Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-16

Orders Issued to Vessels EnrOute to Far East
May Cause International Complications.
SIX HUNDRED RUSSIANS FROZEN ON MARCH
Soldiers Are Lost in Storm and Perish While
Crossing Lake Baika1.

Paris. Feb 16.-A Figaro dispatch
from St. Petersburg today says: 1t
has been decided to hold the Russian
squadron from the Mediterranean.
now in the Red sea and bound for the
far east, at JHbutil. French SOmali-
land, until further orders. Admiral
Roidestwenski, chief of the marine
staff, is going on to assume naval
command at Port Arthur.
| The stopping of the Russian squad
ron at Jibutil may lead to information
al complications, Jibutil being a neu-
| trail French port. 1t is understood
France is not likely to ask the squad
ron to leave.
600 Russians Frozen.
Berlin, Feb. 16.-A St. Petersburg
correspondent. of the Tagliche Rund
schau says COO Russian soldiers have
frozen to death while marching across
Lake Baikal, in eastern Siberia. The
correspondent adds the temporary
| railroad across the lake is not vet
completed and that large detach-
ment of troops were sent out on 22-
1t is presumed that Il part of these
troops lost their way in n snow storm
and perished.
Second Boat Strikes Mine.
st. Petersburg. Feb. 16.-The Rus
sian second class cruiser Boyarin was
blown up by a mine Feb. 13 in the
same manner as was the Russian tor
pedo transport Yenisee. She had or
board 191 officers and men, all of
which il iS understood were lost. No
details of the disaster have been given
out. but the report has been confirm
ed from a private source.
German Ship Fired On.
\ Semi-Otficial telegram dated from
headquarters of the viceroy at Port
Arthur says the German cruiser Han
sa. which had been sent to remove
German subjects from Port Arthur.
and which had on board also a num-
Der Of Russian women and children
had been fired upon by Japanese war
ships. The telegram reiterates the
statement that three japanese torpe-
do boats had Eeen sunk i'm the night
attack on Port Arthur. All was quiet
Feb. - within the sphere of war oper-
ations. z
New Boats for Japan.
Yokohama. Feb. I6.-The cruisers
Nishin and Kasuga arrived safely at
Port Nokosaka tuesday. These two
vessels were recently purchased from
Argentine Republic. and will increase
materially the preponderance of the
japanese naval strength.
Russians Leave Seoul.
Seoul. Feb. 16.-Thc Russian minis
ter and all he resident Russians leftI
the city Friday last ON Il special Jap
aneSe train. Upon it, arrival at Che
mulpo the party Immediately went on
board the French cruiser Pascal which !
has 700 Russians on board. The Pas
cal was delayed at the last moment. !
owing to objections raised by the Jap
auese authorities as to the disposition
of Russian refugees. which was con
sidered by them most unsatisfactory. |
American GunbOat Threatened.
Ningllow. Feb. 16. - Threatening
have been made |
against the British gun boat EspiegIe |
and the United States gun boat Hell
ena 10y Russian soldiers. whose as
saults upon and depredations against
other foreigners continue.
Give Japan Rights.
Seoul. Feb. 16.-The Korean govern
ment has granted Japan the right to
traverse the country. 1t * reported
japanese warships have trapped three
Russian ships at Yongampho.
Fight on YaIu River.
London. Feb. 1G.-.A disratch from
Paris SaVS that news hH.; bcrD 70. |
ceived there that the Russian and Jap. |
anese land forces are engaged in a !
general engagement on the Yalu riv- |
er, but does not state just where the |
fight is proceeding Other dispatches |
repeat yesterdays report that the Jap !
anese had tried to land at Talienwan |
and Pigeon C'DOve'D bay and in both |
cases had been defeated, explaining |
the absence Of help from the japanese |
navy by saying that the ships had |
withdrawn too far off shore to be Of /
any us thinking that there was no /
force % --ussians at either place The /
two points mentioned are opposite each |
other on the isthmus that connects the /
Liao-Tung peninsular with the main
land.
Looks Like Heavy Jap Losses,
All these fights appear TO have taken
place the middle of last week. lust aft
er the bombardment of Port Arthur by
the Japanese. Another report SAYS
that Il japanese transport has beel
SUNK with LS00 troops on board. The