The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-08-25
The War.

protected cruisers Chitose and Tsush-
ina, the greyhounds of the Japanese
navy, the feet Russi ian, cruiser have been
vanquished. The fight occurred, Natur.
day After 1t the Novik in a sinking
condition, was run ashore in Korsakovsk
harbor on the Island of Sakhaien.
The Japanese troops occupied Ansha-
chan, Friday, and the Russians have re-
treated toward Mukden.
The Chefoo correspondent Of the Lon
don Times asserts that China has yielded
to the Russian demands and will grant
compensation for the Ryeshiteini affair
as well as degrade the local taotai and
the Chinese admiral. The correspond.
ent says that an American warship is
ready to land marines should trouble
arise
Two Japanese cruisers have sunk
the Russian cruiser Novik off the island
of Sekhetin, on the Siberian coast, 400
miles north of Vladivostok
The United States fleet took vigor-
Gus action at Shanghai to prevent fight
ing in the harbor, by anchoring the de.
stroyer Chauncey between Jap de-
stoyer, which entered cleared for action,
and the Russian cruiser Asked The
navy department at Washington denied
that the U. 5. Warships at shanhai had
instructions to assist in the protection
of the neutrality of China. 1t is stated
that the Russian ships at Shanghai will
dsarm as it would be suicidal to send
them out against a superior force of
Japanese lying inIwait for them.
Japan has officially notified Great
Britain that she does not propose to give
up the Russian torpedo destroyer Rye
shitlni captured in the harbor of Che
Foo, Aug. 18th.
The report that Gen. Stoessel, the
Russian commander at Port Arthur de-
clned to capitulate in response to the
Japanese summons creates no surprise
at st. Petersburg. The war Office would
have been amazed If he had yielded.
1t becomes more and more probable
that Russia will meet the views of the
United states and Great Britain regard
ing foodstutfs as contraband of war by
agreeing that foodstuffs bound 10 a bel
lgerents unblockaded port and con-
signed to private firms or individuals,
when the ships papers leave no room
for suspicion, be not regarded as contra
band.
A Russian guuboat of the Otvajni type
struck a mine and sank off Laoti prom
ontory, the extreme southern point of
the Kwangtung peninsular, ION which
Port Arthur is situated). at o'clock.
Thursday night. The Otvajni is an
armored gunboat of 1900 tons displace-
ment She carried a crew of l42 men.
The Japanese plan of campaign, in
Guiding the attack upon Lao Yang, has
apparently been deranged by the unex-
pectedly stubborn resistance at Port
Arthur. General Kuroki's army has
been withdrawn to the south of the
Tatze river, and only outposts are near
the river japanese troops under Gen
eIal Ukashi are reported to be in the
Lao river valley.
ut is rumored that the Mikado has
recalled General Nog and has ordered
of the general staff at tokyo, to assume
command of the besiegers at Port Ar
thur"
Reports that General kuropatkin is
about 10 make an important move con-
tinue to be circulated, but the character
of the move is not limited at.
AS the reports from the front agree
that the rams have ceased and that the
roads are drying a, resumption of mill.
tary activity is expected
The correspondent of the London
Times at Shanghai in dispatch
dated August "a. 1855 p m. says
that orders from Emperor Nichi-
las have been conveyed to Captain
Reitzenstein commandier him forth
with 10 disarm the cruiser Askold and
the torpedo boat destroyer Grozovi and
that 1.-THE flags on both vessels were
lowered at O'clock tn at night"
From Toxic it is reported that the
final assault on Port Arthur is imminent.
Hundreds of Japanese guns continue to
pour destructive fire into the city and
haI Dor, along the lines of forts and en-
trenehments, preparatory for the intan
try assault 1t is evident that the Rus
sian lines have been weakened and
partly penetrated in the vicinity of
Autzshan and Itzhan forts The entire
line of Russian defepces medately
about the harbor are within range of
the Japanese guns.