Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1904 — CROSSINGOFTHEYALU [ARTICLE]

CROSSINGOFTHEYALU

St. Petersburg Report Says the Japs Have Beenl Frustrated In That Design.

JAPS GET ACROSS, HOWEVER,

After a Very Brisk Fight—Submarines at Port Arthur. Next Time Toro Goes There He May Have Trouble—Vladivostok Squadron May Be Cut Off,

St. Petersburg, April 27.—1 tls reported that an attempt of the Japanese to cross the Yalu has been frustrated. Paris, April 27.—A special to The Journal from St Petersburg says that a Japanese squadron has got between Vladivostok and the squadron that visited Gen-San, and that the Russian ships are cut off from their ix>rt. Liao Yang, April 27.—0 n April 23 the Russians observed that the Japanese were making preparations to cross the Yalu river. On the night of April 25 two steamers and two torpedo boats were noticed at the mouth of the river. They approached the shore at daylight and the Japanese commenced to build a pontoon on the left tributary. , A second pontoon was being prepared ten miles up the stream. At 3 o’clock the same afternoon the Japanese occupied the Island of Sumoltndo, to which they carried pontoon boats, eta

Russiaus Destroy a Pontoon. The night passed quietly, the torpedo boats maining watch in case the troops ashore should lx- attacked, and examining the mouth of the river by means of searchlights. At 3:40 next morning the Japanese crossed the river near the village of Tchindlagon, where, however, the Russian outlets commenced tiring upon them. The Rusaian advance guards hod been furnished with a small gun, and they succeeded In destroying the pontoon constructed near WIJu. Another Brmh with tlis Russian*. The wrecked pontoon was carried away by the current, and further Japanese bridging operations ceased, but the Japanese continued to cross by another pontoon southward of Wiju. A Japanese column with a battery of artillery approached Turencben at mid day, but the Russian skirmishers met

them with sharp firing, evidently giving them trouble, ns they retired with the battery, Which madte no attempt to answer the Russian fire. Newt Withheld at St, Petersburg. Rt Petersburg, April 27. The censor’s committee did not give out d/fepatdhes received regarding movements of the Japanese to crqps the Yaln river, and stating that they had begun. It was intimated that information had been received that the Japanese laid crossed the river, but this •was accompanied by a statement tsnt the success of the enemy should in no sense bo regarded as an Important victory, the Russians having no intention of vigorously contesting the passage, their plan being to annoy the enemy as much aa possible. Jap* Outwitted the Russian*. It is evident from the dispatches received here that in order to render a crossing feasible the Japanese made a feint on Tatung Kau while the troops actually crossed some miles up the river near Tchangdjtou. Two companies were first thrown Into Manchuria, and entrenched, and immediately under the cover of their guns reinforcements crossed.

NEW FEATURE AT PORT ARTHUR

Next Time the Jap* Go There It Will Be "Ware Submarine,” St I’etcreburg, April 27. The entrance Into the service of four submarine boats at Port Arthur means the addition of a new and formidable weapon for the defense of that stronghold. The dispatch of the boats in sections over the railroad baa been shrouded in secrecy, and even today many in St Petersburg are inclined to doubt the report by officials of their presence at Port Arthur, or to accept the information as trustworthy. An effort now to close or blockade Port Arthur will be too dangerous, it is thought, far Vice Admiral Togo to attempt The defenders of the port will be able to guard against Japanese submarine vessels entering the harbor and attacking the Russian ships at anchor. The officials here are not certain that the Japanese have submarine boats, as they possessed uoffe before the war, but since the beginning of hostilities they undoubtedly have laid down a number of them. The Russian submarine boots may soon have an opportunity to demonstrate the value of their type In war, os the Japanese fleet is reported at Cbefoo, and the Interval of time it Is usually absent from Port Arthur has about expired.

VLADIVOSTOK FLEET LOOSE

Sells Into Gen-San and Destroys a Small Steamer. London* April 26.—The Japanese legation has given out the folowlng diepatch received yesterday from Tokio: "The Japanese consul at Won-San (Gen-San), Korea, reports, under to-

day's date, that two Russian torpedo boats entered that port and sank a small Japanese steamer, the Goyo Maru. Her gross tonnage was 600. The Russians immediately left” The boat* were part of the Vladivostok squadron, It is stated. Tokio, April 26.—The cruisers Rossla and Gromobi, of the Vladivostok squadron, participated in an attack on Gen-San. They were accompanied by a third cruiser not yet identified and by two torpedo boats. Inter they entered the harbor, ordered the crew of the Goyo Maru ashore and then sank her. A detachment of marines was landed, but was recalled and the warships steamed outside of the harbor. The Japanese and Many Koreans fled when the Russians appraoched. Seoul, April 26.—The steamer Goyo Maru, which was sunk in the harbor at Gen-San by the Russian Vladivoetok squadron, was an old coasting steamer of 376 tons, and was owned in Chemulpo by a Korean company which chartered her to the Japanese. The Japanese community at Gen-San numbers 2,500 and owns much property there. The Japanese garrison refrained from firing on the enemy during the sinking of the steamer, because It did not desire to draw a retaliatory bombardment