Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1904 — WAR IN THE ORIENT [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WAR IN THE ORIENT

Progress of Struggle Between Muscovite and Mongol. SIX WEEKS OF STRIFE Contest Up to the Present Time Has Re* suited Favorably for the Japs. Russia Slowly Assembling Its Armies on the Yalu, While Japan Lands Troops in Korea and Rushes Them to the Front Bombardments of Port Arthur and Dalny Culminate in Torpedo-Boat Battle Czar's Losses Heavy. The. sixth week of the Oriental war was a week of bombardment It began with the sudden appearance of the

Japanese fleet under Admiral Uriu at Vladivostok and its . attack on the Russian stronghold. The forts did not reply, either because It was preferred not to reveal the loca- ’ lion of the guns to the enemy, or. as a later report-ha-s it,

because they lacked ammunition, most of it having been sent to Port Arthur. A ■woman was killed by a shell and several sailors wounded. Several bombardments of Port Arthur and Dalny’culminated in a battle between the Russian torpedo flotilla and Japanese torpedo-boat destroyers encountered- in the Lao Thie Shan strait. One vessel was sunk on each side, and there must have been considerable loss of life. This was followed by a severe bombardment of the harbor, in which there was some loss of life, two women in the town being among the victims. St. Petersburg promptly denied the story that Port Arthur had been abandoned. When one reflects that such action would necessarily include the destruction of the Russian fleet and the abandonment or removal inland of the many coast defense guns in the forts about the city, not to mention those at Dalny, and the surrender of authority over southern Manchuria to the Japanese, one can understand how improbable was the story. It iffustTJe conceded that the Russians are making an astonishingly feeble display of ability and resourcefulness in meeting the attacks of Admiral Togo. Their losses are heavy and they do not retaliate upon the enemy in a way sufficient even to dampen his ardor. The battle of the torpedo boat destroyers showed courage, but from the Russian and Japanese oflieial reports it is clear that the Russians failed to hold their own against an inferior number of Japanese vessels. The fighting was close and furious until the Russians retreated. Other Japanese torpedo boat destroyers captured a Russian destroyer, which sunk while being towed away. ' ” Apparently the gunnery of the Japanese is distinctly more effective than that of the Russians. Capt. Shokiro Asai seems to have fought as did Wainwright at Santiago, going closein and hamnieriiijJ away regardless of consequences, though coping with superior numbers. The heavy bombardment of the forts and the city which the big guns of the battleships carried on for three hours and a half on Thursday was more effective than such bombardments usually are. Admiral Togo having arranged his cruisers in such a manner that they could observe the effect of each shot and signal to the battleships to correct the aim. Russia is slowly assembling Its armies oh the Yalu and. making prep-

orations for a great battle. Japan Is landing troops in Corea, nnd rushing them to tho front with the prospect that she will wmpel Russia to accept her position, simply because the movements of the latter's army are so slow. Taken ail In All, tho past week has been a period of preparation for coming events which will crowd each other. The international situation Is better. Russia has warned China that she will be held responsible If her troops are not kept in check. President Roosevelt has Issued an executive order that civil, military and naval employes of the government must refrain from actions or expressions which would tend to Irritate either belligerent

ADMIRAL TOGO.

JAPS LAUNCHING A WHITEHEAD TORPEDO.