Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-18
Will Accept American
View of COntriband
of War.
PRESSING PORTARTH
StoesseI, Though in Desperate
Straits, Refuses to
Surrender.

ST Petersburg, Aug. 1S.-It is I'M
derstood Russia will recognize the val
idity of the American and British view
differentiating between conditional
and absolute cOntraband of war. The
Russian reply will be cOuched in this
sense Specific claims on the part of
Great Britain for seizures of vessels
and cargoes will probably be reserved
for later consideration.
safe In Port.
ST. Petersburg. Aug. 1S.-It is learn
ed officially the cruisers GromOboi and
Rossia have reached Vladivostok CON
siderably damaged. The Rossia lost
two officers killed
Cruisers Are RiddIed.
St Petersburg. Aug. 1S.-An official
dispatch from VIadivostok shows ev-
cry officer on the Rossia and GrOmo-
boi was either killed or wounded. Rear
Admiral lessen narrowly escaped the
fate of Without. He was standing
on the bridge of the Rossia when it
was wrecked by a shell. The cruisers
were literally riddled, the guns and
engines being partially dismantled.
The escape of the vessels from Kami-
mura : four armOrcd cruisers is re-
garded as a wonderful piece of luck.
VIII Keep RyeshiteIni.
London. Aug 1S.-Japan has Off
cialIy notified Great Britain she does
not propose to give up the Russian
destroyer Rycshitelni. captured in the
harbor OF Chcfoo.
All Offers Refused.
Toxic. Aug 1S.-Gen. Stoessel. com
mander of Port Arthur, has refused to
surrender and has declined the offer
of the Japanese for the removal of the
non-combatants there 1t is expected
the Japanese final attack will be re-
sumed Immediately.
shells Instead of Surrender.
Che Foo. Aug 1S.-Russians and
Chinese who left Port Arthur last
night night declare the Russians began
firing at the time set for replying to
the Japanese demand.
They confirm reports that there are
seven Russian ships in Port Arthur
in addition to torpedo boats and de
stroycrs. and aver the Japanese lost
10000 men the last ten days.
Coal Lighters Burn.
London, Aug 1S.-According to the
correspondent of the Telegraph at Che
foo. refugees bring news of the seri-
Gus condition of affairs at Port Ar
thur. They say the Japanese shells
have ignited lighters. which contained
supplies of coal. resulting in a terrific
Confagration. Many buildings have
been demolished and the hospitals are
crowded.
VIII Die Fighting.
London. Aug. 1S.-With the oil
warehouses and coal docks blazing
furiously within. and the Japanese
without closing erimly in upon the
town. till now they are less than two
miles away, Port Arthur has determin-
ell TO die fightin" Gen. Stoessel. in
command of the garrison. is declared
to have refused the demand for sur
render made by the mikado through
Gen. Nogi, who is leading the attack
ing hosts. \ final battle is believed to
be raging. the Japanese with their
heavy ordnance planted almost at the
gates of the citadel renewing the at
tack with determined ferocity.
Decline to Surrender.
Early yesterday Mai. Yamoka. a
member of Gen. Nogi's staff. was sen,
to the Russian outpcsts under a flag
of truce. He was received by a Rus
sian stan officer to whom he communi
Gated the demand of the emperor OF
Japan. and also announced that the
Japanese would permit the removal oi
all non-CombatantS. The answer. ac
Cording to the rumor prevalent, was
received late last night and expressed
the Russians determination to fight tC
the last ditch.
situation Desperate.
The present situation of the fortress
is desperate. The Japanese are sale
to have moved forward from Paling
ching. two miles north of the town
Their right wing is closing in from
Pigeon bay.
The shells OF the Japanese are saiC
by witnesses to be marvelously timed
They have set fire to the coal docks il
the harbor. which. joined to the flame:
in the great oil warehouses, is beIiev
ed to menace the safety of the entir,
town.
Fleet May Flee Fire.
The blazing oil, floating into the