The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-13
Three of Cars Transports with
1900 Troops on Board Re-
ported Captured.
Bombardment of Fleet and Forts at
Port Arthur Said to Have
Been Renewed.
Vlndivostol1 Dispatch Reports ROut
Of Japanese On Yulu Niver-Rus-
slams Claim Victor,

London, Feb. 11.---Baron Hayashi,
the japanese minister here, has received
official confirmation from Toxic OF the
destruction at Chemulpo of the Russian
1irst-class cruiser Variag and the third
class Cruiser Korietz.
The text OF the official dispatch re-
ceived by Baron Hayashi is as follows:
"On Monday Japanese squadron es-
corting transports met on the way to
Chemulpo, Corea, the Russian gunboat
Korietz, as the latter was coming out
of port. The KorietZ took up an Of
fensive attitude towards the japanese
vessels and fired on the japanese tor
pedo boats. The latter discharged two
torpedoes ineffectively, and then the
korietz returned to her anchorage in
the port
Early in the morning of Tuesday Ad-
miral Urik, commanding the Japanese
squadron, formally called on the Rus
sian Warships to leave Chemulpo be-
fore noon. The admiral added that il
his demand was not complied with, he
would be compelled to attack them in
the harbor. The two Russian warships
left the port at 1880 a. NJ, and a battle
resulted outside the Polynesian islands,
After about an hours engagement the
Russian warships sought refuge among
the islands. Towards the evening the
Russian cruiser Variag sank, and at
about four a. m. to-day. February 10, the
korletZ was reported to have also sunk,
having been blown up. The officers and
men of the two sunken vessels sought
refuge on the French cruiser Pascal.
There were no casualties on the Japan
csc side"
Three Transports Captured.
A special dispatch from TOXIC says
that the Japanese have captured there
Russian transports having on board
1000 troops.
BOmbnralment Renewed.
A dispatch from Port Arthur says
the Japanese fleet returned there Tues
day afternoon aAd again bombarded the
Russian fleet and forts, but that 1t soon
withdrew. The losses to the Russians.
the dispatch says, was small. During
he firing Japanese cruiser grounded.
Russian Victory Di~crctItcd,
ST. Petersburg, Feb. 11.-Some of the
newspapers here print extras claiming
Russian victory at Port Arthur. Three
japanese warships and four torpedo
boats are reported to have been seri-
ously crippled. One report says the JAM
anese battleship Shikishima was sunk.
The people are demonstrating, but there
Is no official confirmation of the rcDort
and the announcement is discreditod
Report Rout Of Jnpnncxc,
VladlVostok, Feb. 11.-Private tele-
grams received here report the complete
rout of the Japanese by the Russians on
the laln river These advices al so claim
that Chemulpo, Corea, has been occupied
by Russian soldiers and marines.
Formal Declaration Of War.
Washington, Feb. 11.-Count Cas-
sini the Russian ambassador. called
on Secretary Hay about noon Wednes-
day and left with him the announce
mcnt OF the car declaring war on
Japan.
This action is said at the state de-
partment to constitute formal declar.
alton of war 1t is now for the presi-
dent to determine whether he will is-
sue a neutrality proclamation. The
counts communication with the de-
partment was in writing. II was
from the Russian foreign r.
flee to the ambassador and was couched
in French, being substantially as fol-
lows:
During the night of February 8. a
detachment of Japanese torpedo boats
attacked the Russian
lying at anchor in the outer
roadstead of Port Arthur. This attack
being the beginning of military prep
arations, oblges the imperial govern
ment to take immediate measures to
reply by armed force to the challenge
issued against Russia. Be good enough
to inform the government of the
United States"
There was no discussion between
the ambassador and Secretary Hav of
the state departments proposition TO
the powers looking to the neutraliza-
ton of China. The department, how
ever, is satisfied, though upon what
ground cannot be learned, that Russia
Is not disposed at this stage to oppose
the execution Of its plans Some an
sWers already have been received to
secretary Hays note, but 1t is not yet
deemed Drnpnr 10 make them public |
or even the text OF the note itself. It
Is not doubted that the Lroposition
meets with approval by The powers
II practically is admitted that its ef-
[ect would be to completely exclude
military or naval forces of belligerents
rom all of China south of Manchuria,
Making up for Lost Time.
London, Feb. live were slow in |
negotiating, SO we are making up for
ost time by quickness in action" said
Baron Hayashi Wednesday morning.
The engagements at Port Arthur and |
Chemulpo were merely in accordance |
With plans long matured. AS soon as
our forces are landed in Corea l look
or an important fleet action at Port
Arthur. The Russian vessels are not |
likely to give up the advantage they
'ained by being Under the cover Of their !