Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, February 20, 1904, Page 3

UP AND 197 LIVES LOST a News oi Another Japanese Victory at Port Arthur Is Contirmed —Russian Naval the A / , Eight Russian Vessels Were Sunk and Ten.Captured—Graphic fficers Again Were Ashore When cK Was Commenced. Descridticn of the First Naval Battle at Port Arthur by an Eye-witness. \ Japanese Onslaught Was Unexpected and Their Promptness and Bravery Created Great Surprise—One Japanese Torpedo Boat Was Sunk and Another Captured. ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 17, 10 A. M.—IT HAS JUST BEEN LEARNED THAT THE RUSSIAN SECOND- CLASS CRUISER BOYARIN WAS BLOWN UP BY A MINE FEB. 13 IN THE SAME MANNER AS WAS THE RUSSIAN TORPEDO TRANSPORT YENISEI. SHE HAD ON BOARD 197 OFFI- CERS AND MEN, ALL OF WHICH, {T IS UNDERSTOOD, WERE LOST. NO DETAILS OF THE DISASTER WILL BE GIVEN OUT BY THE OF- FICIALS. Another Victory at Port Arthur. Tien-tsin, Feb. 16.—News of another Japanese victory at Port Arthur has been confirmed. It is stated eight Russian vessels were sunk and ten captured. It is said that most of the Russian naval officers again were ashore when the ships began the at- tack. Yienhow (New Chwang), Wednes- day morning Feb. 10. — I have just reached here by special train from Port Arthur, and to save time I wrote my account while traveling on the locomotive. There was no other method of getting out of Port Arthur, or of transmitting a message of this length, as since the bombardment on Tuesday no vessels have been per- mitted to leave the harbor, and the railway telegraphs are reserved for the exclusive use of the Russian offi- cials. There were only four special correspondents present at the bom- bardment — Reuter’s representative, two foreign. correspondents and my- self. Unfortunately one of them was wounded. About midnight on, Monday the town was aroused by the firing of big guns. I hastened to the hill battery and saw that six Japanese torpedo boats had approached within half a mile of the Russian fleet and were showing lights and funnel signals just like those of the Russians. The Jap- anese torpedo boats crept quite close to the Russian ships before they were discovered. Each of the Japanese boats discharged torpedoes, three of which took effect, striking the battle- ships Czarevitch, Retvizan and Pal- lada. The three damaged ships re- turned to the harbor to avoid sinking. One Japanese Boat Is Sunk. Notwithstanding the continuous fire from the ships and of the guns of the forts, four of the Japanese torpedo boats escaped. and another in a sinking condition was deserted by the crew. This boat afterward was captured by the Rus- sians. I saw several Japanese cruis- ers in the distance. _The remainder of the eet was still further off, lying eastward and showing searchlights. After the retirement of the Japanese torpedo boats the Russian cruiser squadron, under Admiral Prince Mok- tompsky, followed to investigate and then returned. The action ceased at 3 a.m. The loss on the Russian ships was eight killed and twenty wounded. Apart from the disablement of the three Russian ships, the damage done to the fleet and the forts was not very great. There were many Rus- sian torpedo boat destroyers in the harbor, but they were not ready to re- sist the attack. The Japanese, in fact, created a great deal of surprise, not only by their unexpected onslaught, put by the promptness and bravery with which they acted. Details of the Naval Battle. On Tuesday morning the news ar- rived from Dalny that the Japanese fleet was steering westward in attack formation. It came in sight about 11 o'clock. There were in all fifteen ships in two lines of battle—6 battle- ships, 6 first-class cruisers and 3 sec- ond-clags cruisers. The Russians had outside: the harbor thirteen large ves- sels under Admiral Stark, the flag- ship Petropavlovsk, and Rear Admiral Prince Moktompsky (flagship Peres- viet), excluding the Pallada, Czare- One, however, sunk j; vitch, the flagship of Rear Admiral Mallas, and the Retvizan, which were lying aground across the inner har- bor entrance. It was low water. Action was commenced by the big guns of the land battery. The morn- ing was dull, and a light wind and a heavy smoke rendered it difficult to observe the details of the action. However, I witnessed all that was pos- sible from the beacon hill opposite the entrance of the harbor in the line of fire. Two shells fell near us and about twenty others fell in the old town and western harbor, where many steamers flying neutral flags were anchored. Flee to Places of Safety. After