?" was asked.
"Yes." he replied.
"But that law don't go into effect until
Juno 28." was suggested.
"That law Is on the statute books, and
that's all I care about It," was his an
swer.
"But did you not ask tho advice of the
Judge Advocate-General as to whether
you should award this contract under the
bids received In Portland, and did ho not
reply that you had ample authority to
accept the lowest bid?
"I don't care what the Judge Advocate-
General bold. I made that contract; he
didn't. I awarded the contract to an
American line because the law requires
it."
"The shipping interests of Portland.
who bid on this contract, aro considerably
Incensed both because the award was
made at a higher rate than they asked.
and to a firm which did not compete."
was suggested.
"I don't care anything about the people
of Portland or what they think, or what
they like or don't like. I'm running this
business and won't be bothered any more
about it."
And so saying. General Humphrey re
sumed his writing and ignored further
Questions.
Facts show that the Quartermaster's
Department is to continue its discrimina
tion against Portland, and that hereafter
all supplies purchased in that city for
the Philippines are to bo shipped by the
Boston Towboat line. The contract fox-
bay and oats to be purchased under bids
to be opened tomorrow, will be so ship
ped, if purchased in Oregon or "Washing'
ton. If Portland interests are to be
turned down when figures and law aro
on tholr side, there Is Httlo hope when
mere figures are in their favor.
New Oregon Postmaster.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
lngton, June 3. Norah Epperly was today
appointed Postmistress at Takllma, Or.,
vice Y. F. Morgan, resigned.
G. A. Fisher was today appointed rcgu
lar. and Mrs. Esther Fisher, substitute
rural carrier, at Haines. Or.
ASSURES HIM OREGON IS LOYAL
Mitchell Tells President Republicans
Will Lead by 20,000 to 25,000.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, June 3. Senator Mitchell today in
troduced to the President Hugh McGulre,
president of the Pacific Paper Company,
of Portland, and Mrs. McGulre. Mr. Mc
Gulre is a cousin of Assistant Secretary
of State Loomis, with whom, with .Mrs.
McGulre. he lunched yesterday.
The President was surprised t6 see Sen
ator Mitchell, exclaiming:
"Why. Senator, why aren't you in Ore
gon taking part in the campaign?"
'Oh, Mr. President," replied Senator
Mitchell, "you will carry Oregon by zo.ooo
or 25.000. The Oregon campaign Is in good
hands. They don't need me."
Salaries of Postmasters Advanced.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington. Juno 3. The following changes in
the salaries of Postmasters were an
nounced today:
Oregon Increase, Junction City, $1000 to
$1100; Klamath Falls, 51100 to 51300; de
crease. Wasco, $1200 to $li00.
Washington Increase, Spokane, $3400 to
$3500; Tacoma, $3300 to $3400.
Idaho Is for Roosevelt.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Juno 3. Senator Hcyburn, of
Idaho, In an interview today says: "Idaho
is for Roosevelt and a straight protective
tariff. He will get our six electoral votes."
Washington Forest Supervisor.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, June 3. Secretary Hitchcock to
day approved the appointment of Gilbert
B. Coleman to be supervisor of the West
ern Division of the Washington forest re
serve.
Portland Postoffice. Case Goes Over.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, June 3. The postland postoffice
matter did not come up at the Cabinet
meetintr todav. but will probably be
brought up next Monday.
TO ENTERTAIN FILIPINOS.
Arrangements Completed for Visit of
Party to Washington.
'WASHINGTON, June 3. Arrangements
have been made for the reception of the
visiting delegation of the Philippine Com
missioners when they arrive on June 9.
They will be met by the Business Men's
Association and officials of the War De
partment and escorted to the Arlington
Hotel. In the evening there will be an
official reception at the Corcoran Art Gal
lery, participated In by the officers of the
District, the Board of Trade and Business
Men's Association. On Friday, there jvuj
beta .foriaal.-.'welcomeana. luncheon given
by thVJSres.Ident.j? There will ber'ncard
reception ana iawn. "ieie ta-Toe wnire-
Houso grounds, attended by Government
officials and business men of Washington.
In the evening they will be the guests
of the Army and Navy officers, wno knew
them in tfoe Philippines, at the Army and
Navy Club. Saturday they will be guests
of the Board of Trade and will see Wash
ington in automobiles. Sunday they will
be guests of the Navy and will visit
Mount "Vernon on the Dolphin. They will
leave Monday for Philadelphia,
Soldier Who Knocked General Down.
