Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-26

fighters and succeeded in capturing four
torpedo boat destroyers before the ruse
had been discovered.
The crews were transferred and jap
anese sailors put in charge Of the cap
tured vessels.
Fresh Engagement Reported.
Berlin, Feb. 23.-The Lokal Anzeiger
Tuesday in dispatch from Toxic says:
"a fresh engagement took place at
Port Arthur Thursday last The de-
tails have not been announced by the.
government
Attack on Port Arthur.
Toxic, Feb. 24.-It is reported here
that Vice Admiral Togo has again at
tackled Port Arthur. 1t is impossible
to confirm the statement, but the navy
department says it has had no news
from Togo. 1t is considered very prob
able that the vice admiral has made
another attack on the Russians, as he
5 engaged in blockading Port Arthur.
Alexief at Hardin.
Y Yin Kow, Feb. 24.-Viceroy Alexieff
and his full staff have just arrived at
Hardin, where headquarters has been
established.
Russian Scouts at ANU.
Seoul, Feb PA telegram received
here from foreigner at Pyng Yang
says that the report that Russian
scouts are at Anju is authentic. The
telegram also says that the natives in
Pyng Yang are panic-stricken, but for
oipnnrc aro not fhraatancd
To Succeed Kuropatkin.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 24.-Gen. SAX
haroff, chief of staff of the military
district of Turkestan, has been appoints
ed to act as minister of war during the
absence of Gen. Kuropatkin, whose ap-
pointment to command the Russian !
military forces in the far east was ga
zetted Monday.
Gar Wants Black Sea Fleet.
New York, Feb. 24.-Negotiations
are progressing, asserts the Heralds !
st. Petersburg correspondent, for the
passage of the Dardanelles by the Rus /
sian Black sea fleet. Russia is deter |
mined to get her ships through, the
correspondent AYERS, even If it is neces-
sary to adopt the subterfuge of alter
Ing their appearance, Disgusting them
as merchantmen. The porte is almost
willing, and, if England makes an OBJ
lection, the dispatch continues, "it will
be signal for an immediate advance
toward India.
Moving Plan Abandoned.
Toxic, Feb. 24.-The plan arranged
Tor the emperor and imperial headquar-
tiers to move to Kyoto has been tenn
porarily abandoned, and it is now
thought better not TO remove until aft.
or the closing of the special session of
the diet early in April. The incon-
venience Of removing the seat Of gov
eminent and converting the diet at
Kyoto is the reason assigned for the
change in the plan.
Predicts End Of War.
st. Petersburg. Feb. 24.-"The war
will end in August or September, in the
complete defeat of the Japanese" said
TO press representative Tuesday a
high authority in intimate touch with
the Russian war plans, whose opinion
can be taken faithfully to reflect the be-
lief in the highest official quarters. He
added:
How the Japanese can hope to sue
coed when our army in the east is
strengthened to point equal or su-
perior in numbers to that of our adver-
saries we are honestly unable to COM
prehend. 1t will not be difficult to place
100000, 100000 or even 100000 addition
a men in the field, if necessary When
our forces are concentrated and ready
they will finish by driving the Japanese
ilsto the sea. Frankly, 1t seems to US
that the Japanese either have utterly
failed to appreciate Russia's resources,
), or have counted on the aid Of Great
Britain or the United States, neither of
which ever contemplated becoming In
volved. So far as Great Britain is con-
Cerned we do not believe any haliucina-
lions existed there. We think the Brit
lsh statesmen who did so much to push
Japan into war, realized that with
Japan's defeat they would accomplish
two things for Great Britain-first, to
Give Russia check-for, Of course, the
war must impede our progress temper
srily; second, to cripple Japan's mari
time power, which was beginning to be
greatly felt in the Pacific
1t can be said with the utmost posi-
tiveness that Russia will bide her time.
She will act on the defensive until she
feels confident that her weight OF num-
bers will leave no doubt as to the result.
Reinforcements are going forward at the
rate Of 5000 per day. Probably some
time will elapse before Russia feels fully
prepared to assume the offensive.
Think Fleet Was Crippled.
The conviction is growing here in Of
fetal circles that in spite of Japanese d.
naals the Japanese fleet was severely
z crippled off Port Arthur in the engage
ment which began February 8. The adj
miralty has no direct official informa-
lion to support this except the manner
In which the japanese abandoned the
attack at the end Of IS minutes It is
pointed out at the admiralty that two
weeks have now elapsed without the
whereabouts of the japanese dset being
definitely reported and the opinion is
edniug STpuud that 1t has gone to .
vspanese port for repairs. It Is ppIsted
cbt also that II has always been the
ass.s so!,y e sn .a ss'1 ~