Corvallis gazette., March 25, 1904, Page 2, Image 2

CORVALLIS GAZETTE
PaMteMnf C.
CORVALLIS OREGON
EVENTS OF THE DAY
fifiilii ii ! ii Review of the Import
tit Happenings of the Pact Week,
Presented la Condeased Form, .Most
(jkcfy to Prove Interesting.
The second trial of Mrs. Botkin has
opened in San Francisco.
Bristow declares that be did not
.regard Beavers as an honest man.
Baron De Rosen, ex-minister of Jap
fen, declares that the cabinet was
dragged into the war.
The house committee has decided to
recommend that Federal Judge Swayne,
of Florida, be ousted.
ij The British house of commons had a
warm debate over the admission of
Chinese into the Transvaal, but vote of
censure was defeated.
Henry Norman, a member of the
British parliament, declares that the
oonhtrol of China is the real issue of
the Japanese Russian war.
An amendment has been attached to
the Indian appropriation bill to pay
the Klamath Indians $537,007, in set
tlement of their claims against the gov
ernment. The senate committee on Indian
affairs, in reporting the Indian appro
priation bill, cut off the provision for
increasing the capacity of the Chema
wa school. This reduces the appropria
tion for that school $8,000.
An immense steel plant will be erect
ed at San Diego, California.
Andrew Carnegie has given another
$5,000,000 for educational purposes.
America has asked Russia to treat
kindly Japanese noncombatanta in Si
breia. Germany will support Russia in pro
testing against the concentration of
Chinese troops.
Republicans of the Tenth congress
ional district, Georgia, have nominated
a negro for congress.
C. H. Markham, formerly of Port
land, is to be made manager of the
Southern Pacific railroad.
Captain Piper, of New York, on in
vestiagtion, declares Chicago police to
be a disgrace to the city.
Rear Admiral Walker tells the house
Aommittee that actual work on the
Panama canal will be begun about
Jane.
Chairman Tawney, of the house com
mittee on expositions, still contends
that the government appropriation for
the 1905 fair must be expended by
agents.
Sully, the great cotton king, has been
forced to suspend.
Japan promises America to protcet
fully all foreiners at Fusan.
The senate has confirmed the nomin
ation of Wood to be major general.
Bombardments of Port Arthur have
not changed the general aspect of the
town.
Russian troops have been ordered to
"rest Coreans instead of fighting them
as belligerants.
Chief Pinchot urgges the house com
mittee to provide foi a forestry exhibit
at the 19U5 lair.
Hearst has asked the houBe to ap
point a committee to investiagto the
workings of the trusts.
Booker Washington dee.ares encour
agement of negroes to be taxpayers is
the salvation fo the race.
The house will require the postmaster
general to make known regulations be
fore be can make appropriations for
handling "unusual business."
The Russian fleet has returned to
Port Arthur, being unaoLe to locate the
enemy.
Britain and France have settled long
standing dispute over Newfoundland,
fisheries.
Japan is landing a third force in
Corea, which will join the army at
Ping Yang.
Bristow exonerates congressmen from
wrongdoing in securing increases in
postal clerk hire.
Japan tells correspondents they can
soon go to the front, indicating that a
land battle is near.
Leader Williams, of the Democrats
in the house, declares that the post
office department is corrupt from top to
bottom.
District Attorney Jerome, of New
York, is determined to send Canfield
to prison, and asks that the law be
amended so he can make Reginald
Vanderbilt testify.
A Russian torpedo boat entering the
Port Arthur harbor struck an unplaced
mine and was blown up. Onlv four of
the crew was saved. This was one of
the largest torpedo boats in the Rus
sian navy.
The Russian Vladivostok fleet is on
the way back to Russia to effect a
.unction with the Baltic squadron.
Russians do not propose to evacuate
Port Arthur.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
is much improved.
The house has again had the Bristow
postal teport up for discussion
Japan believes the Russian fleet has
left Port Arthur for Vladivostok.
