The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-05-25

London (By Cable) tc
reports from Toxic and St. Peters.
burg, though somewhat conflicting, il
would appear that the Japanese have
lost five or six warships in the past Io
days. They are becoming almost as
unlucky as the Russians i'll naval
losses, but claim they have not yet
destroyed any of their ships by their
own mines, although it is not clear
whether a Russian or japanese mine
is responsible for their latest dis
aster.
An official report from Vice Admi-
raj logo states that the cruisers Ka-
saga and Yoshino colidcd during a
iog Oft Port Arthur on May IS. The
1oshno sank, only 90 OF her crew
being saved.
The battleship Hatsuse while cruis-
ing off Port Arthur, covering the
landing OF the soldiers, struck a mine
10 knots southeast of the harbor en-
trance She signalled for help and
instantly struck another mine. She
sank in half an hour. Three hundred
Of her crew we're saved by torpedo
boats.
Japanese officers are reported to
have informed correspondents that
two Russian destroyers have escaped
from Port Arthur and are still at
large. They stated that the Russians
are using Chinese junks to place
mines in the path of the Japanese
fleet patrolling the Peninsula coast.
In consequence of this promiscous
mining the Japanese feet is moving
to greater distance off the coast, and
all other navigation in these waters
is suspended. There are indications
that the Japanese dcstroyers have laid
many mines outside of Port Arthur,
hoping to catch the Russian destroy
crs III their attempt to return to Port
Arthur. Many OF these mines have
been improperly anchored and are
adriit They are reported TO be all
over the gulf. One Chinese junk
picked up I3.
Although not confirmed by the Ad-
miralty at ST. Petersburg, dispatches
from Chefoo repeat story told by
Russians arriving from Dalny that
during u bombardmcnt Of Port Ar
thur last Monday the Japanese bat
tleships Shikishima and Fuiji struck
mines, and the former sank and the
latter was disabled.
Although the names differ from
those contained in Admiral Togos
report, they may refer to the same
vessels.
The Russians at Chefoo seem to
have obtained their information from
the commanding officer at Dalny, who
showed them, they assert, a telegram
from Port Arthur that the lombard
ment commenced at l o'clock Monday
afternoon, and that two hours later
the Shikishima struck the mine and
was soon at the bottom. During the
confusion that followed, according to
the story told, the Asami also struck
on mine and was taken in tow, but
was settling so fast that it was found
necessary TO abandon her.
Later arrivals at Chefoo reported
to the Russian Consul that the bat
tlcship Shikishima sank in two min
utcs after contact with the subma-
riuc nine, and that there was no time
to save the crew. The accident hap
pcncd, 1t Is SAID, within sight Of Port
Arthur.
The battleship Full, which struck
the mine on the port bow, had heavy
list, and was also down by the bow,
but was rightcd and went off in tow
OF the other cruisers. 1t is thought
impossible, however, that she could
reach port.
Recently the Japanese cruiser Mi
yaka sank in Kerr Bay by striking
a mine.
The Russian admiralty still claims
that the channel at Port Arthur was
I1nfE.I l,,s he I.,n