The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-12
GRIM V|SAGED NAR
Now R0gGS Between 'J0D0R 0Dd RUS
SID in iDe For E0SL.
Japan Draws First Blood and Wins
Two Naval Victories.

Japan severed her diplomatic re-
lations with Russia on Saturday last.
The last japanese note in response to
the Russian note of January 6, had
been remitted to the Russian Minis
ter at Toxic on the 18th of January.
The Japanese Government had in
sisted that a prompt response be
made to it, owing to the gravity of
the situation. Not receiving the an
swer it requested, M. Kurino, the
Japanese Minister ut st. Petersburg,
has made to Count Lamsdorff of the
Russian foreign office on several oc-
casions recently representations In
order to secure an answer from Rus
sia. Not having obtained this an
swer, he asked him to indicate the
earliest date for the reply. Count
Lams dorff, while promising to make
the response as early as possible, has
not been able to indicate when the
response could be transmitted to the
Japanese Government.
The japanese Government having
vainly awaited on its part the Rus
sian answer for more than three
weeks, and having been informed
that Russia was making active prep
orations for war, and was concentra-
ting her troops and her naval forces
towards Corea, concluded to break
its negotiations with Russia and
resume its liberty of action.
JAPANESE BEGIN WAR.
The japanese fleet attacked Port
Arthur at midnight on Monday.
Two Russian battleships and one
Russian cruiser were disabled by
torpedOes.
A dispatch from st. Petersburg
February 10th, states that the fol-
lowing bulletin has been posted by
the Russian chief of staff:
"By order of the Viceroy, | beg to
report that this day at about IL
o'clock in the morning, a japanese
squadron consisting of about fifteen
battleships and cruisers, approached
Port Arthur and opened fire. The
enemy was received with cannon
ade from the shore batteries and the
guns of our squadron, which also
participated in the engagement.
Sat about midday the Japanese
squadron ceased it's fire and left, pro-
ceeding south.
"Our losses in the fleet were two
officers wounded; nine men killed
ana forty-one men wounded. On the
shore batteries, one man was killed
and three were wounded.
1.-THE battleship Poltava and the
cruiser Novik each had hole
knocked in her side below the water
line.
"The forts were slightly damaged.
(Signed) major General Flug."
The London Daily express has a
dispatch from Chez Foo, dated Feb.
9th, which says:
1.-The Japanese have dealt the
Russions a crushing blow at Port
Arthur An advance squadron from
a Japanese fleet, under command of
Vice Admiral Togo, and comprising
six battleships and cruisers, with q
numerous torpedo fiotilla, left the
main fleet off Shan Tung peninsula
on Sunday Immediately that the
news of the diplomatic rupture be-
came known. This information was
conveyed to the Japanese admiral by
a destroyer dispatched from Tsus-
hima Saturday evening.
"The Japanese scouting cruisers
had given acurate information of the
precarious situation of the Russian
fleet outside Port Arthur.
"The squadron steamed slowly in
battle formation Sunday midday to-
wards it's goal, and came in sight of
Port Arthur under cover of dark
ness. 1t cruised slowly outside,
without showing lights. The Rus
slams were lying in the roadstead, =,
apparently feeling secure from at
tack.
NEARLY all the Japanese torpedo
boats We're dispatched on their dan
gerous and daring task. They
rushed full speed on the enemy, who
were completely surprised. A great
rattle of small arms greeted the in
vaders, who, however, escaped un-
hurt, and the Retvizan, the Care
witch and the Palladia were almost
Immediately torpedoed.
"The Japanese dashed along the
entire line of the Russians, exposed
by now to q terrible fire from ma
chine guns, and small arms from
| both the ships and the shore. There
was the utmost CONSERVATION among
the Russians, which probably ac-
counts for the Japanese torpedo
boats escaping practically unscathed,
and rejoining the admiral outside" "
Admiral AleXieff of the Russian
fleet has officially reported his defeat
to the Russian government.
The Russian battleship Retvizan
was bailt by the Cramps at Philadel-
phia. She is of 1900 tons displace-
ment, has $1,000 indicated horse
power and has a speed of Is knots
per hour.
The Czarevitch is a battleship OF
l3,ll0 tons, built in France. In ar
NOR, armament and speed, she about
equals the Retvizan.
The Pallida Is a cruiser of $3.50
tons. She was built in Germany.
LATER-A summary of the war
news up to Thursday morning indi-
cate that thus for the Japanese navy
has succeeded in putting ten Rus
sian warships out of business and
capturing three transports with 2,0OC
men on board, which have been
towed to Tokyo.
----ln sse