DEPENDS ON FIRST LAND BATTLE.
Russia Believes That It Wffl Decide
Whether China Remains Neutral.
St. Petersburg, March 23. In gov
ernment circles there exists a strong
belief that the question as to whether
China will observe her neutrality will
depend largely upon the result of the
first heavy land fighting. A big vict
ory by the Russian army, it ia believed,
will insure the acquiescence of the Ce
lestial empire, but there are grave fears
as to what might happen in the event
of a signal Japanese success in the early
stages of the land operations. For 'the
time being the situation appears to be
satisfactory, and it is certainly much
better than it was three weeks ago.
The Pekin government has reiterated
its professions regarding neutrality to
Paul Lessar, the Russian minister, and
has given him fair assuranes in answer
to his questions regarding the move
ment of Chinese troops north of the
great wall. The natives manifest a
friendlier disposition than they did at
the beginning of the war, but the Rus
sians know the Oriental character as no
other Europeans do. They know how
deep seated is the hatred for foreigners
in China, and that the only prestige of
the Russians is their strong arm.
The recent naval success of the Jap
anese has not greatly impressed the
Chinese, but if the Russians should
sustain a really disastrous defeat on
land the Chinese might suddenly be
aroused, with the connivance or even
the consent of Japan, against Russia,
and perhaps against all foreigners.
Russia's present plans are based on the
appreciation of the supreme importance
of the first land battle, and no fighting
on a large scale will take place, if it
possibly can be avoided, until the Rus
sians feel morally certain that they can
deal the enemy a crushing blow.
WIND LIFTS ROOF.
Tornado Wrecks Fifty Buildings In a
Miasourl Town.
Higginsville, Mo., March 23. Fifty
buildings are partly wrecked, one man
is mortally injured add several others
hurt, the town is in darkness, and the
streets strewn with debris as the result
of a tornado and hailstorm, which
struck this place late this afternoon.
The hail on the streets was a foot deep
within five minutes after the storm
came, and some of the hailstones were
very large. Dozens of trees in - the
town were blown ' down and several
horses were killed in the street.
The storm came without warning.
The wind and hail came first and were
followed by a terrific downpour of rain
which flooded nearly everv cellar in the
town. The storm came from the west
It kept within a narrow path, at least
the tornado portion, only about -two
blocks of the business portion of the
town being damaged.
Two other towns in this section were
in the path of the storm, and both have
populations of from 500 to 600. Ac
cording to meagre reports that are re
ceived here tonight several houses in
both places have been wrecked, but the
exact extent of the damage is not
known.
A grocery store in the business part
of this place was wrecked by the storm
John Dolphen, a clerk, was mortally
injured.
More than 50 houses were unroofed
ICON TO SHED SHOTS.
Sacred Relic Sent to Russian Torpedo
Boat Destroyer.
St. Petersburg, March 23. Vice
Admiral Makaroff has reported the mi
racnlous escape of four sailors from the
torpedo boat destroyer Stereguschtchi,
which foundered during the naval bat
tle off Port Arthur March 9. The men
escaped by swimming when the boat
sank and succeeded in keeping afloat
until picked up.
The metropolitan archbishop of St,
Petersbrg has sent an icon to the tor
pedo boat Doshitelny, which in the
conflict of March 9 managed to elude
the Japanese fire This icon, it is be
lieved, will safeguard the boat from
further harm.
Prince Abemlik Lazareff, a descend
ant of the Armenian kings, ia giving a
series of fetes for the benefit of the Red
Cross society at his historic mansion.
Society leaders are figuering in the
dantes at the fetes.
One Thousand Soldiers a Day.
