Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1904-04-21

st. Petersburg, April 16. - Rumors
are current that Vice Admiral Togo
sent In a number of steamers on the
night of March 81 and succeeded in
sinking several of them and in block
ing the channel at Port Arthur. The
rumors cannot be confirmed at this
hour.
(The date referred to by the cor
respondent in the foregoing dispatch
March 81, probably is according to the
old style calendar, by which the event
would have taken place on April 49,
according to the new style calendar.)
Bad Blow for Russia.
st. Petersburg, April Officially
1t Is announced now that the blow
which the Japanese struck at Port
Arthur early Wednesday morning was
far heavier than was at first pub
lished or perhaps known here.
The battleship Petropavlovsk sum-
in two and one-halfl minutes. Not
only Admiral Makaroff, but all his
staff, lost their lives, some dozen
high officers, including Rear Admiral
Molas, of staff, and between 700 and
800 men.
The battleship Pobleda (Victory)
Struck a mine," but she was able to
make port. She is damaged below
the water line.
Another Warship Sunk.
The torpedo boat destroyer Besz-
trachni was sunk with forty-ive Off
GERS and men at least. Only five were
saved.
Besides, it is reported officially
that the armored cruiser Bayan was
struck during the engagement with
Admiral Togo's fleet and seriously
damaged.
The Port Arthur fleet is reduced to
strictly defensive basis.
Rear Admiral Prince Ouktomsky
telegraphed from Port Arthur yester-
day that the Besztrachni was sent
during Tuesday night to reconnoiter.
She became separated from her four
consorts in the bad weather prevail
ing at daylight and tried to creep
along the coast, but she was surroun-
ded by Japanese torpedo boat de-
strOyers and sund.
Give Japs the Credit.
London, April 16.-The correspon-
dent of the Daily Express at Chefu
telegraphs:
There is every indication from re-
ports which have been received that
the sinking of the Petropavlovsk was
directly due to the Japanese attack.
The report that the vessel struck a
hidden or floating mine is discredited,
for the Russian fleet made sorties
over the same course day after day
without meeting mishap."
Russian Official Version.
st. Petersburg, April 16.-The Asso-
ciated Press has obtained what is
the official version of the
sinking of the battleship Petropav-
lovsk at Port Arthur, an dit clears up
to great extent the mysterious fea-
lures of that vessels destruction.
This version follows:
Retiring before the advance of a
superior force which was not fighting
it's progress, the Russian squadron ap-
preached the entrance to the harbor.
1t was shortly after 8 o'clock in the
and most of the officers and
members of the crew were at break
fast on the flagship. Vice Admiral
Makaroff Was Eating
breakfast in his cabin and the ward
room was crowded with officers sur
the tables. On the bridge
Grand Duke Cyrin, his friend, Lieut.
Won Kobe, Capt. Jakovleff, command
ing the vessel, and two other officers
were on watch examining the narrow
entrance preparatory to entering it.
At about $3.50 o'clock there was
terrific explosion of the boilers, fol-
lowed a few seconds later by de-
from the well-stored maya
zines.
Huge gaps were torn in the hull of
the ship and the water rushed in.
The center of gravity being gone, the
ship rolled on it's side and sank.
Mine Was Responsible.
All information tends to prove that
a mine was responsible for the de-
struction Of the vessel.
The explosion sent Grand Duke
Cyril flying across the bridge and the
base of his skull struck on an iron
but he did not lose con-
seriousness. Believing that the ship
was about to sink he clambered hasti-
~ down it's side and plunged into the
water. He reached a piece Of wreck