the commencement of the action all the people fled toward, the hill outside of the town under protec- tion. A little while after the first shell a bi gtwelve-inch one exploded, smashing the office fronts of the Guensburgs Yalu Concessions com- pany and the Russo-Chinese bank. The streets then were entirely de- serted, but the local police kept splen- did order. There was no looting. The women and children were very brave. Regiments from camps in adjoining barracks came pouring through the town to take up defensive positions in the event of the Japanese landing. The Japanese steamed slowly past in line of battle to the westward and about four miles off, each vessel be- inning to fire when opposite the Russian ships, which were two miles off shore. The action quickly became general, There was no maneuvering —simply heavy, fast firing on both sides. I counted over 309 shells, a few of which reached their mark; the athers did not explode. During the action several merchant steamers outside of the roads moved their po- sition, but none was allowed to leave the anchorage harbor. Japanese Battleship Sunk. The firing ceased at noon, the Jap- anese ships withdrawing southward, having lost one battleship. one large cruiser was put out of action and one small boat was chased and sunk by the Novik, which afterward re- ceived a shell at her water line. She reached port, however, all right, Ad- miral Stark signaling “Well done,” while all the rest of the fleet sheered her arrival. Even the three ships aground fired during the action. Afterward. the Czarevite got off at high water and she was towed into a large basin, where she is now being repaired. The Pallada effected her own repair and repoined the fleet. The Retvizan still was aground when I left. The cas- ualties were 22 killed and 64 wounded. Nearly half the casualties occurred on the Pallada and Novik. The ap- anese fleet sailed southward. At 1 o'clock all was quiet, ‘the wounded were brought ashore and removed to hospitals. Visitors Leave Torpedoes. After Monday night’s action*many Japanese torpedoes were found float- ing outside of the harbor. They were secured and their mechanism was ex- tracted. During the afternoon Alexieff or- dered all the women and children and non-combatants to leave. The slow special trains were crowded. They ran as often as possible. From Dalny the women and children immediately were removed by an English steamer. After the actién on Monday night of- ficial telegrams from Vladivostok stated that the cruiser squadron con- sisting of the Gromovoi, Rossia, Rurik and: Bogatyr had shelled a town in Yezo and then returned to Vladivo- stok, I offered a large price for a launch or tugboat to put to sea from Port Arthur for -Chefu, Chinwangtao or Newchwang, but was unsuccessful. —Norris Newman. Port Arthur. Bottled Up. Tokio, Feb. 17.—Laté advices from Admiral Togo indicate that Port Ar- thur effectually is closed on the sea side and’ that operations “are immi- nent for accomplishing a similar re- sult‘on the Jand side. Your correspondent is informed that it is not likely that the Japanese will JURY DISAGREES In Postmaster Cooper’s Trial Drunkenness. Hiron, S. D., Feb. 16.—The case of Postmaster Charles N. Cooper, ar- rested on a, charge of .drunkenness and disorderly, conduct, was, heard before Judge Vandalsem, resulting in a disagreem: of the jury. Cooper will be tried on a charge of assault and battery, the complaining witness being Walter Hubbard, private secre- tary to Coe I. Crawford, candidate for governor. ‘ FIREMEN paye HARD FIGHT. for | Six Are ‘Injured and $130,000 Worth of Property Destroyed. Meriden, Conn., Feb. 16.—For eigh hours yesterday firemen fought a fire bewhich bi ioe speaused » the, complete destruction of the: town hat! and in- juries to six men ot the depart. t. The loss is about $130,000)!of which amount about $125,000 falls upon the town. The fire caught, it is believed, from crossed electric wires. jn of the nit was seriously. bei PE 4 that “end. for twenty-five wae amilitary ‘operations £2, : tal at any moment. Bring Inthe Wounded. the transport Genkaf Maru has ar- rived at Saseobo with the dead and wounded from the Port Arthur en- gagement. Five are killed, including three officers, and twenty-two were in- jured, including seven officers: The Japanese warships damaged at Port Arthur are also back at Saeobo re- pairing, and will soon be available again. Merely Rumors, ’ London, Feb. 17. — The voluminous dispatches from the ,Far East pub- lish here this morning are again char- acterized by absence of real light on the