Harbin, March 23. Only 33 mili
tary trains have reached here since war
was declared and not less than half of
these brought ammunition and provi
sions. Of the 20,000 troops landed
here during the last four days, 4,000
have been sent to Port Arthur, Niu
Chwang and Mukden, while 2,000 have
been sent to Vladivostok. Of the rest,
the greater part are on sick leave, hav
ing arrived in a wretched condition
It is stated by the commanding officer
that hereafter the men will arrive at
the rate of a thousand a day.
Filipinos Are Qood Politicians.
Washington, March 23. Secretary
Taft has received a mail report from
Governor Wrigh. concerning the recent
gubernatorial elections . Elections
were held in 32 provinces. Governor
Wright said that the elections had
passed off quietlv, and that great inter
est was manifested in the results. He
added that the Filipinos showed them
selves adepts in political methods, and
in some respects better than the people
of the United States.
Range Fire Burns Bandings.
Hemingford, Neb. March 23. Disas
trous prairie fires have swept the
range country. One strip burned is six
by 12 miles, another more than 20
miles long, and is still burning.
Ranch sheds, barns, groves on timber
claims and property along the railroad
has been destroyed. Several narrow
escapes are reported from the ranches.
HAPPENINGS HERE - IN .OREGON
FLAW IN EXEMPTION LAW.
Use of a Semi-Colon Leaves Meaning of
Phrase la Doubt. .
Salem One more flaw has been
found in the tax exemption act passed
by the legislature at its special session.
While there is no uncertainty as to the
intent of . the framer of the bill, the
punctuation leaves opportunity for
question whether there is any limit to
the' value of household goods that may
be claimed as exempt. The doubt
arises from the use of the semi-colon
instead of a comma.
Representative Shelley, of Lane
county, father of the bill, was com
municated with in regard to it, and re
plied that it was his intention that the
limitation on the exemption should ap
ply to all the items of property enum
erated. In other words, that the $300
exemption might be made up from any
or all the items mentioned. The ques
tion is whether this intention can be
ascertained from the language used.
Subdivision 8, of the act of the spec
ial session of 1903, provides that the
following property shall be exempt
from taxation:
"The following property, if owned
by a householder and in actual use, or
kept for use, by and for his or her fam
ily; household goods, furniture and
utensils; two cows ten sheep, five swine
and the tools, implements, apparatus,
team, vehicle, harness or library neces
sary to enable any person to carry on
his trade, occupation or profession by
which such person earns his or her liv
ing to the amount of three hundred
($300) dollars, the articles to be select
ed by such houeeholder; provided,
however, that when the assessed valua
tion of the personal property above
enumerated shall amount to less than
three hundred ($300) dollars, then
only such amount as the total of such
propertty herein enumreatedv shall be
exempt from taxation."
The supreme court of this state has
several times decided that punctuation
marks are not controlling in construing
an act for the purpose of ascertaining
its meaning. In the port of Portland
case, decided last July, the supreme
court changed the location of punctua
tion marks in order to arrive at the
meaning of the legislature. But in
that case the court found that the
meaning was otherwise clear. It is not
certain that the language of the exemp
tion act shows that the punctuation
was erioneouB.
NO DEMAND FOR PRUNES.
Eastern Market Has Been Supplied at
Very Low Figure.
Salem "The prune situation in the
East didn't look good to me," said
Bruce Cunningham upon his return
from a recent trip to Iowa. Mr. Cunn
ingham is a well-known prune grower
of the Liberty neighborhood. After
waiting all winter for an opportunity
to sell his crop at what he considered a
fair price, he took a carload of fruit
back to Iowa to sell it there himself.
"The prune market doesn't look good
and I don't see any reason to believe
that it will improve any this season,"
he continued in answer to inquiries
"The fact is that the trade is already
supplied. Everywhere I went I found
that dealers have all the prunes they
want and most of it was bought at
pretty low prices. I found a jobber
supplied with Oregon prunes that he
bought from an Oregon firm at 4
cents in 25 pound boxes. These prunes
he will sell to the retail dealer at 5J6
to 6 cents and the retailers will sell
them to consumers at 84 cents,
three pounds for a quarter.
or
"How did the jobber get them so
cheap? That beats-me; but he had
them, and others bought at the same
figure. I learned that early in the sea
son as long as last July, jobbers were
selling Oregon and California prunes.
