Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-22
RUSSIA MEETS DEFEAT.
Reports Of japanese Victories on Bott
Land .x,I &C..

! Reports of japanese Victories on Both
Land and Sea.
| Ihree Russian armored cruisers, the
| Ross+a, Gromoyoi and Rurik. of the
| Nladiyostok squadron, have been cap
tured by the Japanese feet under Al
| iniral Kamimura after running fight
| of two days in the Korean straits. ac-
cording to cablegram from Toxic via
the Cologne Gazette
The three Russian cruisers we're re-
ported in a terrific battle off Tsu Isl
and, their escape into the outer sea
; having been cut off According TO dis
patches from Nagasaki the Russians
were pursued north by four japanese
cruisers from Admiral Togo's fleet,
ard as they were approaching the
straits leading TO the open sea three
other japanese warships appeared
from the north, thus preventing theii
escape.
Russian power on the sea in the far
East is practically destroyed if this re
port is true The Rossia. Rurik and
Gromovoi are first-class armored cruis-
ers.
All doubt as to the sinking of the
transports Hitachi and Sado by the
Russians has been removed. Three
hundred and ninety-seven survivors of
the HItachi arrived at Moi and 1853
survivors of the Sado have arrived at
Kokura. Details OF the destruction of
the transports and the number of the
casualties are not obtainable.
1t was rumored at st. Petersburg
Thursday that General Stackelberg
had sustained a disastrous defeat at
Vafangan. The battle at Nafangan,
north of Port arthur, wa in progress
for three days. Losses Oh the Russian
side-more than 300 TueSday-show
that the fighting was of desperate
character. and General Kuropatkins
report proves that both armies are de-
termined TO force matters to an issue.
Operations leading up to the battle
of Nafangan date back TO June IL,
when two Japanese divisions. one COM
manded by General NOZu, advanced
from the Pulantien-Pi tsewo line, prob
ably prompted by intelligence that the
Russians We're receiving reinforce
ments. A sharp skirmish took place
the night of June II at the Village of
Oudiaden. five miles west of the rail-
road and seven miles south of Wa
fangtien, and another sklrmish occur
red on the heights near the Village of
Lidiatun, ten miles east of 0udiaden.
The japanese were repulsed. but the
Russian advance posts retired. June
13 two Japanese divisions were five
miles north of the scene of the Skin
mish. their left wing resting on the
Village of Vafangan and their right
on the Valley of the Tassa. which
flows parallel with the railroad. going
into the sea ten miles south of Pitse-
wo. After days rest the energy adj
vanced fifteen miles June IA and at
tackled the left of the Russian position
four miles south of~Nafangan. The
Russians had the best of the first days
fight, annihilating a japanese cavalry
squadron and taking some prisoners
Wednesdays battle extended over
rough country. where artillery was
very effective. The Russian lines ex-
tended between the villages of Ian
chau, near the railroad, and Fafan-
vopen. The japanese We're between
Tafanchau and Hunchau. Stacked
berg's reserves were held at Sisan, a
short distance from the Nafangau sta
ton. The japanese reserves were
south of Tafanchau. General Nozu's
artillery began the day by Smelling the
Russian right, while his sharpshooters
were busy with the other wing. Stack
elberg was not certain whence the
main attack would be delivered, and
sent out cavalry TO the heights Of Ian
chau to reconnoiter. Having ascertain
ed that the enemy was not moving in
that quarter he attacked the japanese
center and left to drive the enemy
against the railroad. The Japanese
countered by moving up reserves in an
effort to TIN the Russian right.