MIDDLETOWN, O.. June 3. George W.
Powers, an aged lawyer. Is dead at his
home here after having borne during 40
years the disgrace of a dishonorable dis
charge from the Army because he knocked
down General Mansneid. in a wasmngton
hotel while the General was In command
of tho District of Columbia, then under
martial law. The Intervention of Secre
tary Stanton saved Powers from court?
martial.
CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER
Russo-Japanese War.
Japanese begin preliminary assaults on Port
Arthur. Page 1.
Heights commanding Port Arthur works are
said to have been taken. Page 1.
Russian forces above Klnchou realize they can
do little, and are likely to retreat. Page 12.
National.
Quartermaster makes It plain Portland ship
pers can expect little from him, no matter
what the law.. Page 1.
Taft approves allotments of funds to North
west Army ports. Page 1.
Political.
Yates ends Illinois deadlock on Governor by
throwing his strength to Deneen. Page 1.
Domestic.
Nine people .are killed and many injured In
collision of trains near Martin City, Mo,
Page 3.
Kansas flood already covers a large area, and
many streams aro etUl rising. Page 2.
Lawrence C Phlpps, nephew of noted eteel
magnate, kidnaps his own children while
their mother Is asleep. Page 3.,
International Arbitration Conference Is ad
dressed by noted men and adopts a platform.
Page 12.
Sports.
k Walter J. Travis, the American, wins coll
championship of Britain. Page 6.
Entries for the $15,000 Harlem Handicap to
day. Page 5.
Oakland defeats Portland, 4-2. Page 6.
Goss and Bellinger to play finals for tennis
championship. Page 5.
Annual meet of Hunt Club today. Page 5.
Pacific Coast.
Crook County towns booming with arrival of
many would-be settlers. Page 1.
Robert S. Cunningham remarries at San Fran
cisco his child wife of IS years ago. Page 4
Sidney Sladden. late of Albany, Or., on trial
at Louisville. Ky. Page 4.
Thomas Richardson working .for Coast conven
tions for 1905. Page 4.
Commercial and Marine.
Oregon hop crop will amount to 100,000 bales.
Page 13.
"Wheat advances at Chicago on flood reports.
Page 13.
General trade watts on crop outturn. Page 13.
Firm undertone to New York stock market.
Page 13.
Fancy oranges scarce at San Francisco. Page
13.
Beacon Rock will go on drydock Wednesday.
Page V.
Steamer Regulator falls' to reach Locks. Page 9.
Portland and Vicinity.
Birdie McCarty given a verdict for $10,000
damages. Page S.
Mm. Jane Abraham, once wealthy, Is granted
relief by county. Page 0.
Cost of flreboat and equipment exceeds appro
priation. Page 10.
Politicians guess and-bet on result of election.
Page 14.
Methodists give warm welcome to visiting rals
. slonary bishops. Page 8.
ENEEN WINS
Republicans Name Him
for Governor.
YATES ENDS THE DEADLOCK
Supporters Changeon Seventy
Ninth Ballot, as Requested.
GREAT ENTHUSIASM PREVAILS
Conference Is Then Held at the Ex
ecutive Mansion to Complete
Ticket, Which Goes Through
With One Exception.
WHO THE NOMINEE IS.
Charles Samuel Deneen has been
State's Attorney for Cook County, 1111
nolo, since 1S96. He Is a native son,
having been born In Edwardsvllle, May
4. 1SC3. He was graduated from Mc
Kendree College In 18S2, He taught
school about three years, then studied
law, and was admitted to the bar In
1831. He was elected to the Illinois
House of Eepresentatlves In 1802. serv
ing one term. From 1803 to 1803 he
terved- as attorney for the sanitary dis
trict of Chicago.
