The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-02-12


boats destroyed three large Russian
warships off Port Arthur. Thereafter
Adm. Togo's fleet of is warships en-.
gagged the entire Russian fleet remain
ing off the port The consul was m
able to give the result of the main en-
gagement, but said when the steam
ship Columbia passed the scene of ac-
ton all Of the Japanese warships were
preserving their alignment and fight
ing vigorously and steadily and appar-
emily uninjured The newspapers
here published extra editions contain
ing news Of the battle and produced
the first popular demonstration of the
war. Flags were raised everywhere
and excited crowds thronged the
streets. Later in the day came a ca
blegram from Paris saying that Vice
roy Alexieff had reported to st. Peters
burg that three ships had been injured
by a torpedo attack.
Japan seized Masampho Sunday and
dispatched heavy force there. ia
pan will fortify the port and establish
a naval and military base there. Mas
ampho is an exceedingly important
point as it controls the Corean chan
mel, and is an excellent base for future
operations
A formal declaration of war was ex-
pected Wednesday night. The procla-
nation has been prepared and APPROX
ed by the cabinet Foreign Minister
Komura has gone to the palace to Sc
cure the emperor's approval.
The mikado is personally superin-
tending affairs, and the cabinet holds
daily sessions. The government has
issued orders for the protection of all
Russian subjects residing in Japan.
Baron Kanallo and Baron Sukemat-
su have been sent to the United States
and Great Britain to explain Japans
position and attitude in the present
conflict
The Japanese have captured at least
five Russian commercial steamers, in
Guiding the Ekaterintoslav, Moukden,
Russia, Argun and Alexander They
were captured by the Japanese in Co
rean and adjacent waters at various
times since Saturday by small cruis-
ers. Some of the steamers are rich
prizes. The small steamer Koeik is
detained at Yokohama, it's status not
being clear.
London, Feb. 11.-Special dispatches
from Toxic Thursday morning an
nounce the arrival of japanese troops
at Seoul, but beyond this the dis
patches published in the newspapers
here Thursday morning add practi-
cally nothing to the knowledge of the
actual situation
The Tien-Tsin correspondent Of the
Standard sends in report that the
Russians have massacred 100 Chinese
at Lao Yang, in consequence of which
the officials at Shan Hal Kwan are
greatly alarmed and are appealing to
Picking for protection.
The correspondent of the Daily Mail
at Tien-Tsin says that Ii, the favorite
court official of the dowager empress
of China, has been decoyed away and
beheaded by orders of Yuan Shi Kai,
Communicated of the Chinese
army and navy Ii was pro-Russian
in his feelings.
The Che Foo correspondent of the
Daily Express asserts that the Rus
sian cruiser Diana was injured by
shot from the Russian shore battery
at Port Arthur and that the cruiser
Novik and the battleship Poltava have
also been beached at Port Arthur
Special dispatches from Toxic re-
port that fugitives from Vladivostock
accuse the Russians of openly looting
Japanese houses there without inter
| ference by the police.