situation. Numerous unconfirmed and. conflicting rumors. are given, and among them is a report of an- other engagement at Port Arthur, in which the Russians lost eight vessels sunk and ten captured. Cablegrams to the Daily Mail from Wei Hai Wei and Newchwang report a Japanese fleet, with transports, cruising in the Gulf of Pechili, appar- ently with the idea of effecting a land- ing.near Port, Dalny. In connection with the, rumors of another bombardment at Port Arthur, the owners of the British steamer Boxton Hall, from Barry Dec. 11 for Port Arthur with coal, which was de- tained by the Russians at Port Ar- thur, have received news that she has been destroyed by fire. Japanese Prepare to Land. St. Petersburg, Feb. 17.—Maj. Gen. Pfiug, Viceroy Alexieft’s chief of staff, telegraphs that the situation at Port Arthur yesterday was unchanged. Reports from Yin Kau, near New- chwang, he says, declare: that the Japanese are preparing to land at Tsinjenda. A message received from the frontier guard says that mounted patrols, believed to be Japanese, were seen yesterday in the vicinity of Hsin Ming Ting, northwest of Muk- den. During the patriotis demonstrations at Warsaw on Sunday a certain count Dembsky became demented and fired into crowd from the balcony of his residence, He killed three persons and wounded twenty. He tried to commit suicide before he was secured. Manchuris Fight Russians. Tien-tsin, Feb. 17.—Chinese secret service agents. in Manchuria report the condition of the Siberian railway as deplorable. Chaos and confusion reign every- where. The railway is obstructed at so many points that munitions of war and stores of provisions are being piled in huge stacks at Irkutsk, Omsk and other stations. Even on the shores of Lake Baikal these pyramids of derelict goods, all badly needed at the front, are being dumped in masses, which are increasing every day. The administration has absolutely broken down and the authorities have lost control of themselves. The situation in Manchuria and Amur province is pitiable. The army is short of every- thing. The Manchurians, however, re- fuse to sell their animals, as organ- ized bands of Manchuria brigands have sworn to kill any resident who sells his horses. The Russian of- ficials have tried by every means in their power to win the good will of the Chunchuses, who compose the brigands, but to no purpose. They have cut the railway at sev- eral points during the past fortnight and have even given battle to the forces engaged in repairing damages to the line. Driven Back by Storm. Paris, Feb. 17. — A dispatch to the Eclair from St. Petersburg says it is affirmed there that after the bom- bardment of Hakodate (which has not been officially corroborated) the four Russian eruisers. which took part in the engagement were driven back to Vladivostok by a storm. Japs Are Thankful. Tokio, Feb. 17. — Goro Takahira, Japanese minister at Washington, of- ficially has advised his government that he has received numerous offers of large contributions to the war fund from Americans, and requests in- structions as to the policy Of the gov- ernment in this regard. It is thought probable that Japan will refuse to ac- cept this proffered aid, while stating that the government is deeply grati- fied at this and other expressions of American sympathy. The cabinet will consider the question and short- ly formally instruct Minister Taka- hira, Many applications for permission to enlist in the Japanese army and navy are coming from various parts of the world. Some of those anxious to fight for Japan have applied personally to the military authorities at Tokio. Among this: number is included a Turkish officer. All of these applica- tions have been firmly refused. No foreigners will be allowed to partici- pate in the military or naval opera- tions of Japan except as spectators. Spectators Not Wanted. Wei Hai Wei, Feb. 17—Two Jap- anese battleships and four cruisers are cruising outside of here. A Ger- man essel which was looking on was chased by the fleet.” Sixteen Persons Injured. Chagrin, Falls, Ohio, Feb., 16.