SPRINGFIELD, III., June 3. By making
a' combination with Charles S. Deneen,
L. Y. Sherman, Howland J. Hamilton and
John H. Pierce, Governor Yates today
broke the deadlock in the Republican
State Convention, and brought about the
nomination of Deneen for Governor. The
nomination was made on the 79th ballot,
which stood: Yates, 1; Lowden, 622;
Deneen, 957; Warner, ZL
The combination was the result of
series of conferenceswhich were held last
night and this morning, and which were
participated in by Yates, Deneen, Ham
lin, Sherman and Pierce. The agreement
4iad"n0tBeen consummated "when the con
recess until 2 P. M. Then the parties
to the-combination met and" finally' agreed
upon Deneen as the candidate". When
the convention reconvened, Yates, Ham
lln and Sherman withdrew their names
from the consideration of the delegates
and urged their friends to vote for De
neen.
When the 79th rollcall was-ordered and
Adams County led off with "one vote for
Yates and 19 for Deneen," the wildest
excitement prevailed. As the call pro
ceeded, it became evident that the new
comDlnation would win, but the original
Lowden men, for the most part, remained
firm and went to defeat with him. When
the call was completed, Lowden moved to
make 1 the nomination unanimous, and
Chairman Cannon declared the motion
carried.
All of the pentup enthusiasm of the
delegates manifested itself as Deneen
carfie to the platform, and briefly thanked
.-.... , e-..
A LID THAT WILL STAY PUT ' ,
i .. -. i p 9 . iVi ;
the convention for the ihonor. In re
sponse to the demands of the assemblage.
Colonel Lowden made an address, pledg
ing his support to the ticket.
The convention next took the nomina
tion of a eaxdidate for Lieutenant-Governor,
but tie leaders of the new com
bination were not prepared for this and
a recess was taken until 8 P, M. In the
meantime the parties to the combination
which had nominated Deneen met at the
Executive Mansion and prepared a slate'
for the remainder of the ticket.
The ticket was completed at the night
session, as follows:
Lieutenant-Governor L. J. Sherman.
Secretary of State James A. Rose (pres
ent incumbent).
State Treasurer ten Small.
State . Auditor James S. McCullough
(present Incumbent). -
Attorney-General W. H. Stead. '
University Trustees Mrs. Mary E. Bus-
sey, Charles Davidson, W. Ii. Abbott.
The ticket went through according to
the slate agreed upon-, at the Executive
Mansion conference, except In the "case o
B. M. Chlpperfield, whom W. H. Stead
defeated for Attorney-General. At 11:45
o'clock the convention adjourned sine die.
New -Police Chief at Denver.
DENVER, June 3. The Firo. and Police
Board appointed yesterday by Mayor
Speer today elected Police Captain
Michael A. Delaney Chief of Police to
succeed Hamilton , Armstrong, who was
elected Sheriff -at-ohe late city election.
Nominated for Congress. -Third
Missouri District J. W. Sullinger,
Democrat,
Seventeenth Ohio District James Ed
ward Hurst, Democrat.
SAYS DEM0CEATS AJE AFRAID.
Ehrich at Cobden Banquet Urges the
Party to a Free-Trade One.
BOSTON, June a The annual banquet
of the American Free Trade League held
at the Hotel Vendome tonight marked
the 20th anniversary of the- formation of
the league and the lOOth.annlversary of the
birth of Richard Cobden, the father of
the free trade government. Among the
guests and speakers were Charles-Fran
cis Adams and Edward, Atkinson, of Bos
ton. and Louis R. Ehrich, of New York.
Mr. Ehrich said: "If the Democratic
party had the manly courage which is
born of conviction and tho practical wis
dom which flows from the highest lessons
of human experience, It would, in Its com
ing National Convention, adopt one sin
gle plank which would read:
" 'The Democratic party favors the total
and immediate abolition of every tariff
duty and the introduction of absolutely
unrestricted freedom of trade with the na
tions of the world.' "
0BEG0U YOUTH IN THE LIST.
Frederick A. Barker Designated as
Cadet to We3t Point.
WASHINGTON. June, 3. The cadets
desIgnateiLtt'terWesit Point' Mlll-
.'ta ry5Ac2rto iaytnifi?mtttsb were announced
at the War Department today. Among
.them are the following:'
Idaho Youir M. Marks, Wentworth H.
Moss.
Montana Clinton E. ' Lamme. Charles
Hoe, Richard E. Cummins.
Oregon Frederick A. Barker.
Washington John K. Pawton, Richard
T. Coiner.
At-large Henry E. Ayers, Charles H,
Bonesteel, Simon B. Buckner, Philip Gor
don, Charles L. O'Hall. West C. Jacobs,
Herman Kobbe, John C. F. Tillson, Jr..