Dealers bought early and when they
had all they wanted they stopped buy
ing. That is the condition that exists
the market has been supplied and no
more are wanted. It looks to me as
though we will have a considerable
quantity of carry over stock to sell in
competition with 1904 prunes."
. Sheep Losing Their Fleece.
Echo Sheep shearing is now in full
swing in the Echo country, and almost
every ablebodied man in the neighbor
hood is making arrangements to join
some crew and go to clipping wool.
The price as established here for shear
ing is 8 cents where the crew board
themselves and 7 cents with board.
The latter arrangement prevails here
this year. As this is a forward spring
in the Umatilla valley, sheep shearing
will have to be rushed to get it out of
the way before haying begins, which is
fast approaching.
Not Much Illegal Fishing.
Astoria So far as can be ascertained
there is very little if any illegal fishing
being done on the Columbia at the
present time, and the closed season is
being observed more closely than for
several years. Deputy Fish Commis
sioner Burton, of Washington, with
Deputy F. B. Lippincott, of the Puget
sound district, are patrolling the river,
but the Oregon, officers are not out,
although they are watching the shore
to see that no fish are deilvered.
Sowing Beet Seed at Echo.
Echo A large lot of sugar beet seed
has been received here and planters are
busily engaged in preparing the ground.
BBTTBK LUMBER RATE WANTED.
Cottage Grove Citizens Inaugurate Move
meat Affecting: Southern.
Cottage Grove A meeting of the
businees men of this place was held at
the city hall last week for the purpose
of discussing and effecting an organiza
tion with the object of trying to obtain
a better lumber freight rate from the
Southern Pacific. The rate as it now
is is demoralizing the lumber industry
in this valley and if a better rate can
not be obtained many of the mills will
be forced out of business.
A committee was appointed to draft
some line of procedure and after much
discussion the meeting adjourned to
meet again Tuesday night. If the rec
ommendations of the committee will be
adopted all Western Oregon will be
drawn into the matter in question.
Far-Reaching- Irrigation Rules.
Salem The proposed irrigation rules
which were recently sudbmitted to the
state land board for approval are de
signed to apply to all the irrigation
projects in the Deschutes 'country.
The rules were proposed by both the
Deschutes irriagtion and power com
pany and the Three Sisters irrigation
cmopany. The former company has
absorbed the Pilot Butte development
company and the Oregon irrigation
company and acquired other interest
giving it control of some 200,000 acres
of arid land. The Three Sisters com
pany has a tract of 27,000 acres.
Orand Ronde Fruit Outlook.
La Grande Judd Geer, horticulturist
commissioner for the Eastern Oregon
district, states that the fruit prospects
for this district are excellent for all va
rieties, and that the weather conditions
have been very favorable for fruit.
Budding has been kept back to an ex
tent on account of the cool weather,
and the trees are considered beyond the
danger line as far as frost or freezing is
concerned. Mr. Geer looks forward to
one of the most productive seasons in
the fruit line that this valley has ever
known.
Favorable Report on Rural Route.
Oregon City E. C. Clement, special
inspector for the government for rural
free delivery mail routes, has inspected
and favorably reported on a third route
to be operated from the Oregon City
postoffice. The route was inspected
after a largely signed petition having
been forwarded to the government au
thorities asking that the route be estab
lished. The new route will dispense
with Beaver Creek, Scheubel, Carus
and Needy postoffice 8.
Resigns From Fair Board.
Salem G. A. Westgate, of Albany,
has tendered to the governor-his resig
nation as a member of the state fair
board. No reason was given for the
resignation. The resignation of West
gate makes the fourth change in the
personnel of the board in the last few
months, and but one experienced mem
ber remains.