—The worst wreck in, the history of the Eastern. Ohio Traction company ‘oc: curred lastnight in this village when a heavily loaded passenger ‘car dashed down a steep hill for more. than a mile from the center of the town and |’ jumped the track Jat a sharp curve. The motorman. lost control of his brakes. Sixteen persons were more or less seriously hurt by the car over- turning and sliding” along t le ground Pa Japane troops were landed at Chem- ulpo Sunday, the ‘first ‘division of a large number which will be thrown into Korea as rapidly as possible, in the effort thoroughly to occupy the strategic points in the Hermit king- dom while the Russian eet is bottled up in Port Arthur. By one conversant with the Japan- ese plans it is stated that the repeated attacks on Port Arthur are not for the purpose of seizing that place at present unless an unexpected weak- mess there should develop.. They are part of a well defined plan for the har- rassing of the Russian fleet until Korea can be oceupied. The bottling up of the fleet there enables the land- ing of troops on Korea without the convoy of a large number of warships. The reports of disorder in various parts of Korea hastened the opera- tions of the Japanese that they might obtain possession before anarchy be- came prevalent and foreign interests menaced in consequence. More Rusian Skips Sunk. Tien-tsin, Feb. 16. — A further en- gagement is reported to have taken place yesterday outside of Port Ar- thur in which the Russians were worsted. The czar’s ships retired into the harbor. The Japanese afterward bombarded the forts and then with- dew. Several of the Russian men-of- war are said to have been sunk or | damaged and one Japanese ship was lost. Russians Sink Their Own Boats. Chefu, Feb. 16.—Reliable authority says that three Russian torpedo boats have been sunk by guns from the forts. They were mistaken for Jap- anese vessels. One Japanese Vessel Sunk. Tien-tsin, Feb. 16. — Reports have reached here of a further naval action off Port Arthur. Befofe dawn yes- terday two apanese warships ap- peared off the Port and opened fire with shells. The Russian batteries commenced to reply and the squadron moved out and also opened fire. The Japanese vessels retired, fighting as they went, but one, the name of which is unknown, was sunk. The Japanese fleet arrived in time to reinforce the remaining vessel and a general action was begun, in which the Russian squadron. suffered serious damage and was forced to retreat into port. Re- ports vary in some details. It is be- lieved, however, that several Russian ships are ashore or sunk. Japs Suffer Two Land Defeats. Chefu, Feb. 16.—A land conflict has, occurred on the Yalu river, and all’ reports tell of a Japanese reverse, but, no details have been received, and the extent of the battle is not known. One report, given yesterday and re- peated to-day, is that it merely was a skirmish, and another that the JPap- anese suffered a severe loss. The Japanese forces are said to jhave landed at Pigeon Bay, west of Port Arthur, and were attacked by Russian troops and batteries and were defeated with severe loss. At Tai-lien-Wan over 400 apanese soldiers were slain by Cossacks, .A dispatch received here. from Shanghai says that the Japanese bom- barded Dalny, near Port Arthur, and landed a force of marines. Another dispatch from Shanghai says that the Japanese squadron has Arthur. This report is thought to be true, as heavy firing was heard at midnight in the straits, and the Jap> anése probably drove the Russian fleet into the harbor. Japanese Island Is Invaded. Nagasaki, Feb. 16.—The Island of Yezo, the most northerly island o: Japan, has been invaded by Russia: soldiets, who are raiding the countr; around Hakodate and Aomari. force of Japanese will be sent to the scene. Six Norwegian steamers, chartered by a Russian naval contractor, have been captured. One of them arrived here to-day under convoy of a cruiser. It is rumored that 1,800 Japanese sol- diers have been killed, presumably by the sinking of a transport. ————_—______ BEWARE “THE HUGGER.” ’ Three Women Are Attacked by Mys terious Person at Different Places. Muscatine, Iowa, Feb. 17. — Miss’ Lillian Koll, Miss Grace Benbrow and Mrs. W. Pembroke, all of this city, were attacked by an unknown disciple of “Jack the Hugger” on the streets of Muscatine Sunday night at differ- ent times and places. The matter has been reported to the police. One of the women was bitten by the man and is in bed as a result of fright. On Walnut street, sear th—e high bridge, this “Jack the ugger” threw his arms around a woman pedestrial and kissed her. der the eye. Then he made his escape down an alleyway... His method either is to steal quietly up behind his victim and throw his arms. around her or when she attempts to pass him quick- ly force his caresses on her, Chief of | Police Rice has instructed the police to be vigilent and the miscreant will be severely Gealt with if captured. Epidemic Closes Schools. Wheaton, Minn., Feb. 17.