William H. Sage, Jr., Rodney H. Smith,
Robert H. Fletcher, Jr.
Retires as Judge-Advocate Today.
WASHINGTON, June 3. Captain Lem
ley's third term as Judge Advocate-General
of the Navy will expire tomorrow.
Captain S. W. B. Diehl, his successor,
now commands the cruiser. Boston which
arrived at Acapulco yesterday en route
to San Francisco. E. P. Hanna, Solicitor
of the department, will perform the duties
of Judge-Advocate until Captain Diehl
reaches Washington.
BQQMONATBEND
SettlersAttracted by Irri
gation Project
CAMPING OUT IN TENTS
Other Crook County Towns
Soon Expect to Be'Cities,
RAILROAD TO DECIDE MATTER
Irrigable Lands Are the Quest of the
Present NewcomersEarly Ar-
rivals Will Find -Ready Mar
ket for Crops of Hay.
BEND, Or., June 3. Staff Correspond-
ence.) The town of Bend comes as near
being a boom town as any in the state
The hotel is turning people away for
want of room, settlers are .living in tents
because they can't get lumber with which
to build cabins, and the product of the
two- sawmills has been sold for two or
three weeks in advance of manufacture. A
number of business and residence houses
are In course of construction and people
are coming here every day seeking loca
tions.
All this activity is due entirely to the
prospect of the opening up of a great
tract of reclaimed arid land In this vicin
ity. Men have heard of the opportunity
to secure arid land, have come to invest!
gate, and,- almost without exception, have
been convinced that the irrigation enter
prises will make this a wonderfully rich
country. Entertaining this opinion, they
have either applied for arid land or have
purchased town property for the purpose
of going into business.
What the population Is, no one knows.
The census of 1900 gave Bend seven In
habitants. A year ago there were less
than a dozen families here. Even now a
walk through the town would give the im
pression that there are scarcely more
than a dozen families, yet when a meet
intr m hastllv enlted. last Mondav for
sthe purposV-df tihdejingr:a rfceo?A
the -State 'tana- Boaroy over people
gathered at the public hall, and not near
all the residents of the community had
received notice that the meeting would be
held. A drive around through the tim
ber near town shows something of where
the people came from, for tents are scat
tered everywhere, and many families are
still living In the camp wagons in which
they came.
Other Towns on the Boom.
Bend Is not alone In the boom business,
There are three townsltes within a short
distance of each other Lytle one mile
north and Deschutes the same distance
south. They are all staking their hopes
on the advent of a railroad. That there
will be a large town some place in the
Irrigation district no one who has stud
the situation questions for a moment.
Whether It will be at Bend or ten m
from Bend is a matter of opinion.
A railroad will have more to do wi
the exact location than anything
though it Is altogether probable that the
town will be somewhere along the Des
chutes River. Men who are interested in
the Columbia Southern Railway are also
Interested in the townslte of Lytle, yet It
Is uncertain that the Columbia Southern
will bo extended soon, or, if extended, that
its terminus will be at the town of Lytle,
The survey for the proposed extension
2
the Corvallls & Eastern crosses the Des
chutes River about teiv miles north of
Bend, yet the present plans may be very
materially changed and the road be c6n
structed elsewhere.
There Is no doubt here of the construc
tion of a railroad Into this region within
very few years. During the present
season water will be piacea in canais
ready for the Irrigation of 50,000 acres of
land, and nearly that area will be cleared
and seeded down next season. This means
that some 500 families will come here to
make homes on Irrigated lands, that saw-
mllTa mnf rrrvlAa fhfm with lllmhr. that I
supplies must be brought here by team
from Shanlko or elsewhere.
Great Belt of Yellow Pine.
All through the foothills west and south
of the Irrigation district Is a belt of yel
low pine timber that will furnish lumber
not only for this Immediate community
but also for a large area of Eastern Ore
gon north and east of this place. It Is
the development of agriculture In the irri
gated region and the manufacture of
lumber In the pine belt that are depended
upon to bring a railroad into the Des
chutes country.
But while Bend has many of the fea
tures of a boom town, the -speculative
spirit is not running wild. Men realize
that the question of the location ot the
most Important town is full of uncertain
ties and the desire i3 more to. secure Irri
gable land, rather than townslte property.
