The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-08-19
THE WAR.

The events of the past week or ten
days have been very disastrous to the
Russians in the war. At Port Arthur the
laps have been working in closer and
closer to the doomed city until their
seige guns would reach over the city to
the harbor and strike the Russian battle
ships anchored there. There was no
other way to save the Russian fleet than
to make dash to the open sea through
the Japanese fleet. This was tried, with
most disastrous results to the Russians.
One ship was totally disabled .and lust
managed to reach Chinese port, from
which, even if possible to repair her, she
can not issue again as fighting ship
during the present war, owing to inter-
national law. The other vessels that es-
capped are but little better off and their
whereabouts is not definitely known, but
it is supposed that four or five of them
went back to Port Arthur. In the mean
time, probably by pre-arrangament, the
Vladivostock fleet also came out and
started south. with the probable design
of uniting with the Port Arthur feet,
the latter succeeded in getting away. A
second Japanese fleet got after them,
sunk one battleshp and damaged the
others very seriously aud now they are
scattered in various directions. The de-
tails of the present positions of the two
Russian fleets are somewhat uncertain at
this writing, but enough is known that it
is certain that the Russian fleet, which at
the beginning of the war was nearly eq-
ual in strength to that of the Japs, is now
but weak remnant, incapable OF doing
any serious harm to anybody.
Beyond the mere loss of the fleet of
war ships at Port Arthur, the desperate
sally to the sea. portends without shad-
ow of doubt, that the end OF the siege of
that city is matter OF the near future.
The taking Of Port Arthur in its turn
will do much to bring about the finish OF
Gen. kuropatkin's army which is a hun
dred or more miles north. The Japan
ese have by flanking movements and
fighting during the last two months fore
ed the Russian army to grodually fall
back about a hundred miles towards
Mukden on the line of railway leading
from Port Arthur to the north. Here
the Russians have strong forti6calions
and are evidently making last stand.
Meantime the laps have been bringing
reinf.rcements until they now have the
Russians surrounded on three sides and
are endeavoring to push their lines still
farther north SD as TO cut in behind the
Russians. II they succeed in this, Kuro-
patkln must either retreat again or tight
a decisive battle. If Port Arthur should
iall wlt.lln. "a lew days it will release
another largs body Of japanese soldiers
who wonld be hurried to- the front os Ku-
ropatkin's army and help the rest OF the
army to extend their lines 70 his rear.
thus it looks as il the first volume ofI
the war has about fRishsd its history. So |
far. Japan has had an uninterrupted
ofssuccs from The bsgiuning. Mtheirl
success inStle past is 4 measure of the
iltare, the Russians sRe licked Bat
Russia IS q great country Ii thes success
sosIlr ss,ad bsen ,heio other way We could
s,y "a ,titiie nearly pro ophesy TIE finish,
ior Jan would have but little lsits lo
SS4 n sss