Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-09

st. Petersburg, April 7. - The cor.
respondent OF the Verstchny Vestnik
states that many who were slightly
wounded in the first bombardment of
Port Arthur have died as the result OF
the Japanese shells.
viii Evacuate Dainy Hospital.
He notes that many of the enemy's
projectiles fell in or near the hospital
and adds that 1t has been determined
to evacuate the city hospital at Dalny,
If that place Is bombarded because OF
the unwillingness to trust to the hu.
manity of the Japanese.
Japanese Fire Ships Raised.
A dispatch from Port Arthur says
that three of the japanese fire ships
sunk in the attempt to block the har-
Dor, have been raised and towed into
the harbor where they are being arm
ed with rapid fire guns for service
against the enemy.
1t Is reported that there Is a lack of
locomotives and other rolling stock
for the Chinese eastern railroad. Vice
roy Alexieff, while returning to Muk-
den, experienced delay in consequence
of hot boxes and noted the slow trans
insufficient fuel and absence Of facili-
ties for providing water also hinder
effective service.
Russian Forts Not Effective.
Toxic. April Z. - A Seoul dispatch
says the Japanese supply steamers
are safely entering the estuary Of the
Yalu river ans are landing their car.
goes at various points on the Corean
shore. 1t is presumed the movements
of the steamers is covered by japanese
gunboats. If this is true the Russian
forts erected upon the Chinese side OF
the Yalu are evidently not effective.
Japs Have Seven squadrons.
Seoul, April IA Japanese sailor
who took part in the attacks on Port
Arthur said yesterday that the Japan
ese fleet is divided into seven squad
rons, four of which are engaged in
watching Port Arthur, a fifth in pa
trolling the Corean coast, and the sixth
and seventh in cruising between north
ern Japan and Vladivostok.
The torpedo boats we're much dam.
aged in the recent engagements, but
otherwise the fleet was little injured.
The damages to the Japanese cruisers
Iwate and Yoshino have been repaired,
and the vessels have joined the fleet.
Russians Patrol Coast.
Russian warships are patrolling the
gulf of Pe-Chee-Lee.
Paul Lessar, Russian minister to
China, it was learned here yesterday
has protested to the Chinese govern
ment against the presence of Japanese
instructors with the Chinese army
which he regards as a violation of neu
trality.
War Costs Japan $5oo,ooo,ooo.
San Francisco, Cal, April 7.-Baror
Masono Matsudurai of the Japanese
House of Peers arrived on the steamer
Corea yesterday. He is member OF
the conservative party of Japan, and
was for many years vice minister Of
home affairs.
"Thus far the war has cost Japan
$500,000,000," said the baron.
Port Arthur Blocked.
1.-THE entrance to Port Arthur is
now practically blocked, and Japar
will soon be in command of the Rus
sian stronghold. There is room fol
but one ship to pass out Of the harbol
at time. The operations at Port Ar
thur have been rather expensive, but
we do not care for that as long as we
are successful. The Japanese intend
to force the surrender of Port Arthur
in a short time by combined attack
of land and sea forces. We have &
large force in the latter place, and
we hope to have an equally large force
in Manchuria.
"Our cavalry is not the weak point
in our army. On the contrary, / con
slider 1t equal to that of Russia, anc
the few engagements which have tax
en- place with the Cossacks show the
truth of this statement"