According to the contract of reclamation
the land costs settlers an average of JIO
per acre, ranging from $2.50 to $15, ac
cording to character and location.
Settlers figure that this land will pro
duce five tons of alfalfa per acre and that
the hay will sell for from $5 to $10 per ton.
They count on the higher price In the first
few years, while the Irrigation companies
are still carrying on their construction
work and purchasing hay for their teams,
The Irrigation companies are now paying
$22 per ton for hay.
Hay Always a Good Seller.
There Is little doubt that those settlers
who get their land under cultivation first
will find a ready market at a very high
price for their hay. With an Immense
stock country as a steady market, the
alfalfa industry will always be profitable
wherever water can be turned upon the
soil.
There is one thing that is very gratify
ing to people who hope ,to see the irriga
tion enterprises meet with success, and
that was particularly pleasing- to the
State Land Board when they visited this
place. This is the entire absence of any
fraction or rivalry between the irrigation
P3TNelthJ5Mm
in?yowrtladyneith"er has an un
friendly." word to say of the other.
The Three Sisters Company has made
the earliest progress with its system and
already has a large portion of its land
supplied with water and has accepted ap
plications from settlers for a large amount
of reclaimed land. Settlers arriving here
reach the Deschutes Irrigation & Power
Company's tract first, and if they are dis
posed to stay there, the Three Sisters
Company makes no effort to induce them
to go further. "There are more people
coming," is their view of the matter.
o Unselfishness of Settlers.
If the settler Is bound for the Three Sis
ters tract, the- Deschutes people do not try
to stop him. "We want the Three Sisters
tract placed under cultivation as early as
possible," they say, "for their people who
come here will have a practical demon
stratlon of what this land will do under
Irrigation and it will be easier to settle
our lands."
Because the Deschutes River flows
through a deep gorge for the greater part
of its length, very few water rights have
been secured, and for this reason there is
no chance for contests over water rights
in the Deschutes irrigation region. With
harmony existing between the reclamation
companies, and only a healthy rivalry be
tween the townslte companies, conditions
are favorable for united effort for the
early development of this greatest irriga
tion district in the state. A. W. P.
GIVES FORTS H02TEY.
Taft Approves the Allotments for the
Northwest.
WASHINGTON, June 3. Secretary Taft
today approved the allotments made by
the Quartermaster of the funds for bar
racks and quarters at various Army posts
and forts to be expended during the fiscal
year beginning July 1. The following
amounts were allotted to forts on the Pa
cific:
Fort Worden. Wash $130,100
Fort Casey, Wash... 53,000
Fort Benecla. Cal 227,150
Fort Rosecrans, Cal 8,000
The following amounts were allotted to
Western posts:
Enlarging posts in Alaska $150,000
Fort Asslnnlbolne. Mont 44,000
Boise barracks, Idaho 243,750
Fort Harrison, Mont
13,100
Vancouver barracks. Wash.
Fort Lawton, Wash
Fort Walla Walla, Wash..
Fort Wright, Or
Whipple barracks, Ariz
39.000
19,550
90.000
14,000
1S7.500
BURTON" FILES HIS APPEAL.
Senator Indicted for Bribery Tells
Where He Thinks Court Erred.
ST. LOUIS, June 3. The transcript in
the case against United States Senator
Joseph Ralph Burton, of Kansas, who
was convicted on a charge of using his
official Influence In favor of the RIalto
Grain & Securities Company, of this city,
while acting as attorney for the concern.
was filed with the Federal Court of Ap
peals here today. The case probably will
be heard at the December term.
The appeal was granted several weeks
ago. Mr. Burton's attorneys hold that
the court erred In its instructions to the
Jury and admission of certain testimony;
also that tho checks received by Mr. Bur
ton from the company were cashed at
Washington, the contention being that no
offense was committed In that city nor in
St. Louis.
Russians at Ham, Heung.
SEOUL, June 3. The Japanese Consul
at Gensan wires that 291 Russians arrived
at Ham Heung yesterday.
MINE ON FORT
Japanese Are Closing in
. on Port Arthur.
HEIGHTS REPORTED TAKEN
ArtlllerV Dominates WOS Ot
J
Russian Stronghold.
OUTER FORTIFICATIONS LOST
Squadron Tries a Sortie From the
Port, but Is Soon Forced to
Return by the Ships of. .