—An epi- demic of scarlet fever has broken out here and t Dublic schools and all lodges and public meetings have been closed by the order of the board of health for the period of four weeks. EE a Crushed Between Cars. Albert Lea, Minn., Feb, 17.—-Switch- man MeGillan was caught between cars om a passenger train in the yards here and when found was dead. He was caught at the breast and was probably : instantly killed, sealed Port: She screamed and he bit her un- |- CLEVER NAVAL COUP Three Russian Warships Penned Up al Mouth of Yalu River : Believed to Have Been Either Destroyed or Captured— No Chance of Escape. 3 Japanese MaKing Preparations to Compel Russia to Delend the Whole Manchurian Frontier al Every Point—Japan Now . Commands Sea Within Sphere of Hostililies. Six Hundred Russians Perish in an Altempt to Cross Lake Baikal—Eleven Russian Warships Put Ovt of Action in First Rattle of Port Arthur. Chefu, Feb. 17. — The coup of the Japanese warships in trapping and af- terward sinking the Russian warships Variag and Korietz probably has been or will be duplicated at Yong- ampo, at the mouth of the Yalu river, from which point heavy firing was heard Sunday. A coastwise vessel which has ar- rived from the vicinity of Port Ar- thur reports that he Japanese had penned up at the mouth of the Yalu three warships, names unkngwn, and that it is believed that the vessels have been destroyed by the Japanese fleet or that they would be sunk, as there was no chance to escape. Eleven Put Out of Action. Shanghai, Feb. 17. — I have just been reliably informed that eleven Russian. warships were put out of ac- tion in the first engagement at Port Arthur. The list includes the Se- vastopol and the Petropavlosk, which have not been named in previous re- ports, but it does not include the Czarevitch, which officially was re- ported as having been damaged. A dispatch received here says that in another torpedo attack on Sunday another Russian warship was dam- aged. Tokio, Feb. 17.—A report has just reached here that the Japanese tor- pedo fleet reattacked the Russian fleet at Port Arthur on Feb. 14, and it is thought that one Russian warship was damaged. Plan Big Land Fight. Tokio, Feb. 17. — Japan is rapidly perfecting dispositions of its troops which will menace the Russian posi- tion in Manchuria along a front of 1,000 miles, extending from Chinwan- gato, on the western side of the Laio- tung gulf, to Vladivostok. The mi- kado’s generals intend to compel Ad- miral Alexieff to attempt to defend the whole Manchurian frontier at every point. It is certain that the Japanese army is large enough to accomplish the proposed operations, huge as they appear. Japan Commands the Sea. It is believed here that Japan now commands all the seas within the sphere of hostilities. Transports filled with troops are being dispatched northward day and night. Some of these vessels go upithe east coast of Korea and others head across the Yellow sea. The Japanese command- ers are confident that the will be able to defeat the Russian army in Man- churia in time to deal in detail with the many reinforcements the czar de- sires to send to the front. China Can’t Keep Out of It. Pekin, Feb. 17. — It appears more certain than ever that absolute neu- trality on the part of China cannot be maintained. The dowager empress has dismissed Prince Su, who was the strongest advocate of Chinese neutral- ity in the corps of the imperial ad- visers. The empress is said to be in somewhat of a dilemma. The convic- tion is growing on her that China is the real stake of the war and that it is necessary to prepare to resist ab- sorption, whichever of the two na- tions at war prove victorious. The result may be that the Flowry Kingdom, instead of joining hands with Japan, as has been prophesied, will take up arms against both and that the fight will become a three- cornered one. - Blow Up Manchurian Railway. Newchwang, Feb. 17.—A report has reached here that a party of Japanese has successfully attempted to destroy a portion of the Manchurian, railway. Every member of the party was killed. , American Consul General Milner was struck by a Cossack while the consul was endeavoring to release a Hungar- ian traveler. Seize Russian Rations. Nagasaki, Feb. 17. — The Japanese have intercepted the British steamer Coptic, bound from Sag Francisco for Port Arthur, ahd have taken off the provisions purchased in- America by the Russian government. The pro- visions consisted | chiefly of canned goods. 600 Russian ‘itn Perish. Berlin, Feb. 17.