Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1905 — JAPANESE HAVE ROJESTVENSKY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JAPANESE HAVE ROJESTVENSKY

Williamsport Review: Clinton will call its carnival a May festival. A skunk would smell as strong if it were called a dove.

Another Indiana bank went republican this week. This particular bank was located at Flat Rock, Shelby county, and one of the proprietors was the postmaster.

The Pulaski County Democrat came out last week under new management, Bro. J. J. Gorrell, who has been “the whole thing” for the past fourteen years, having taken his son Ned into full partnership, and the tirm will hereafter be known as Gorrell & Son. The Democrat is one of the best county papers in Indiana, and we wish it still greater success and prosperity under the new addition to the firm.

Over in Wells county M. D. Yontz, a traveling representative for W. B. Burford, the Indianapolis blank book and stationrey man, has been indicted by the grand jury, charged with raising the figures in the recent contract with that county for furnishing printing supplies. The methods used in raising the figures was practically tbßTsm®”nßßtbat~attsged to have been used here last January by'the Burt-Terry-Wilson representative of Lafayette, and which was told exclusively in The Democrat at the time. It would appear that these matters are worked wherever it is necessary to make “cuts” to secure contracts aud where county officers who have the handling of bidß for these supplies can be “fixed.” An honest auditor in Wells county caught onto the steal and the exposure resulted. It will be remembered that in the attempt to work the scheme here the salesman of the successful firm of bidders was loaned the paper containing the schedule of prices on which the contract was awarded, claiming that he “wanted to make a copy,” as he had none. He went into auother room to make his “copy” and that when Auditor Leatherman next saw the paper he found that many of the prices had been “raised.” Printed envelopes that were to be furnished at $1.50 per thousand—less than the raw material would cost—the figures, as we understand, having been in ink, a mark on the “1” was made which made it into a “4,” making' the price read $4 50 per thousand instead of $1.50 as formerly. Many other items showed similar changes, and the total added price would have reached several hundred dollars. Well, this was precisely the method used in Wells county, it is claimed, and while the judge of the circuit oourt over there instructed the grand jury to go into the matter and an indiotment has resulted, here in our own county of Jasper notone thing has ever been done to bring the guilty one or ones to justice, and The Democrat was the only paper in the county that considered the matter of enough importance to make it public. Abe Lincoln is credited with having once said that you oouldn’t fool all the people all the time, bnt Abe’s wisdom doesn’t apply to Jasper oounty, where enough of the people are fooled all the time to make jnst such things as the above possible. In witness of the correctness of which we have only to refer to the doaens of exposures made by The Democrat of crooked matters that have gone nninvestigated and unpunished in the past half dosen years.

Explanation of Report That He Had Reached Vladivostok. TOGO SAYS HE IS A PRISONER Russian Officials Wars Too Quick to Jump at Conclusions. JAP VICTOR SENDS MOBE NEWS Trinmph of the Mikado's Fleet Continue* to Grow—Twenty-Two of the Czar’* Ship* Sank or Captured. ■ ■ Toklo. June I,—Rear Admiral Voelkersam, who was commander of the battleship squadron of the Russian fleet, was, it is anounced, killed the first day of the battle, May 27, In the conning tower of his flagship, the battleship Oslabya, one of the vessels sunk by the Japanese. Washington, June 1. —The state department has received the following cablegram from Toklo, dated May 31: “Rojestvensky's skull was fractured, requiring an operation. His condition is serious, but not dangerous. The total Japanese losses up to date, are three torpedo-boats, three officers killed and about 200 men killed and disabled.” All doubt as to the fate of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky apparently lias been cleared up. He is a prisoner In the hands of the Japanese. Togo reported his capture early In the day, but doubt was cast on the correctness of this by a message from b’t. Petersburg stating specifically that he had arrived at Vladivostok on the torpedo-tioat Buiny, to which he

hart boon transferror! Just before the sinking of his flagship the Kutaz Souvaroff. Jumper) at Conclusions. It seems that this statement was simply the result of too rapid Jumping to conclusions by Russian officials. The report was due to a telegraph message sent to Grand Duke Alexis by Admiral Dournovo. informing him that he hart received advices from Vladivostok that the destroyer's commander, Admiral Dournovo’s son. had picked up Rojestvensky and had rollover'd tlie Almaz out of the Imttle. Admiral Dournovo being under the Impression that the admiral had reached Vladivostok, so informed the public. The Almaz reached Vladivostok, hnt the torpedo-boat with Rojestvensky on board was intercepted by the Japanese. Fifth Report from Togo. Washington, May 31.—The Japanese legation lias given out the following cablegram from Toklo. It is the tilth report from Togo, received on the afternoon of May 30; “The main force of our combined fleet, upou ueceptlng surrender of the remaining Russian main force near Liancourt rooks in the afternoon of May 28, as already reported, stopped pursuit, and while engaged in the disposition of surrendered ships found In a southwestern direction the Admiral Ushakoff, a coast defense ship. Thereupon the Iwate and Vakumo were immediately dispatched tn pursuit and Invited her to surrender, but she refused and was sunk at t? p. m. Her crew of over 300 men were rescued. Captor* of Admiral Raj**tv**»ky. The cruiser Dmitri Donskol was found in the northwestern direction at B p. m., and was immediately overtaken and tired upon vigorously by our fourth division and second destroyer flotilla. She was attacked that night by the second destroyer flotilla, and the next morning was found aground on the southeastern abore of Urieung Island, off the Korean coast Our destroyer Bassnami captured toward the evening of May 27, to the south of

