Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1905 — FISHY REPORT OF A FIGHT AT SEA [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FISHY REPORT OF A FIGHT AT SEA

Comes from Amsterdam and Has Not Been Confirmed at This Writing. FLEET SEEN SOUTH OF BORNEO Eqjestvensky Present with the Fleet That Passed Singapore. Has Seven Battleships to Five* with Toko’s Command Y&sblma Not Sunk Last June, It Is Now Said. London, April 13. —The correspondent at Labnan (off the northwest coast of Borneo), of The Dally Mall says that reports are current there that large fleets have been sighted south of Borneo; — London, April 13.—The Dally Telegraph’s Toklo correspondent this morning; In a comparative statement of the strength of the fighting fleets of Jap-

MAP SHOWING SCENE OP OPERATIONS. an and Russia alleges that the Japanese have five battleships. The Daily Telegraph considers that this disposes of the rumor that the battleship Yashima was sunk by a Russian mine oft Dalny in June last. Has There Been Any Fighting • The question whether there has been any lighting between the two fleets in the China sea is in doubt. A dispatch from Amsterdam, dated yesterday, says: “A fight is in progress near the Anambas islands, east of the Malay peninsula, according to a telegram from Batavia, island of Java, to the Handelsblad. The dispatch adds that five Dutch war ships are near the scene of battle. Details are lacking." It was also reported that the Japs had sunk three Russian ships. 1J) Can’t Confirm the Mew*. At this writing the foregoing is not confirmed, and a St Petersburg dispatch says that "the admiralty hag no information in regard to the alleged -r.avai battle in progress off the Anambas islands, as reported from Batavia to a newspaper at Amsterdam, and does not entertain the possibility of a general naval battle yet. The officials concede, however, that the Japanese may have attempted a torpedo boat attack on a convoy during the night." It is also pointed out that there is no telegraphic communication between the Anambas islands and the mainland: but this would not prevent a Dutch warship from sending the news by the wireless system. Rajestreniky Is Not Missing. The supposed absence of Itojestvensky and his battleships from the fleet that passed Singapore April 8 seems to be a mistake. The Associated Press is able to confirm absolutely the statement that the RussiAn battleships passed Singapore going eastward April 8, so that ail of Vice Admiral Rojestrensky’s squadron is accounted for. This definite news about the battleships was sent to Singapore by wireless telegraph from the China sea. It is presumed here that the battleships passed farther out to sea than the rest of the squadron, hence the divergent reports regarding the number of ships. Slaa of th« Russian Fleet. The Russian fleet that passed Singapore last Saturday was composed of seven battleships, two armored cruisers, five unannored cruisers, three ccJhverted cruisers, seven torpedo boat destroyers, seventeen steamers and hospital ships and a tng.

HOPE* AT ST. PETERSBURG

Some of Them Baa Toward Peace Without a Sea right. St Petersburg, April 10.—There Is reason to believe that Vice Admiral Rojestvensky’s entrance into the China sea has been followed by orders for the cruisers Gromobol, Rossla and Bogatyr, which have been ready for some time at Vladlyostok, to put to sea. Their appearance outside the roadstead of Vladivostok would constitute a threat against Admiral Togo's rear, and compel the retention In or dispatch of a number of heavy fighting ships to Japanese waters. Thus Admiral Togo seems to be virtually placed between tw 0 fires. The peace Influences In the gorern-

toent urge that this favorable strategic position presents the pyschological moment for offering officially the olive branch to Japan, reasoning that no matter how confident the Japanese government may be of Togo’s victory it cannot overlook the possibility of defeat nor fall to appreciate the complete disaster which would follow the transfer of the mastery of the sea to Russia. With so much depending upon the Issue, they argue, both countries have mutual interests in avoiding an actual test, and it Is not Impossible therefore that a new move In the direction of peace may come Just as the world expects to hear the call to quarters for greatest naval battle of modem times. OTAHA REPORTS VICTORY Tsito of • Fight In Which the Raulkni Were Twice Repulsed. Toklo, April 10.—The following report has been received from the Mandhurlan army headquarters: “April 5 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon one battalion of the enemy’s infantry and six companies of cavalry came and attacked Tsulushu, twenty miles north of Ghangtu. They were repulsed. On the following day twenty-four companies of the enemy’s cavalry with several guns renewed the attack. They were again repulsed. “The main force of the assailants retreated toward Pamlencheng. A portion stopped near Choroyo, three miles north of Tsulushu. Our casualties were ten. No officers were Included. The enemy’s loss, judging from the corpses left behind and from the number of carts carrying wounded and killed, was over sixty.” Onktomaky Demands Court-Martial St Petersburg, April 13.—The demand of Rear Admiraf Prince Ouktomsky for a court-martial has been granted. The court will consist of four admirals, Admiral Dtkoff„ "presiding. Prince Ouktomsky succeeded Rear Admiral Withoeft In command of the Port Arthur squadron when the latter was killed in the naval battle of Aug. 10. It has been claimed that the prince did not carry out the orders previously isssued by Admiral Withoeft not to put back to Port Arthur. Kawamnra’s Army Louated. Gunsbu Pass, Manchuria, April 13 Chinese state with great positiveness that General Kawamura’s army, supported by General Nogi’s army, Is moving in a northeasterly direction, aiming to cut Russian communications with Vladivostok. According to the same sources 30.000 Japanese landed at Dalny March 28. and it is reported that six divisions are forming In Japan to operate against Vladivostok and Sakhalin. Port Closed to Foreign Ships. Washington. April 12.—Minister Grlscom, at Toklo, has cabled the state department that he has been ndyised of the closing of Kaiung to foreign ships until further notice. Kelung is a port on the north end of the island of Formosa. Tt is believed here that the action of the Japanese government In closing Kelung indicates that this port will be used by Admiral Togo as a base for his fleet. Czar’s Troops Concentrating. Toklo, April 13.—Reports received here from Manchuria indicate that the Russians continue concentrating their troops and strengthening the Chang-chun-Kirin line. General Madridoff’s force continues in touch with the extreme Japanese left. Skirmishes are frequent and may possibly develop Into an engagement. Russians Punished for Cowardice. Gunshu Pass. April 11. —General Llnevitch has pilloried a number of officers who displayed cowardice during the battle of Mukden, publicly disgracing them by posting their names at all the division headquarters, while some of them are ignominously drummed out of camp.