Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1904 — RUSSIANS WERE AT A CIRCUS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RUSSIANS WERE AT A CIRCUS

Busy Appending a Clown When Attacked by Japatieie. --_ Japan’s strongest ally in the attack on the Russian fleet in the harbor of Fort Arthur was a circus. While r ths Czar's powerful fleet swung lazily at anchor in faiieie.T security tire officers of the squadron.. almost to a man, were ashore applauding the clown in the tan-bark Ting and cheering the chariot races and the trapezp performers. IVhcu the first guns boomed out their challenge the officers hurriedly left the canvas tent. Hastening to the water front, they found their ships in motion, striving io r beat off the ■Jnphiiv'se warshifis that came ever closer. They strove to reach the several vessels to which they were assigned, but before

they could accomplish it they saw two great warships stricken, and a cruiser, the pride of the Pacific squadron, sorely damaged. Like the British officers who were summoned from a ball to the battle of Waterloo, the officers had determined on one last evening of pleasure before they entered on the grim business of war. Unlike the British, they had no warning, and when they sought to remedy that which their thoughtlessness had cost they found it impossible. , Not alone the naval officers, according to the Chefu correspondent of the London Daily Mail, were present at the. circus, but the military officers deserted their places at the land batteries to occupy seats beside the ring. The honor of Russia, both by sea and land, whs, left in the hands of subalterns.