tTrleung Island, the Russian destroyqs Bledovy, wherein were found Admhrfi Rojestvensky and another admiral, both severely wonnded, together with eighty Russians including staff officer* from the flagship Prince [Knlax] Souvaroff, which was sunk at 5:20 p. m. on May 27. They were all taken prisoners. Two Destroyer* Out of Baslnsss. "Our cruiser Chitose, while cruising to the northward on the morning of May 28, found and sunk* another destroyer. Our cruiser Nlitaka and destroyer Murakumo attacked at noon on May 28 a Russian destroyer, which finally went aground.” Seven Thousand Russian* Perished. Rough estimates made of the Russian losses In the battle fought in the sea of Japan, exclusive of nearly 4,000 prisoners, vary from 7,000 to 9,000. It is feared thHt the majority perished. Calculating the complements of the sunken and captured ships at up-

wards of 10,000 men, 7,000 men remain unaccounted for. It is possible that the ships which escaped rescued some of the members of the crews of the less fortunate ships. Many bodies have been washed ashore on the Islands and on the shores of the neighboring coasts near the scene of the battle.

RESULT Or THE FIGHT SUMMARIZED

Six UattlMhlp* Saak, Two Captured—Total Bum Lost, Twenty-Two Ships. According to various reports hitherto received, and statements of prisoners, the result of the battle from May 27 to May 29 is as follows: "The Prince [Kniaz] Suvaroff, Alexander 111, Borodino, Dmitri Donskoi, Admiral Naklmoff, Vladimir Monomach, Jemtchug, Admiral Ushakoff, one converted cruiser and two destroyers, sunk, imperator Nicholai I, Orel, General Admiral Apraxine, Admiral Seniavln and destroyer i.iedoyy, captured According to the prisoners the Osliabia sunk about 3 p. m. and the Navarin also was sunk. “The Almaz, on May 27th, was observed in a disabled aud sinking condition, but her final is yet unknown. The full particulars regarding the injury to our ships are not yet in hand, but so far as I could ascertain none was seriously injured, all being still engaged in operations. The whole casualties are not yet ascertained. Casualties of first division are little over 400. Prince Yorhito is in excellent health. Admirfal Mlsu was slightly wounded May 27.” The Japanese legation also has supplied Togo's sixth report, received at Tokio yesterday afternoon, as follows: “IjOss of the Osliabia and Navarin is confirmed. The Sissoi-Vellki Is also definitely reported to have sunk on the morning of May 28. The official statement of Russian losses so far as ascertained is: “Following six battleships sunk: Prince [Kniaz] Suvaroff, Inqierator Alexander 111, Borodino, Osliabia, Sissoi-Vellki and Navarin. Following, five cruisers sunk: Admiral Nakimoff. Dmitri Donskol, Vladimir Monomach, Svietlana, and Jemtchug. Coast defense ship Admiral Oushakoff sunk, and two special service ships, .KnintchatkH and three destroyers sunk. “Two battleships, the Orel and lmperator Nicholai I; two coast defense ships Geueral Admiral Apravine and

Admiral Seniavln and one destroyer, Bledovy, captured. Thus Russians lost altogether twenty-two ships, the aggregate tonnage whereof amounting to 153.411 tons, beside the cruiser Almas, suspected to have sunk.” ADMIRAL TOOO’a CHARACTERISTIC Always Fight*. Never Report* N* Detail* Vet Sabmerla**? Toklo, May 31. —The proverb that Admiral Togo alwaya tights and seldom reports la proving true in tha case of bis greatest battle. From the briefest and most fragmentary reports coming to Toklo it la impossible to gain an approximate conception or pie>

