Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-03
NEWS REACHES WASHINGTON
THAT RUSSIANS HAVE BEEN
DEFEATED.
JAPS SWARMING
ACROSS YALU RIVER
St. Petersburg Authorities Have No
News From That Point - Admiral
Yemen Makes No Report and vIadi-
vostok Is Supposed To Be Quiet.

Washington, April 3o.-Reports have
reached the state department from
sources which the officials do not care
to divulge to the effect that great
battle has been fought on the YaIu
river, resulting In complete Japanese
victory. Details are understandable.
kaupang UT TIE, Manchuria, April
3o.-The first battle of the war is posi-
lively reported to have occurred on the
YaIu river. Sixteen thousand Japan.
ese crossed the stream Thursday and
attacked 10000 Russians who were
strongly fortified.
1t is runnored this morning that the
Japanese were reinforced and that the
battle still continues. Japanese sharp
shooters killed many Russian officers
whose uniforms were conspicuous.
st. Petersburg, April 3O.-The alb.
sence of kilograms from Admiral Yes
zen this morning is regarded by the
admiralty as proof that the Japanese
have not attempted to lombard Vladi-
vostok.
ST. Petersburg, April 30-The JAP
anese troops are still concentrating in
the neighborhood of the Yalu river but
nothing particular has thus far been
reported here.
.-.f..
Toxic, April 80. - Admiral Hosoya
commanding the third squadron, re-
ports that on the morning of April %
his gunboats fired on the enemy at
the mouth OF the Yalu river but the
Russians did not reply. Later, a flo
tilla of small ships armed with cannon
opened fire on $50 of the enemy at
Sandoroto and the latter returned to
the mountains aleaying many wound
ed. The Japanese had no casualties.
Missionaries Lend Color to Report.
Shan Hale, Kewana, April 30.-The
reports of big battle on the Yalu riv-
er have been given considerable sub
sanitation by information brought in
by four Danish missionaries who have
just arrived from New Chwang. When
the missionaries left An Tung ten days
ago, the Russians in that vicinity num-
bered 10000 men and occupied strong
ly fortified positions between An Tung
and the All river. which empties into
the Yalu river about twenty miles
northeast Of An Tung.
There were also small Russian
forces at Hsu Yen and Feng Huan
Cheng, where bases had been estab-
lished.
Cassini Writes of the War.
New York, April 30-Count Cas-
SIM, the Russian ambassador, contrib.
utes to the forthcoming number of the
North American Review an article in
Which, under the caption of Russia
and the Far East" he makes a state.
ment of his governments position. AT.
ter briefly outlining the negotiations
which preceded the outbreak of hostili.
ties, the ambassador says:
Was Not Prepared.
Russia has never ceased to wonder
anxious to make war with Japan be.
came so generally prevalent in the
United States. Prejudiced minds who
| hHSW HOlulueo uSyOlu SupeTuCldl
knowledge of the governments actions
preceding the unexpected and dishon
orable attack upon our fleet at Port
Arthur, may not believe the statement
that Russia hoped for and tried tc
maintain peace but have no hesita
ton in making it. If proof of the
assertion be demanded. it lies in the
simple but uncontradicted answer
Russia was not prepared. For the per
sonal representative of the Russian
emperor to make an admission seem
ingly SO humiliating to national pride
may appear strange and remarkable to
the people of the United States, but i,
is made with full appreciation of its
importance and significance repeat
that Russia was not prepared for war
In her faith that the negotiations with
Japan were being conducted by botf
parties with the object of reaching al
amicable and honorable adjustment o.
their differences, she was not con
scious that the outcome was to be 9th
er than peaceful"