Cattle Sold for Nome.
Echo R. N. Stanfield has sold to
Mr. Cox, agent for the Pacific cold stor
age company, of Tacoma, four carloads
of his heaviest beef steers. These cat
tle will remain here until April 15 and
are destined for Nome.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat; Walla Walla, 75c; bluestem,
80c; valley, 81c.
Barley Feed, $2122 per ton; brew
ing, $22.50; rolled, $24 25.
Flour Valley, $3.90 3. 95 per bar
rel; hard wheat straights, $44.20;
clears, $3.854; hard wheat patents,
$4.404.60; graham, $3.503.90; rye
flour, $4.504.90.
Oats No 1 white, $1.151.20;gray,
$1.101. 15 per cental.
Millstuffs Bran, $18 19 per ton;
middlings, $24.5Q26; shorts, $19
20; chop, $18; linseed, dairy food, $19
Hay Timothy. , $15 16 per ton;
clover, $1011; grain, $1112; cheat,
$1112.
Vegetables Turnips, 80c per sack ;
carrots, 80c; beets. $1; parsnips, $1;
cabbage, l2c; lettuce, head, 25
40c per doz; parsley, 25c; tomatoes,
$1.50 1.75 per crate; cauliflower. 75c
$lperdoz; celery, 6580c; squash,
2c per lb; cucumbers, $1.752.25 per
doz; asparagus, 12c; peas, 9c per lb;
beans, 10c; onions, Yellow Danvers,
$22.50 per sack.
Honey $33.50 per case.
Potatoes Fancy, 90c$l per cental;
common, 6080c; new potatoes, 3c
per lb; sweets, 5c per lb.
Fruits Apples, fancy, Baldwins and
Spitzenbergs, $1.502.25 per box;
choice, $11.50; cooking, 75c.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 16Jc.
Butter Sweet cream butter, 30c per
lb; fancy creamery, 2527c; choice
creamery, 2324c; dairy -and store,
nominal.
Butter Fat Sweet cream, 28c;
sour cream, 2&c.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 12J
13c per pound; springs, small, 1617c;
hens, 1314c; turkeys, live, 1516c;
dressed, 1820c; geese, live. 8c;
ducks, $89 per doz.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 12 13c;
Young America, 1415c.
Beef Dressed, 57c per pound.
Mutton Dressed, 67c; lambs, 8c.
Veal Dressed, 78c.
Pork Dressed, 77c. j
Hops Choice, 25c per pound
prime, 24c. -
Wool Valley, 1718c; Eastern
Oregon, 12 15c; mohair, 32 35c. ,
TO SMOTHER BILL.
House Committee Will Prevent Passage
of Land Reforms.
Washington, March 22. Convinced
that congressjwill not, at the present
session, amend the public land laws in
a way to shut off fraudulent-operations,
as recommended by the public lands
commission, the interior department
has determined to take advantage of
the present laws, and to construe them
such way as to minimize fraud.
Early in the session hope was enter
tained that the timber and stone act
would be modified or repealed, and the
lieu land law robbed of its vicious
features, but there now appears to be
no chance of securing remedial legisla
tion of this character. In fact, it
turns out that the Quarles bill repeal
ing the timber act and authorizing the
sale of public timber to the highest
bidder, was only passed through the
senate after a deal had been made with
influential members of the house com
mittee on public lands to smother this
measure when it reached them.
The same fate awaits the Mondell
bill, modifying the lieu land law, if it
passes the house and reaches the senate
committee.
Under the present law, timber en
tries as well as lieu selections, can be
made only of surveyed land. It ap
pears from land office records that the
most valuable surveyed timber lands in
the West have now been taken up, but
in order to get that which remains un-
surveyed, speculators and holders of
scrip have been endeavoring to have
virgin lands surveyed. It is a rule of
the department that no township shall
be surveyed until its survey is asked for
by at least three bona fide settlers on
lands within that township. In t
number of instances in Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho applications have
been recnetly made for the survey of
heavily timbered townships, the per
sons making the request representing
themselves as bona fide settlers. Up
on examination, the department finds
that in three out of four cases the men
asking for surveys are not residing on
lands for which surveys are asked, but
have merely erected crude huts, which
they point to as improvements.
