The Tomahawk., 1904-02-19
Three of Cars Transports with
1900 Troops on Board Re-
ported Captured.
Rombardment of Fleet and Forts at
Port Arthur Said to Have
Been Renewed.
y1atfvoStolx Dispatch Reports Rout
of Japanese on Yaln RfVer-Hus-
slams Claim Victory.

slams Claim Victory.
London, Feb. 11-Baron Hayashi,
the japanese minister here, has received
official confirmation from Toxic OF the
destruction at Chemulpo of the Russian
first-class cruiser Variag and the third
class Cruiser Korietz.
The text of the official dispatch re-
ceived by Baron Hayashi is as follows:
'.On Monday Japanese squadron es-
corting transports net on the way to
Chemulpo, Corea, the Russian gunboat
Korietz, as the latter was coming out
Of port The KorietZ took UP an Of
fensive attitude towards the japanese
vessels and fired On the Japanese tor
pedo boats. The latter discharged two
torpedoes ineffectively, and then the
Korietz returned to her anchorage IN
the port.
Early in the morning of Tuesday Ad-
miral Urik, commanding the Japanese
squadron, formally called on the Rus
sian warships to leave Chemulpo be-
fore noon. The admiral added that II
his demand was not complied with, he
would be compelled to attack them in
the harbor. The two Russian Warships
left the port at 1870 a. m, and battle
resulted outside the Polynesian islands.
After about an hours engagement, the
Russian warships sought refuge among
the islands. Towards the evening the
Russian cruiser Variag sank, and at
about four a. m. to-day, February 10, the
Korietz was reported to have also sunk,
having been blown up. The officers and
men of the two sunken vessels sought
refuge Oh the French cruiser Pascal.
There were no casualties on the Japan
ese side'' .
Three Transports Captured.
A special dispatch from Toxic says
that the japanese have captured there
Russian transports having on board
1000 troops.
Bomba rdment Renewed.
A dispatch from Port Arthur says
the Japanese fleet returned there Tues
day afternoon and again bombarded the
Russian fleet and forts, but that it soon
withdrew. The losses to the Russians,
the dispatch says, was small. During
he firing a Japanese cruiser grounded.
Russian Victory Discredited.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 11.-Some of the
newspapers here print extras claiming
Russian victory at Port Arthur Three
Japanese warships and four torpedo
boats are reported to have been seri-
ously crippled. One report says the jap
anese battleship Shikishima was sunk.
The people are demonstrating, but there
is no official confirmation of the report
and the announcement is discredited.
Report Rout of Japanese.
Vladivostok, Feb. 11.-Private tele-
grams received here report the complete
rout of the Japanese by the Russians on
the Yalu river. These advices also claim
that Chemulpo, Corea, has been occupied
by Russian soldiers and marines.
Formal Declaration of War;.
Washington, Feb. 11.-Count Cas-
sini, the Russian ambassador, called
on Secretary Hay about noon Wednes-
day and left with him the announce
ment of the czar declaring war on
Japan.
This action is said at the state de-
partment to constitute formal declar-
alton of war. 1t is now for the presi-
dent to determine whether he will is
sue neutrality proclamation. The
counts communication with the de-
partment was in writing. It was a
dispatch from the Russian foreign o.
fee to the ambassador and was couched
in French, being substantially as fol-
lows:
During the night of February s, a
detachment of Japanese torpedo boats
unexpectedly attacked the Russian
squadron lying at anchor in the outer
roadstead of Port Arthur. This attack
being the beginning of military prep
arations, obliges the imperial govern
ment to take immediate measures to
reply by armed force to the challenge
issued against Russia. Be good enough
to inform the government of the
United States"
There was no discussion between
the ambassador and Secretary Hay of
the state departments proposition to
the powers looking to the neutraliza-
ton of China. The department., how
ever, is satisfied, though upon wha:
ground cannot be learned, that Russia
is not disposed at this stage to oppose
the execution of its plans. Some an
swers already have been received to
Secretary Hays note, but it is not yet
deemed proper to make them public
or even the text of the note itself. 1t
is not doubted that the proposition
meets with approval by the powers.
1t practically is admitted that its ef-