The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-27
SIX JAPANESE
ships ARE sunk
FOUR BATTLEsHIPs AND TWO
TRANSPORTS DESTROYED
BY RUSSIANS.
A FRESH ATTACK ON
PORT ARTHUR REFUSED
Heavy Firing Heard Off Corean Coast
News Of Destruction of Ships Dis
. credited by Mikado's Minister at
Washington.


ST. Petersburg Feb. 25.-It is officially
announced from Port Arthur that four
japanese battIeships and two Japanese
transports have been sunk in fresh at
tack on Port Arthur. The attack was
repulsed.
Paris, Feb. ga dispatch to the
Ravas agency from Port Arthur says
that four japanese cruisers and two jap
anese transports have been sunk in a
fresh attack on Port Arthur. The dis
/, patch adds that the attack was repulsed
and that the Russian battleship Ret
yizan covered herself with glory.
| Report Discredited.
Washington, Feb. 25.-The japanese
/ legation here discredits the reports of
| the sinking Of four japanese warships
and two transports at Port Arthur. At
tention is called to the fact that both
Of the reports to that effect emanate
from Russian sources and therefore
should be accepted with caution. Fur
thermore, the reference to the partici-
! patton Of the RetNiEan in the fighting
and the reported sinking Of transports
are both regarded as casting suspicion
upon the story. The Retvizan is under
/ stood to be in condition uniting her
| for battle for many months, while the
presence of transports at Port Arthur
cannot be explained. in view of the re-
peated statements that Japan did not
intend to land troops on the Liaotung
peninsula at this stage and the trans
ports could be there for no other rea-
son. No official advices have reached
the legation regarding the matter.
Togo Leaves Port Arthur.
Wei-Hai-Wei, Feb. 25.-Four Japan
ese battleships and nine cruisers passed
this port Tuesday. bound eastward.
London, Feb. 25.-The fleet which
passed Wei-Hai-Wei Tuesday is sup
posed to have been Admiral Togos fleet
leaving Port Arthur.
Heavy Firing Heard.
Chefoo, Feb. 25-The steamer Gov
erneur Jaeschi, while passing Port Ar
thur at three o'clock Wednesday morn
ing, heard heavy firing in that direction.
There is persistent rumor abroad that
several Japanese warships have been
disabled, but so far it is unconfrmed.
Another steamer passing Dalny about
the same time that the Governor
Jaeschi was off Port Arthur, reports that
she heard no firing. Thirteen Japanese
warships are said to have passed Wei
Hai-Wei Wednesday,, heading east.
There were 16 ships in the original fleet.
Russia Makes a Protest.
Washington, Feb. 25.-Promptly at
noon Wednesday Count Cassini, the
Russian ambassador, handed Secretary
Hay Russia's CONE unication to the
powers, protesting against Japan's al
legged violation of international laws.
The conference between the secretary
and ambassador lasted an hour.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 25.-The Russian
government believes deep impression
has been made on international SYM
pathies by the note on the subject Of
Japan's alleged violation of the law Of
nations, sent to the Russian ambassa-
, doris Monday. The government lays
special stress on the japanese action at
J Chemulpo, where, it is pointed out, the
Japanese seized and cut the commune
cations in order to prevent M. Pavloff,
the Russian minister, and the Russian
warships Variag and Korietz, from re-
ceiving news Of the rupture of diplo-
matte relations, and then pounced upon
the ships with a greatly superior force
Russia contends that this action places
Japan outside the pale of civilized ma
tons and that it smacks so much of bar
barism that it must offend the chivalric
sense of civilized fair play.
Have Not Crossed River.
Toxic, Feb. 25.-Reliable reports from
. northern Corea indicate that the Rus
; slams have not yet crossed the Yalu riv-
. err Their scouts have, it is rumored,
. penetrated into the country south Of
; Wiju, but the main force still remains
north of the river. The Japanese seem
to be confident that the Russians are I'M
. attempt a movement into Corea The
Russian strength north of the Yau is
variously estimated from 10000 to 49,
O00
st. Petersburg, Feb. 25.-The newspa-
pers OF Port Arthur dated February 4
reached st, Petersburg Tuesday, indicat-
ing that they were less than three weeks
In transit. Troop trains probably re-
quire a longer time, on account of the
: difficulties at Lake Baikal, where provi-
sions and troops are crossing both on
Ice trains and sledges. But the cold is