Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1904 — JAPANESE SINK BIG TURRET SHIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JAPANESE SINK BIG TURRET SHIP

Port Arthur Fleet at Their Mercy from 203-Me-j ter Hill. RESULTS OF THE BOMBARDMENT Turret Ship Poltava Sunk and Battleship Retvizan Is List* ing Heavily to Port. Other Vessels Saltier Damage from Japanese Shelia—Men Inspired to Greater FiAorta by Their Success. Toklo, Dee. B.—The commander of the Japanese naval guns in front of Port Arthur, telegraphing on Dec. Oth. says: “An observation taken from 203Meter hill shows thut the turret ship

BUaSIXN BATTUISHIP FOBHDA. Poltava is sunk and that the battleship Retvizan Is listing heavily to port. Observations taken Dee. 6th covered the results of the bombardment of Dec. sth. Are now taking observations from a bill near Shuisblylng. “Since Dec. 2 we have daily bombarded, the enemy’s fleet lying south of Paiyu mountain. From that point only and funnel tops of the battleships Pobleda, Ratvizan or tbe cruiser Pallada could be seen, but It was Impossible to count the number of our shells taking effect. Total Effect of Bombardment. “On other ships explosions, resulting from our shells, could be seen, bnt owing 4o their positions behind hills it was difficult exactly to identtfy them. The total of onr shells taking effect on the enemy’s ships were as follows: On a vessel of tbe Pobleda type, tbir-ty-our; on the battleship Retvizan or the cruiser Pallada, thirty-four; on the turret ship Poltava, eleven. Besides these, other shells struck, from which explosions followed. “On Dec: sth seven shells struck the battleship Pobleda and about- 3:30 p. m. a big explosion was observed south of Paiyu iuouiitain. resulting from the effects of our shells, evidently on a powder magazine. The successful result of the bombardment on Dec. sth. is inspiring our men to still greater efforts.” Tremendous Cannonading. Pekin. Dec. B.—Mukden reports a tremendous noise of cannonade around Poutiloff (Lone Tree) bill and the railway. which began Dec. 6 in the morning and reached Its height from 3 to sln the afternoon. It was unlike anything of the kind heretofore, except at Port Arthur. The effect is due to the constantly Increasing number of siege guns of large calibre, all of which seemed to be in Use at the time. Rumors of a Japanese attack, set for various dates, have been current during the past two weeks, and it was the impression that the liombardinent of Dec. 6 was in anticipation of a Japanese offensive movement. Following the Russian Squadron. Island of Periin. Straits of Bab-El-Mandeb. Dec. B.—The British yacht Catarina, which, with the yachts ji’iorentihft and Emerald, it has l>een alleged, had lieen chartered for sonic mysterious purpose and followed the Russian squadron through the Red sea, has arrived here from Jihutil, French Somaliland, with her charterer, Mongel Bey, on board. She reports that the Russian squadron, commanded by Admiral Yoalkersam. is to leave Jibutil tomorrow. All the vessels coaled at Jibutil from their own colliers and shore supplies.