Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1904 — Another Big Russian Loss. [ARTICLE]

Another Big Russian Loss.

The news this time is anthentio and unquestionable, that Russia has sustained another big naval loss. Wednesday their ships went ont from Port Arthur to meet a portion of the Japanese fleet but other of the Jape’ boats ooming up, tbe Russians made a run for thw harbor. On tbe way their biggest battleship, tbe Petropavlosk, was blown np and almost immediately turned over and sunk. From 600 to 800 men were lost, aud this inoluded the great Russian Admiral, Makaroff Tbe Russians claim tbat the ship struck one of their own mines, which had drifted ont of position, but we venture th 9 opinion that when the Japa’ accounts of the battle ootne in, it will be found tbat they did it with their little torpedoes. This makes about the third or fourth time tbe Russians have attributed the losses of their Bbipe to aooidenis, right after battles with the Japs, and tbe explanation is getting a little over-worked Of course it lets their pride down easier to attribute their losses to acoident rather than to their enemies.