Admiral Togo.
'SPECIAL CABLE.
ROME, June 3. Reports from Toklo -In
dicate that the Japanese have already be
gun the preliminary assaults upon Port
Arthur. The Glornale d'ltalia prints a
dispatch from its Toklo correspondent
saying the Japanese have occupied the
first line ot the outer fortifications at
Port Arthur. In this event, the second
line of the outer fortifications must have
been, taken earlier. The correspondent
adds that the Russians offered but the
feeblest resistance to the assault.
The Toklo correspondent of the Agenzia
Llberas, after confirming the Italla's re
port, says fourj Japanese divisions occu
pied Kwan Tung Heights yesterday, and
placed heavy batteries of artillery there
on, thus dominating the works at Port
Arthur.
The Russian squadron, says the cor
respondent, tried a sortie from the port
against the Japanese, but the Japanese
fleet forced It to return to the harbor.
Fighting General on Peninsula.
MUKDEN, June 3. For two days past
rumors have been current of severe
fighting on tho Liao Tung Peninsula.
Details are lacking, but the fact that
fighting has been general throughout the
peninsula Is officially admitted.
The Russians have pushed their out
rosts south of- "Wanfa.net! btt. nn th
J railroad, while" the Japanese:, occupy the
country arom me snores or uorea, isay
inland to the vicinity of Siuyen. The
fact that a Japanese army estimated to
number 50,000 men Is concentrated duth
of Kinchou is regarded here as indicat
ing the region wcere decisive battle3
will be fought.
Steamers Hear Heavy Firing.
CHEFOO. June 3. Steamers which have
arrived from Niu Chwang report that fir
ing la the vicinity of Port Arthur was
heard last night. They only saw two Jap
anese cruisers. Chinese Junks which have
reached this port from the China River
west of Takushan, report that the Japan
ese have captured two Russian officers
and 40 soldiers disguised as Japanese.
Liao Yang Has Rumors of Battle.
LIAO YANG, June 3. There are per
sistent rumors that another great battle
Is In progress near Port Arthur. Con
tlnuous cannonading has been heard
from the south.
An additional force of 15,000 Japanese Is
reported to have landed at Takushan.
DISCONTENT IS GROWING.
Russian Trade and Finance Are Suf-(
ferlng Greatly as Result of War.
SPECIAL CABLD TO THE LONDON" TIMES
AND PORTLAND OREGONIAN.
PARIS, June 4. Private intelligence re
ceived in Paris at several different quar
ters gives gloomy accounts of the growing
feeling of discontent and anxiety in Rus
sia over the silence that prevails in offi
cialdom as to events of tho war. Follow
ing so closely upon the exuberant reports
received and disseminated eagerly during
tho early part of the campaign, the ut
ter failure of the government to give out
any statements either of victory or de
feat has proven disquieting in the ex
treme, and has aroused popular misgiv
ings to an almost dangerous pitch.
It Is, of course, admitted that trade and
finance invariably suffer in time of war,
but in a country like Russia, where it ia
doubtful if either are founded upon a sub
stantial basis capable of resisting the
shocks of a prolonged campaign, it ia
comprehensible that the most widespread
apprehension' should exist.
GERMANY CANNOT ASSIST HER
Russia Has No Ground to Expect
Diplomatic Support.
SPECIAL CABLB TO THE LONDON TIMES
AND PORTLAND OREGONIAN.
BERLIN, June 4. According to semi
official declarations, there exists no treaty
or agreement between Russia which would
bind the former to lend diplomatic sup
port or active assistance to Russia in
case of certain eventualities aeveioping
in the Far East. Commenting on this
topic, the Cologne pazette says:
"The German Government certainly
cherishes the hope that Russia will be
come convinced of the friendly and neigh
borly sentiments with which Germany
will continue to regard Russia throughout
the events of the war In the Far East.
It Is, however, obviously not in accord
ance with the. present principles of Ger
man foreign policy to contract any en
gagement which might ultimately bring
her into conflict with the Pacific aim of
either Great Britain or America, or both."
Japanese Victorious In Skirmish.
TOKIO, June 3. A body of Japan
ese cavalry encounterea ana aeieaiea &
mixed force of Russian cavalry. Infantry
and artillery near LIchaton, nine miles
north of Pu Landlen on Monday last;
'Concluded on Page 12.)