The huts are not only uninhabitable
but are unoccupied, consequently re
quests ior surveys are denied.
FLEETS TO JOIN.
Russia Plans a Rude Awakening for
the Japanese.
St. Fetersbuig, March 22. The
whereabouts of the Vladivostok squad
ion is a profound official secret, but
there are those here who believe the
Japanese may wake up some morning
to find that thee two divisions of Rus
sia's Pacific squadron have perfected
juncture. It is betraying no confidence
to state that both the admiralty and
Vice Admiral Makaroff, before he left for
the Far East, regarded the fact that
the divisions were separated as most
unfortunate for Russia's chances of sue
cess at sea. Realizing that offensive
naval operations are impossible under
present conditions, it is believed no
opportunity will be neglected to repair
this initial misfortune, even should it
involve considerable risk.
Consequently the report that seven
Russian warships were sighted the'oth
er day rff the Gensan creates much
speculation here as to whether they
could be the vessels of the cruiser divi
sion under Captain Reitzenstein. The
number of ships sighted apparently
does not tally with that of the Vladi
vostok division, which properly consist'
ed of four fast cruisers and the trans
port Lena.
It is learned, however, that the out
break of hoetitities found two ships of
the volunteer cruiser fleet at Vladivo
stok, and there is reason to believe that
these have since been fitted out with
guns taken from mountain batteries
It is therefore possible that the ships
sighted were those of Captain Reitzen
stein, whose object, if he ventured so
far down the coast, could hardly be
anything except to slip into Port Arth
ur. If this is true, it is calculated that
the squadron must have alraedy run the
gauntlet of the Corea strait and be very
close to Port Arthur.
Must Stay Hand of Turkey.
Paris March 22. It is the expectation
in official quaters that France and the
other signatories of the Berlin treaty
will unite in emphatic representaitons
to Turkey against the carriyng out of
th esultan's plans for the suppression
and probable extermination of a con
siderable portion of the Armenians
The government is in possession of
much information showing the nature
of the troubles and Turkey's intention
in dealing with them. This informa
tion shows that some reports of the
atrocities have gone too far.
America May Decide.
Panama, Marh 22. The monetary
question is arousing much discussion
here. The partisans of the gold stan
dard apparently have a maonty m
the nationalist assembly, but the most
conservative element favors a system
under which two silver dollars shall be
equal to one gold dollar. It is believed
that the opinion of the United States
may decide the matter, as the adoption
of the gold standard would double the
expense of constructing the canal.
Long-Dlstance Wireless-Telegraph.
Washington, March 22. The signal
corps of the army is now communicat
ing daily by wireless telegraphy be
tween Forts Schuyler and Wright, a dis
tance of 97 miles. - This is the longest
distance covered by wirveless teleg
raphy. The speed of transmission
varies from 10 to 30 words a minute.
Similar apparatus will be installed at
Nome and St. Michaels, Alaska, as
soon as the weather conditions permit.
CAPTURES FORT
PORT ARTHUR SAID TO HAVE FALL
EN INTO JAPS HANDS.
Engagement by Land and Sea Forces
Said to Have Lasted Two Days
Laud Forces Were Victorious Rus
sians Reported to Have Been Routed
In Interior With Heavy Loss.
Tokio. March 23. The newspapers
here publish extra editions which con-
tain a report that Port Arthur has
fallen.
They state that a com Dined land and
sea attack began on Saturday, was con
tinued throughout the 'day and night
andon Sunday.
The attack was renewed Monday
morning and the fortress was taken.
There is no confirmation from govern
ment sources of the newspaper reports.
