Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-11


Recourse To Arms.--Three Russian
Ships Sunk BY Torpedo Boats
Port Arthur 6ombarded.--Japan Oc-
cupies korea.--Russia Awakening
To Her Serious Task Ahead.
War is on between Japan and Russia.
The first blow has been struck by Japan
and she secured 'sfirst bloodn from her
larger, but slower, antagonist.
At midnight Monday, japanese torpedo
boats approached the Russian squadron
lying unsuspectingly outside the harbor at
Port Arthur and succeeded in seriously
injuring two Russian battleships and one
cruiser, making their retreat without harm
to themselves. Tuesday forenoon, a fleet
OF 10 japanese battleships and armored
cruisers approached Port Arthur and bonn
barded the forts and the Russian squadron
for several hours, finally withdrawing.
The Russians suffered a small loss in killed
and wounded, and two of their vessels
were punctured below the water line.
The Japanese were apparently uninjured,
as the Russian fire fen short.
Two Russian war vessels at Chemnlpho
are reported captured by the main Japan
ese fleet, after a spirited engagement in
which one of the vessels was sunk and the
other disa bled.
The japanese are pouring large numbers
OF troops into Korea, and have occupied
all the ports and strategic points in the
eastern and southern part of the penln-
sula. Heavy Russian forces have also
been despatched to the territory along the
Yalu river, the boundary between Korea
and Manchuria. As yet, there has been
no formal declaration of war from either
eombatant, but one is expected immediate
ly.
In Russia. it is at last fully understood
that the empire is face to face with war, and
a grim determination to crush little Japan
is evinced. Heavy reinforcements will at
once be sent to the East over the Siberian
railway, and all preparations made for
pushing a vigorous contest. The court
ball that was to have been held Tuesday
night was postponed, and instead sol
emn TIE Deum for victory was sung. 9th
er nations have announced or will at once
their neutrality.
Secretary Hay is promoting scheme for
joint guaranty by the neutral powers OF
the neutrality of China during the war.
and of her independence and integrity at
the end of the conflict, whichever wins.
1t is hoped this will reassure the Chinese
court, which is making preparations to
flee to the interior. and that a struggle
over the partition OF China may thus be
avoided. There is now a good prospect
that this plan will succeed and that the
war will not involve other powers than
Russia and Japan. France, though allied
with Russia, has no interest at stake and
will seek to keep out OF the fray. Eng
land, as Japan's ally, has similar feeling.
In the initial movements, Japan seems
to have secured an advantage that will be
OF much service to her. BY acting first
and taking her opponent unawares, she
succeeded in placing her formidable fleet
between the Russian northern squadron at
Nladivostoc and the southern squadron at
Port Arthur. That she will follow this up
and attack each in detail is apparent from
the movement toward Port Arthur, The
bombardment OF the strongly fortified
point Tuesday was probably not intended
seriously, as no land forces were at hand
TO follow il up. Ii is Japans purpose to
force Russia out of Manchuria, as well as
to keep her out of Korea.
The negotiations which had been for
long time pending between Russia and
Japan over their matters relating to Korea
and Manchuria came TO an abrupt halt
Friday, when NJ. kurino, the Japanese
at st. Petersburg, notified the
Russian minister of foreign affairs, Count |
Lumsdorf, that his government, weary OF
waiting for the long-delayed Russian re-
ply TO the last Japanese proposals, and sat
isfied that Russia was postponing an /
answer in order to prepare more fully for /
(inasmuch as 1t had been given
out that Russia would not concede Japan's
demands for treaty defining the rights OF
Japan and Russia in Korea and Manchu-
rial had decided to break off diplomatic
relations with Russia and take such indie
pendent action as best suited her purpose.
Nj. Kurino received his passports and pre-
pared to quit st. Petersburg at once.
His action was a surprise to Russia,
whose government has apparently never
believed that Japan was serious and would
take up arms rather than yield to encroach-
ment. The Russian embassy at Toxic was
at once closed and its minister withdrawn,
thus completely severing diplomatic reia-
tions.
Immediately Japan, which had been
fully prepared, took action, despatching 90
with land forces to occupy
orea and ordering her feet to sea to over
power her opponent. The japanese navy
Is composed largely of new, modern battle
ships, armored and protected cruisers and
torpedo boats, and is considered in naval
circles greatly superior to the Russian sea
power available in Far Eastern waters.
The attack Monday night and Tuesday
Al Port Arthur is thus described, in part,
BY an eye witness;-
All III 80 O'Clock Monday night, a severe
shock was felt on board the Columbia "a
British mail steamer, lying within the har-
bQr1. Ine husslaHs ltnmeutdtetN Sbh
to operate their searchlights and
opened fire toward the sea. The firing
lasted only a short time. At one O'Clock
more shocks were felt and the Russians
again commenced firing.
etThe Japanese did not return the ire.
At two O'Clock two Russian battleships
went in and were beaohed across the en-
trance Of the harbor. They were soon FOL
lowed by a Russian cruiser, which also
vas beached. None OF the vessels were
damaged above the water line. More
shocks from torpedoes were felt during
me carly morning and then all was quiet.
WAt 10 O'Clock Tuesday morning three
Jsuanese cruisers passed Port Arthur IN
sight Of the Russian feet. The whole Rus
SIAN fleet Immediately weighed anchor and
went after them, but returned in half an
hour. -
.sThe Russians left one cruiser outside
IN watch for the japanese ships. The
cruiser was fred upon by the japanese
and the other Russian vessels took up
! heir anchors and cruised around the road
stead. The japanese feet came up within
! hree miles and battle commenced. The
Tspsnese fired on the ships and forts,
y bich replied. Two Russian ships were
-..,,.l- ~ rhalls hut were only slightly