Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1904 — IIAS THE JAP LOST 203-METRE HILL? [ARTICLE]

IIAS THE JAP LOST 203-METRE HILL?

Kuropatkin Hears from Chinese Sources That Stoessel Has Retaken the Position. BHANGHAI HEARS OF A HOVE Kamimura with a Squadron Ooea to Seek Rojestvensky. Dopei to Smash Him In Detail—St. Petersburg Doesn’t Worry— Czar Snubs a Zemstvo Who Telegraphed Him. L, St. Petersburg, Dec. 23. General Kuropatkin has I to the general staff that he has received a report from Chinese sources to the effect that the Russians have recaptured 203Meter hill at P6rt Arthur, with the guns mounted by the Japanese. Kuropatkin’s dispatch, which is (hi ted Dec. 21, also reports further reconnoissances of both the Russians and Japanese, but says they were not productive of Important results. The weather at the front is sunny and the thermometer registers 1-A. degrees Fahrenheit This la a “Shanghalgraim.” Shanghai, Dec. 23. A startling move has been taken by the Japanese which promises to turn the impending great naval battle with the Baltic fleet into a victory for the mikado. The Russian forces, divided into two squadrons, are steaming to a secret meeting place in the Orient. A squadron of powerful cruisers under Admiral Kamimura has gone south to the China sea to meet the Russian second squadron before it has a chance to unite forces with the remainder of the fleet. Jap Squadron Wat of Singapore. ' Singapore, Dec. 23. Two Japanese cruisers called here yesterday morning and left at noon. They reported that two Japanese battleships, two firstclass cruisers, two second-class cruisers, and twelve torpedo boat destroyers were nearby, steaming west. How tho Hum Views the Move.

St Petersburg, Dee. 23. The announcement that four Japanese cruisers and twelve torpedo bouts are proceeding west from Singapore is received here with much interest. It is not believed, however, that such a small squadron can have been sent out by Japan with any idea of engaging in offensive operations, but it is regarded as more probable that it is the purpose of this squadron to keep a surveillance over the two detachments of the Russian fleet which are expected to soon unite in the neighbor; hood of Madagascar. Some More HtilrCaptured. Tokio, Dec. 23.—A dispatch from the Japanese army before Port Arthur, dated yesterday, says: “The right column of the army at 5 o’clock today drove the enemy off an eminence north of HouSanyentno on Pigeon bay and occupied the po’sition, and later dislodged the enemy from a height on the peninsula west of Housunyentao, which we occupied, capturing one small gun. After the Japanese occupation of the positions the enemy made a counter attack, but was immediately, repulsed. At present our occupation of the positions is practically secure.” CZAR IN A BAD HUMOR Said to Explain a Sharp Indorsement on a Telegram. St Petersburg, Dec. 23. On the margin of a telegram from the president of the zemstvo olQhe government of Chernigov regarding reforms in state matters Emperor Nicholas, according to a communication published in the Official Messenger, appended a note as follows: “I consider the action of the president to be presumptuous and tactless. Questions of state administration are of no concern to the zeuir stvos, whose functions and rights are clearly defined by the law.” The foregoing indorsement is held by some parties to be a practical Refusal to institute any of the reforms asked by the zemstvos, and the extremists who have, as it is alleged, been asking too much are held responsible for the refusal. Then there were the riots here and at Moscow, which are alleged to have been welcomed by the reactionists as showing that reform was impracticable and dangerous. It is held by many that the czar’s indorsement means that a constitution is impossible and that under no circumstances will he give yp the autocracy. Still the conferences over the re-form-measures proposed by the gathering of zemstvos are still proceeding, and there are not a few influential personages who have not lost hope. The Associated Press correspondent has been informed by a person competent to speak that too great importance should not be attached to the emperor’s annotation, which, it is believed, be wrote in a moment of 111humor because the Chernigov zemstvo telegraphed directly to him Instead of through the minister of the interior. MYSTERY OF THE SEVASTOPOL Hm Had Sererel Torpedo Shocks ud Still Her FMe Not Certain. Tokio, Dec. 23. —A report from Ad- ' miral Togo received at 11 o’clock Wednesday night is as follows: “After personal observation ontside Port Arthur I found, the Sevastopol, which

was attacked by our torpedo flotillas, Is now anchored in the shallows about 400 yards from the shore of Chengtao mountain. The Russians are engaged in pumping, but the Sevastopol is listing at least 10 degrees, with her bow slightly sunk. “There'can be no hope of restoring the vessel to fighting trim, considering the present condition of Port Arthur, and I judge that she has been completely disabled. I also observed that the enemy’s destroyer which Was torpedoed by us has been destroyed.” General Oku’s Headquarters, Dee. 21, noon, via Fusan, Dec. 23.—1 tis believed by the Japanese that the Runs'sinus are employing Chinese to damage the Japanese lines of communication, and they have no doubt that Chinese were employed by the Russians to burn the magazines at Llaqyang. The Japarwk?e say that if they arrest any Chinese engaged in this work they will execute them as a warning to other Chinese against a repetition of the offense.

A Japanese supply train north of Liaoyaitg yesterday struck three Chinese carts which obstructed the track, the hoi'ses having been cut loose. The Japanese believe that the drivers of these carts were in the pay of the Russians. The track was not injSred, but traffic was delayed for a few hours.

North Sea Commission Moots,

Paris, Dec. 23. —Clad in civilian garments 1 four admirals of as many national navies met in the foreign office and after some pleasant conversation made Admiral Fournier the presiding officer, selected a secretary and then unanimously chose Admiral Baron von Spaun, of Austria, the fifth member of the commission that will inquire into the North sea tragedy. Adjournment was then taken to Jan. 10, 1905. Those present were Admirals Beaumont. Great Britain; Davis, United States; Fournier, France, and Knznakoff, Russia. Torpedo Craft Get Away. London, Dec. 23.—The Daily Telegraph’s Cbefoo correspondent reports that eight torpedo boat destroyers have escaped from Port Arthur, where for twenty-four hours, he says, a severe snow storm raged.