Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-30
TIE FIRST REAL BATTLE
 LAPS WON IT TO-DAY.
Sixteen Thousand Japanese Attacked Double Their Number of Russians-Jap Sharpshooters Picked Off Russian OffceS-Fresh Forces Are Arriving and Strengthening and Reinfo rcing the Japs in Their Position

Kaupang, TZe, Manvchuria, April 30, 10 a. m.-The first battle of the war ds officially reported to have occurred on the Yalu river. 16,000 Japanese crossed the river Thursday and at tackled SO,OOO Russians, who were strongly fortified It is rumored this morning that the Japanese were re- inforced and that the battle continues. Jaanpese sharpshooters killed many Russian officers. whose uniforms were conspicuous.
 1 Washington, April 3O.-Reports have reached the state department the sources of which officials do not care to divulge, to the effect that great battle has been fought on the Yalu river, resulting in complete Japan ese victory. Details are unattainable.
 St Petersburg, April 30. 2:17 p. m. As result of his Investigations Ann bassador McCormick finds that exclu- sive Of 570 Japanese in the island of Sakhalin, the total number of Japan csc in Siberia is 351, of whom 63 are in the province of Amur, chiefly at Port Zeya, 2SO i'll the province of Primorvsk. chiefly at Nikolaievsk, and a major and his wife, i've soldiers, two merchants and an interpreter, un- der arrest as spies. They are all be- ing concentrated at Stretinsk, whence so soon as navigation is opened they will be forwarded to Irkutsk. From rxysI1 lin xTio no Black sea. the Russian authorities de. string to transport them so far as pos sible by water.
 Some of the military attaches on their way to the far east have writ ten letters here. commenting the or ganization of the trans Siberian rail road. They say that on this side of Lake Baikal there are sidings two to seven miles apart and that six trains are passing daily each way.
 Without dissenting voice the Rus sian press approves of the decision of the government as announced in it's circular note not to permit mediation and warming the powers that they must keep their hands off when the terms of peace are settled. The Syet says:
 1'All Russia heaves a sigh of relief. We are going to establish ourselves on the Pacific. without sharing the spoils of victory
 The Russ remarksi
 "The circular is a warning to any i'll advised power seeking to inter fere."
 The Novosti says:
 sSThe circular is timely and should be acceptable to the powers, as it will avoid misunderstanding in the fu- ture.',
 The Bourse Gazette expresses the opinion that "the circular evidently was directed against the power which destroyed the fruits of victory in 1878"
 The Novoe Vremya asserts that Mediation presupposes that the war has not yet begun"
 The popular enthusiasm over the sur vivors of the Vartag and Korietz con tinues. To-day immense crowds of peO- pie witnessed their departure on board an imperial yacht to Cronstadt, where they will be entertained.
 The Chemulpo heroes are greatly af- fected by the loss of their mascot, a black mongrel, which bolted at the starting of yesterdays procession. The dog was special pet of the Korietz's civilian cook, who refused to go ashore at Chemulpo before the fight The cook participated in yester- days festivities, wearing the St Georges cross and a high hat.
 The absence of .telegrams from Rear Admiral Yeszan this morning is re garded at the admiralty as proof that the Japanese have not attempted to lombard Vladivostok.
 If fc understood fhQf Vion Adnoiral ChOuknin, now commanding the naval cadet school, will succeed Vice Admiral Skrydloff as commander of the Russian Black sea fleet and that Admiral Kor- sakoff will succeed Admiral Chouknin.