River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-02-25
GEAR MAY LEAD
RUSSIAN ARMY
RULER SAID TO CONTEMPLATE
TAKING COMMAND.
MAY GO TO FRONT IN SPRING
Cannonading Heard on japanese
Coast-Decisive Battle Expected
in the Yalu Valley in
Short Time.

Short Time.
Rome, Feb. 22.-According to the
AgenZia Liberia the car will go to the
far east at the commencement of spring
and take command of the army.
Cannonading Heard.
Toxic, Feb. ga telegram from Mat
suye reports that cannonading was heard
Saturday morning off Shimonoseki, in
the north of Shimonoseki peninsula. The
Shimonoseh peninsula lies midway be-
tween Toxic and Nagasaki, near the
Corean straits. The principal cities are
Kobe and Osaka.
The japanese steamer Tamagawa
Yaru, when she arrived at Shimonoseki,
reported that she was followed seven
miles off Fusan by four warships The
latter abandoned the chase near Tsus-
hima island
Nothing Serious Reported.
Port Arthur, Feb. 22.-Sounds of des-
ultory firing at sea are heard almost
nightly, and Sunday morning firing was
again heard. This is doubtless due to
the attempted approach of Japanese tor
pedo boats, but nothing serious has de-
veloped. The garrison is in excellent
spirits and is firmly convinced of the
Decisive Battle Expected.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 22.-The latest
news from the far east, which is notable
for it's scarcity, tells that decisive bat
lie ON the Yalu is anticipated. All tele-
graphic lines between Corea and Japan
are entirely in the hands of the latter's
military authorities.
Chased by Russians.
Alden, Feb 22.-The Peninsula and
Oriental company's steamer Mongolia
encountered on Saturday, 460 miles
north of Alden, Russian battleship and
four torpedo boat destroyers After the
vain attempt of a destroyer to cut off the
Mongolia all the warships gave chase,
but being unable to overtake her they
signalled her to stop. The Mongolia
obeyed and destroyer, after a close
scrutiny, signalled BEG to be excused. -
The fleet is evidently hoping to capture
Japanese ships.
Ordered to Leave Shanghai.
Shanghai, Feb. 22.--Urged by the
Japanese consul here the taotai ordered
the Russian gunboat Mandjur to leave the
harbor before five o'clock Sunday after
noon, but the order was ignored. 1t is
said that a Japanese squadron has been
ordered to enforce the taotais demand
and to enable Japan steamship COM
panies to resume service between Japan
and Shanghai.
Kuropatkin Appointed.
st. Petersburg, Feb 22.-The appoint
ment of Gen. Kuropatkin, who was on
minister of war, to the chief command
of the Russian army in the far east was
gazetted Sunday morning. The appoint
ment of Gen. Kuropatkin to direct COM
mand in the field has been received with
enthusiasm and his leadership inspires
complete confidence that there will be no
mistake and that Russian arms will be
carried to success on land. Gen. Kuro-
patkin will be accompanied to the front
by the Grand Dukes Boris, Alexis, Mich
CIas and Michael Nikolaievich.
Russian Cruisers Sighted.
London, Feb. ga Russian squad
ron of four warships is in the Corean
straits and a naval battle off Fusan is
believed to have been fought.
The Russian warships referred 10 may
be those of the Vladivostocl fleet or four
cruisers which eluded the blockade at
Port Arthur Unless they can be stopped
by a superior Japanese naval force they
are in a position to do an immense
amount of damage to japanese shipping
Cossacks Capture japanese.
ST. Petersburg, Feb. pa dispatch
from Port Arthur Saturday says the
first land encounter occurred Friday.
A picket of Cossacks attacked small
detachment of Japanese troops on
Corean territory. The Cossacks cap
tured some Japanese prisoners, on
whom they found maps and papers.
The collision was presumably be-
tween accommodating parties. A gen.
eral engagement is not anticipated. A
special Port Arthur dispatch says the
Japanese fleet was observed February
Is cruising off that port.
Sensational Story Denied.
With reference to the sensational
stories of disaster to Russian troops
at Lake Baikal Zone report saying that
three regiments were drowned while
attempting to cross the ice-covered
lake, it is explained that the trans-Bai
kal line was blocked at the Baikal sta
ton during the night of February 18
by an avalanche of snow which fell
from a neighboring mountain. A train
having troops on board dashed into the
obstruction, the locomotive was de-
rallied, and in the succeeding five cars
one soldier was killed, five severely
hurt and IA were slightly hurt. Traf-
fic was expected to be resumed the fol-
lowing day.
Says Reports Are Untrue.
Toxic, Feb 22.-The reports from va
rious quarters saying that Admiral To
COS fleet was partly crippled in the OPP
erations at Port Arthur, are unfounded.
1t has been unnecessary TO send single
large ship to Sasebo for repairs. Two
torpedo boat destroyers have been dam
aged. but not in fighting. The Akebono
in attempting to coal from collier dur
li1-