Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-18
JAPANESE
SWEEP THE SEA.
PORT ARTHUR SHELTERS GRIP
PIED RUSSIAN SQUADRON.

/ FOhI An HUN S1G u Eno ONiF
PIED RUSSIAN SQUADRON.
Japanese Have Dealt Their Enemy's
Navy Two Staggering Blows Rus
sian Cruisers Sink q Merchantmen
Two Russian Ships Accidentally
Destroyed--Japanes Army in Full
Control Of corea--No Land Battles
Yet--Powers Accept Hays Plan
Respecting China.
There Is plenty of newspaper news from
the seat of the Russo japanese war. Every
day scare heads announce the accomplish
ment of some thrilling feat by the Japa-
nese, or a bloody repulse by the Russians
Usually, nothing further is heard OF the
affair-it is not confirmed and must be set
aside as fiction. This is largely the result
of the strict censorship that both the Rus
sian and Japanese authorities are Keeping
over all telegraphic messages sent out.
Up to date, only three encounters have
taken place, so far as official reports show,
between the eombatants-all at sea, as fol-
lows:-
Feb. s-9-Japanese fleet ofsixteen vessels
attacked the Russian squadron outside
Port Arthur. japanese torpedo boats
seriously damaged the Russian battleships
Czarevitch and Retvizan and cruiser Pal
lada during the night so that all three had
to be beached near the mouth OF the har-
Dor. Next day the japanese engaged the
remainder Of the feet, disabling the battle
ship Poltava and several cruisers by shell
fire. The Russian vessels withdrew within
the harbor, after which the japanese heet
a Ia nhf nf-
fered no serious damage. They lost hve
killed and about 80 wounded.
Feb. 9-Five japanese cruisers overeame
the Russian cruiser Nariag and gunboat
Korietz at Chumulpo, catching them with
in the harbor. The Nariag was sunk and
the Korietz blown up. Both made heroic
fight, losing fully half their crews, but in
ficted no damage on the japanese.
Feb. 11-Four Russian cruisers from
Vladivostock fired on two small Japanese
merchant ships passing between two OF
the northern Japan islands, sinking one
OF them, it is said with all on board,
while the other escaped.
The Port Arthur and Chemulpo engage
ments have left Japan with manifest
naval superiority, which was further in
creased by the safe arrival at Yokosuka
Tuesday OF the cruisers Nisshin and
Kasuga. purchased in Italy just before
war broke out. The Russians have naval
reinforcements en- route, but as the Japs
control the sea it is unlikely that they viii
ever Join the squadron at Port Arthur or
Nladivostock.
The Russians have met with two serious
accidents at Port Arthur by the blowing
up first OF the torpedo transport Nenesei
with "a men. and few days later pre-
cisely similar accident by which the cruiser
Boyarin with 1877 men was lost. II is sup
posed these vessels were planting mines 10
defend Port Arthur, and that the explo-
sions were accidental.
A heavy movement OF japanese troops
into Corea is taking place. This is so far
unopposed, as the Russian forces are not
thought to be south of the Yalu river. Re
ports OF the presence of Japanese land
forces in the vicinity OF Port Arthur are
so far uneonhrmed. There are said to be
between 100, ,0OC and 200, 900 Russian soldiers
in Manchuria. A clash between these
land forces is expected at any time.
The Japanese successes are received with
great enthusiasm at Toxic, the city beng
bedecked with flags and bunting in honor
OF Admiral Togo's victory at Port Arthur
and Admiral Uriu's triumph at Chemulpo.
In Russia, there is a determination to
avenge the defeats, but the war does not
seem to be popular with the masses.
Secretary Hay has met with success in
his effort to secure a joint agreement be-
tween all the leading powers, both the bel
ligerents and neutrals, to contine the war
to limited field and to respect the neu-
trality of China, as well as its entity when
the war is over. All the neutrals have
given their assent, Japan is willing II Rus
sia will agree, and Russia replies that the
scheme appears practical. II IS not
thought that Manchuria will be consid-
cred as a part of China, so far as this agree
ment affects it.