Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-09
Seven Russians Killed, Many
Wounded-.-The Town in
Flames....C Conflicting Re.
ports as to the Loss and
Damage to War Vessels.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 9.--Admir-
al Aliexiff, in his official report Of an
attack by the Japanese at Port Arthur
says:
On or about midnight, February
SO, Japanese torpedo boats made a
sudden attack by means Of mines up
On the Russian squadron In the outer
roads of the Fortress of Port Arthur,
in which the Russian battleships, II
vizan and Czaryitch and the cruiser
. Pallada were damaged. Inspection
is being made to ascertain the char
acter of the damage
Martial Law Proclaimed.
PORT ARTHUR, Feb. 9.--In conse-
quence Of the attack by the japanese
torpedo boats, martial law has been
proclaimed here.
Exaggerated Report.
ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 9, 2::30 p.
m.-The Russian admiralty has just
received information that eleven Jap.
anese and one Russian warship had
been sunk in the attack on Port Ar.
thur. Seven Russians were killed
and many were wounded. The town
is In flames.
Subsequent reports show this state,
ment to have been exaggerated.
Russia ReIents Too Late.
LONDON, Feb. 9-The Japanese
Minister, Baron Hayashi, said this at.
ternoon: Russia is making desperate
efforts through various embassies to
have the powers intervene. Russia
Is now willing to concede everything,
but the offer comes too late The
minister added: Il learn on good au.
thority that the reply Russian intend
ed to send merely reiterates all the
cardinal points to which Japan consis.
tently objected. Hayashi says he re.
ceived cablegram announcing the
departure Of the Japanese fleet for the
Yellow sea. He had no news of the
Port Arthur engagement, but was
aware that the Japanese intended to
employ torpedo boats to the fullest
possible extent.
Holland Neutral.
THE HAGUE, Holland, Feb. o.
Holland has decided to remain strictly
neutral. In that case. Russian vessels
bound for Port Arthur will not be al
lowed to coal at any Of her ports in
East Indian waters.
The Russian Account.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. Am Of.
fetal communication issued TODAY
gives the Russian account Of the nego.
tiations which led to a rupture be.
tween that country and Japan. The
foreign Office note says: Last year the
Toxic cabinet, under tie pretext u
establishing balance OF power and
a more settled order Of things on the
shores Of the Pacific, submitted TO the
imperial government proposal for the
revision Of the existing treaties with
Korea. The exchange of views were
always Of friendly character, but
Japanese influences were continually
at work trying 10 drive the govern
ment into an armed conflict with Rus
sia. Greater demands In the progress
OF the negotiations were formulated
by Japan. she taking most extensive
measures all the while 10 make the
country ready for war. While rigor.
ously observing the fundamental prin.
ciple Of her policy regarding Korea,
whose independence was guaranteed
by previous understandings with Ja.
pan and BY treaties with other powers.
Russia insisted on three points: ~
on q mutual and conditional guarantee
Of this principle; (2) on an under.
standing to use no part Of Korea for
strategic purposes, this being opposed