—The St. Petersburg correspondent of the, Tagliche Rund- schau says that 600 Russian soldiers were froen to death while marching across Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia. The correspondent adds that the tem- porary railroad across the lake is not yet completed; that a large detach- ment of troops was sent on a twenty- two-mile march over the icé-co; »red lake, and that it is presumed tat part of the troops lost their way in a snowstorm and perished. Japs Are Appreciative. ‘okio, Feb. 17.—The entire press of Japan is united in expressing keen appreciation of the deep and general sympathy which is being shown Jap- | an by Western countries, and argues that this war will be the means of drawing the East and West more closely together. Russian Cruiser Blown Up. | St. Petersburg, Feb. 17—The report that the Russian cruiser Boyarin was blown up last Saturday by a Russian mine and that all her officers and crew, 197 in number, were lost, is confirmed. The Boyarin was 348 feet long and 41 feet beam and 16 feet draft. She was of 3,200 tons displacement and her trial speed was 25 knots. Her armament consisted of six 4.7-inch guns, eight 1.8-inch guns, two 1.4-inckh guns and three machine guns. She was also fitted with six torpedo tubes. ‘The Boyarin was last reported as hav- ing taken, part in the engagement of Feb. 9 at Port Arthur. German Cruiser Fired On. A semi-official telegram dated from headquarters of the viceroy at Port Arthur says the German cruiser Hansa, which had been sent to re- move German subjects from Port Ar- thur and which had on board also a number of Russian women and chil- dren, had been fired upon by Japanese warships. The telegram reiterates the state- ment that three Japanese torpedo boats have been sunken in a night at- tack on Port Arthur. Russia Suspicious of England. St. Petersburg, Feb. 17.—Lieut. Gen. Ivanoff, governor general and com- mander of the troops in Turkestan, has gone to Tashkend with Gen. Sak- haroff, chief of the staff in the mili- tary district of Turgestan. It is said in high military circles that Gen. Ivan- off has been instructed to prepare for the contingency of military action in the direction of India in the event of Great Britain adopting an attitude openly hostile to Russia or attempting to prejudice Russian interests in Persia or Tibet. Public opinion in Russia, even among military men, is strongly op- posed to Viceroy Alexieff, who is ac- cused of incapacity. A movement is on foot for the immediate appointment of Gen. Kurpatkin, the war minister, to command the Russian land forces and to give Admiral Skrydloff com- mand of the sea. Some Russians Killed. London, Feb. 17. — In a dispatch dated Port Arthur, Feb. 13, a corres- pondent of the Times gives a descrip- tion of seven warships, which he says are lying disabled there. They in- clude the battleships Sevastopol and Petropavlovsk, which have not been named in previous reports of action. The correspondent says that altogeth- er eleven Russian ships were put out of action at Port Arthur. Continuing, he declares that the Japanese were driven from the neigh- borhood of Kinchau, near Newchwang, after a skirmish in which 150 Japan- ese were taken prisoners and seventy Russians killed. In an editorial article the Times re- marks that as this correspondent does not mention the injuries sustained by the battleships, and as the Kinchau story has not been reported from any other source, it would be well to ac- cept his reports with some reserve. Japan Has 120,000 Men in Korea. According to special dispatches pub- lished here this morning from Tokio the Russian squadron has returned to » Vladivostok. The Tokio correspondent of the Daily Mail says that on Sunday two Russian warships appeared off Oki island, in the northern part of the Jap- an sea. The correspondent at Chemulpo of the Daily Express makes the astonish- ing statement that Japan already has landed 120,000 troops in Korea, 80,000 of whom are extended along the fight- ing front, south of the Yalu river. No war news of importance appears in the London newspapers this morn- ing. TRIAL SET FOR MARCH. Judge Adams Overrules the Demurrer to Senator Burton’s Indictment. St. Louis, Feb. 17.—Judge Adams, in the United States district court, has overruled the demurrer of United States Senator Joseph R. Burton of ; Kansas, to the indictment charging | him with accepting money for using | his influence in’ preventing the issu- ance of a fraud order against the Ri- alto Grain and. .Securities company. The trial of Senator Burton was set for March 22. A panel of sixty jurors has been ordered for that date. Both Senator Burton and Maj. Dennis, pres- ident of the Rialto Grain and Securi- ties company. were in court.