A Japanese victory is declared to
have resulted from a sharp encounter
with the Russians at Chyong Syong.
The Russian losses in killed, wounded
and prisoners are said to be 600.
COLLIDE WITH THE RUSSIANS.
Japanese Cross Tatung Pass, Forty
Miles From Halcheng.
London, March 23. The Dailv
Chronicle's Shanghai correspondent
hears from Km Chwang that the Jap
anese crossed Tatung pass, 40 miles
from Haicheng, and that collisions
with the Russians occurred.
Reports from Seoul and Tokio are to
the effect that Marquis Ito has arranged
to lend 5,000,000 yen ($2,500,000) to
Corea on easy terms.
According to the Standard's Tien Tsin
correspondent, China is appealing to
the powers for an extension of a year
in the payment of the indemnity grow
ing out of the Boxer troubles.
The correspondent at Tien Tsin of
the Daily Mail reports that Kataoa, a
Japanese merchant and Russian spy,
has been assassinaated by being buried
alive, but that the Japanese authorities
disavow any knowledge of the assassin
ation. RAMMED IN FOQ.
Hole Torn In a British Troopship In the
English Channel.
Southampton, March 23. The Amer
ican line steamship New York, Cap
tain Young, from New York March 15,
for Plymouth, via Cherbourg and
Southampton, met wtih two mishaps
today, grounding off Cape La Hague,
France, in the early morning, and lat
er coming in collision in the English
channel with the Peninsula & Oriental
steamship Assaye, under contract to
the British government and used as a
troopship, bound for Bombay with 500
troops on board.
There was great excitement on both
vessels. The boats of the Assaye wers
lowered and the troops were mustered,
but the bulkhead of the troopship
saved her and the veseel was able to
enter Southampton, and the New York
was docked at 6 :30 cor temporary re
pairs. Nobody was injured.
RUSSIA EXPECTED AS MUCH.
Abandonment of Aoju by Her Outposts
Was Planned.
St. Petersburg, March 23. General
Zhilinsy's official confirmation of th
reports that the Russian outposts aban
doned Anju on the approach of the Jap
anese in force, causes no euipriee here,
as such action is in perfect accord with
the Russian plan of campaign. The
Russian skirmishing and advanced out
posts, thrown forward solelyfor the
purpose of harassing and worrying the
Japanese outposts, fell back as the
main bedy of the enemy moved forward
until the strong positions at the Yalu
river are reached. The 50 miles of
country between Anju and the Yalu are
very difficult for the movement of a
large force. There may be some live
ly skirmishing as the Japanese ad
vance progresses, but the Russians are
resolved to avoid a decisive engagement
until certain of victory.
Is Military Precaution.
Paris, March 23. The Russian order
stopping entry into Niu Chwang with
out a permit is understood in official
quarters here to be a military precau -tion
due to the uncertainty as to which
of five places the Japanese will choose
will choose for their first extensive
land operations. The five points are
the Yalu river, Niu Chwang, Port Ar
thur, Vladivostok and Pigeon bay.
The Russians being unable to determine
where Japan will make her main at
tack are making preparations and tak
ing precautions at all five points.
No Battle on the Yalu.
St. Petersburg, March 23. Beyond
the movement of troops to the Far East.
which is progressing satisfactorily, and
in accordance with Kussian plans, the
advices indicate little change in the
situation. No official telegrams an
nouncing collisions with the enemy
had been received up to noon. ine
government had no information to sub
stantiate the reported capture of 1.80O
Japanese north of the Yalu river, 4and
is aiscreiea.
Midshipmen From Washington.
Washington, March 23. The follow
ing midshipmen have been appointed
to the Annapolis naval academy, from
Washington: - Guy H. Calhoun, of
Seattle, by Representative Humphrey;
Ralph Hover, of Hoquiam, by Repre
sentative Jones ; and James H. McCool,
of Walla Walla, by Representative
C ashman.