taro of the desperate and decisive combat. The navy department, after announcing the bare results, has lapsed into silence again. It meets inquirers with the statement that the department is not interested in the publication of news, but )s concerned only in securing victory for Japan. Admiral Togo appears to have planned and laid a complete trap which fitted Admiral Rojestvensky’s action, and the Japanese out-manoeuvered, out-fought and out-shot ttye Russians, fearlessly taking their lightest cruisers against the heavy Russian armor-clad battleships, and smothering them with gunfire. Admiral Togo had waited for weeks in the vicinity of the Tsu islands, refusing to be lured away and to forfeit his advantage. When Itojestvensky encountered Admiral Togo there appears to have been a running fight to the northeastward Saturday afternoon. There was a series of desperate and successful torpedo attacks Saturday night, and a resumption or the battle on Sunday, Togo pressing the Russian fleet toward the southeastern coast of Korea. Tremendous interest attaches to the question whether the Japanese' used submarine vessels. The navy department is silent on this point, but it is confidently believed that submarines were effectively used for the first time in history. Theoretically the sea was too rough for the employment of submarines Saturday, butMhe Japanese sailors welcome desperate chances. It is believed that torpedo boats and destroyers scored heavily Saturday night. Telegrams from Europe says that naval experts there are suggesting that the submarine is the only war machine that could account for the defeat of the Russians.

BUT TWO SHIPN STRAGGLE IN Almaz, Crolzar. and a Torpado Boat Dastrojrar Arrive at Vladivostok. Vladivostok, May 31. Two ships alone of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky’s powerful flotilla, the swift cruiser Almaz and the torpedo boat destroyer Grozny, lie at anchor here in the curving harbor of the Golden Horn, they having separated from the fleet in the early stage of the battle which began in the Korea strait Saturday, and headed, in obedience to orders, with full speed to Vladivostok. Up to this writing no other vessels of the Baltic fleet has yet arrived, and the signal stations at Askold and Uimskykorsakoff Islands report none In sight. Officers of the Almaz and Grozny say that both fleets had already sustained terrible losses when the Almaz and Grozny Moke througn the hostile line. Of the Japanese two battleships had gone down before their eyes, and two cruisers, their sterns high out of the water, seemed ready

to plunge foremost to the bottom of the sea. As to the Russian fleet they admit that it was worse off than the Japs —as they picture them. But the Almaz left before the tight was over. The Almaz bears scars of the battle. Her mizzenmast is shot away and one of her funnels Is pierced by a cannon shot. But the Grozny, though engaged for several hours in a running tight at short range with a large Japanese destroyer, shows no signs of the fray. After her commander. Captain Andriffski. had been wounded, and an officer and three men had been killed the Grozny succeeded in sinking her op ponent with a lucky-placed shot.

CAST DOWN AT ST. PKTEfUBCBG

Cur Bald to Have Wept—Dleeasslon at Peace Prospect*. St Petersburg, May 31. —After waiting vainly for more than twenty-four hours for direct news from the scattered remnants of Vice Admiral Kojestvensky’s destroyed and beaten fleet the Russian admiralty no longer attempts to bold out against the overwhelming evidence pouring in from all directions that the fleet on which all their hopes were centered had suffered a greater disaster than did the combined French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar. More bitter even than defeat Is the Japanese claim of the virtual annihilation of the Russian fleet with practically no loss on their side. The captured warships alone will furnish Japan with ready made reinforcements which will be more than a match for the fourth Pacific squadron now about to sail from Cronstadt. The emperor was completely prostrated by the news and, according to reports, he broke dowq and wept. The effect of the disaster will be a terrible blow to the government. The futility of trying to stagger on on land la everwhere recognized, and the cry for “peace at any price” la sure to be raised. This time It is believed tha government cannot resist such a cry Diplomatists entertain no doubt tha) the belligerent faction will continue to urge that war be fought to the bitter

e»; . r the frten ’ ■ <•,’ Russia abroad, and : >pt?cii!lly Fn.i.ce, suv now bringing overwhelming arguments to I>ear in favor of peace. In case these arguments prevail I'elcasse will probably be the agent of the Russian government In negotiating for peace.

Ij*nd Battle at Hand. St. Petersburg, June I.—Dispatches from Manchuria say that Field Marshal Ovinia is already in motion and that a tenoral battle is at hand. General I.inoviteh is ready to give battle at once. lie has nearly 400,000 men, Including the Fourth and Tenth army corps, which have arrived at the front since the battle of Mukden. He has received hundreds of field guns to replace those abandoned In the retreat from Tie pass. The army intelligence department admits that Oyama has fully 420,000 men. He Is known to have received 80,000 reinforcements since the battle of Mukden. Caar’* Vole* la for War. St. Petersburg. .Tune I.—The result of the extraordinary war council is In doubt, the ministers on returning to St. Petersburg observing a cautious reticence as to what took place. It is believed, however, that the emperor Is determined on a proscutlon. of the war, the government fearing the effects of the disaster on the Itussian people. Gromobol I* Not Sunk. St. Petersburg, June I.—The report that the Gromolioi, cruiser of the Russian Vladivostok squadron, had been sunk with 800 men is denied by the admiralty, but that office does not say where the vessel is now.

VICE ADMIRAL ROJESTVENSKY.

OLEARING FOR ACTIOS ON BOARD OF JAPANESE WARSHIP.

THE JAPANESE BATTLESHIP MIKASA.

VICE ADMIRAL TOGO.