Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1904 — RUSSIA LOSES SEA FIGHTS [ARTICLE]

RUSSIA LOSES SEA FIGHTS

Kamimura Strikes the Czar’s Vladivostok Fleet a Heavy Blow. RURIK GOES TO THE BOTTOM Others of the Fleet Try to Escape with the Japs in Hot Pursuit. Port Arthur Situation Said To Bo Serious Japanese Squadron to Go to Shanghai to Stir w Up Ah Sin. Tokio, Aug. 17.—The emperor’s offer to release the non-combatants at Port Arthur, coupled with a demand for the surrender of the fortress was delivered yesterday. An answer is expected today. London, Aug. 17.—A dispatch to the Central News from Tokio says that a big oil warehouse at Port Arthur is blazing furiously, and that the position of the besieged is such that the Japanese are urging them to surrender. Tokio, Aug. 18. —It is reported that the Port Arthur garrison has refused to surrender, and is disinclined to send out non-combatants. London, Aug. 18. A dispatch t 6 the Central News from Vladivostok, dated Aug. 17, says the cruisers Kossia and Gromoboi, of the Vladivostok squadron, have returned there. London, Aug. 18.—According to the correspondent of The Daily Telegraph at Chefoo refugees arriving there bring news of a serious condition of affairs at Port Arthur. They say that Japanese shells have ignited lighters in the docks which contained supplies of coal, resulting in a terrific conflagration. Many of the buildings have been demolished and the hospitals are crowded. Jap Squadron to Go to Shanghai. London, Aug. 18.—The Shanghai correspondent of The Morning Post says it is reported that a Japanese squadron is coming there in consequence of the failure as yet to comply with the Japanese demand that tbe Russian cruiser Askold and the torpedo boat destroyer Grozovoi be disarmed or quit the port. Commenting on the foregoing The Morning Post says it thinks the Japanese are not in a mood to stand much nonsense and points out that there are now eighteen foreign men-of-war at Shanghai. KAMIMURA STRIKES HARD Russian Cruiser Rurik Sent to the Bottom by the Japs. Tokio, Aug. 1(5. —By a brilliant victory over Russia’s Vladivostok squadron, following tbe success of Admiral Togo in shattering the czar's Port Arthur fleet, Vice Admiral Kamimura has given Japan tbe mastery of tbe Pacific seas. In a terrific and bloody battle that began at 5 o'clock Sunday morning and lasted five hours, Kaminiura sunk tbe Russian cruiser Rurik and damaged the cruisers Gromoboi and Rossia, tbe two other ships of the Vladivostok squadron. The Gromoboi and Rossia finally fled toward Vladivostok. Kamimura, his own ships almost unscathed, but with scores of officers and men dead on the decks, pursued the fleeing Russians. It is Kamimura’s purpose to send both warships to the bottom of the ocean before they can reach their haven of refuge. Following Japan’s signal victories on the seas it is understood that orders have gone to Marquis Oyama to rush the capture Port Arthur at any. cost, and that he has been instructed to hurl an army of 200,000 men against the beleaguered fortress. The following are the casualties sustained by the Japanese in the action of Aug. 10: On board the battleship Mikasa there were four officers and twenty-nine men killed, six officers and twenty-nine men severely wounded and four officers and twenty-nine men slightly wounded. The armored erdiser Yakumo had one officer and eleven men killed and ten wounded. On the armored cruiser Nlskin seven officers and nine men were killed and two officers and fifteen men were wounded. The men were wounded on the armored cruiser Kasuga. Tbe tor-pedo-boat destroyer Asagirl had two men killed. On torpedo-boat No. 38 one man was killed and eight were wounded.