The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1904-02-20

commenced by the big guns of tha
land battery. The morning WAS
dull with a light wind, and the.
heavy smoke rendered it difficult
ITO observe the details of the action.
Twenty shells fell in the western
harbor, where many vessels flying
neutral flags were anchored.
After the commencement of the
action all the people fed toward q
hill outside Of the town, under pro-
lection. A little while after the
| first she'll was fired big 12-inGh
one exploded, smashing the office
fronts of the Suenberghs- Yalu Com
cession company and the Russo.
Chinese bank.
The streets were then entirely
deserted, but the local police kept
splendid order. There was no loot
ing. Women and children were
very brave. Regiments from the
adjoining barracks came running
through the town to take up de-
Tense positions in the event Of the
Japanese landing.
The Japanese warships steamed
slowly past in line of battle to the
westward and about four miles of,
each vessel beginning to fire when
opposite Russian ships, which were
two miles off shore. The.action be-
came general. There was no ma
neuvering, simply heavy and fast
firing. The firing ceased at noon.
The Japanese ships withdrawing to
the southwark, having lost one bat-
tleship and one large cruiser put
out of action. One small boat was
chased and sunk by the Russian
Novik, which afterward received
shell at her water line, but she
reached port all right, Admiral
Stark signaling "well DONE" while
the rest of the feet cheered her ar-
rival.
Even the three Russian ships a.
ground fred during the action. Af-
ter the Czarevitch got off at high
water and was towed into basin,
where she is now being repaired.
The Pallada made her own re-
pairs and rejoined the fleet. The
Retzivan was still aground when I
left
The casualties of the Russian side
were % killed and 64 wounded,
nearly hall OF which occurred on
the Pallada and the Novik. The
Japanese fleet sailed southwark at
p. m., and all was quiet.
Toxic, Feb, 16.-The govern
ment is receiving additional circum-
stantial reports of the alleged. CRU
city of the Russians towards the
japanese refugees from Manchuria.
The japanese Consul General at
Tien-Tsin has just telegraphed the
authorities here, giving a recital of
the story told by 13 women who
have just arrived atShan Hal Kwan.
The IS women were residing at
Harbin. and started south on Feb
ruary 9, with 900 companions
One-haif of these, with the women,
reached Mukden on the 10th and
we're ordered to leave the train by
Russian soldiers, who crually abu--
sed them and detained the party,
which they finally divided, the men
being ordered to proceed to. Port
Arthur. The women were sent to
Niu Chwang, where United States
Counsul Miller provided food and
transportation for them to Shan
Hal Kwan.
The women say they saw several
japanese refugese cruelty beaten
and wounded. They say the Rus
sian soldiers robbed them of money
and jewelry.. Some of the Japanese
escaped punishment by bribing the
soldiers.
The japanese Government and
people are greatly stirred by these
reports of abuse and suffering st1s-
tanned by the refugees. They point
to their own correct attitude toward
the Russians in Japan, and denoun-
ce the Russians as barbarians.
| The sinking of the Nakonuar
| Maru and the treatment of refu-
gees is creating a feeling which be-
tokens a bitter and relentless war.
1t is improbable that the japanese
will retaliate in kind, whatever ex-
cesses the Russians commit.
The Japanese are unable to un-
derstand why the men and women
refugees from Harbin were divided.
1t is suggested that Russia sintends
to hol Id the men at Port Arthur in
the hope of avoiding lombard
ment. This, however appears ex-
!, treme1y improbable.
T.. G.. ALTMAN, M. ID.