Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-17
BOLD DASH FROM PORT ARTHUR
ON IMPORTANT MISSION
PROVES SUCCESSFUL.
STOESSEL ASKS ADVICE
Messages Were Filed at Chez Foo
From the Commander at Port Ar,
thur But No Word is Given Out
Concerning Them At st. Petersburg
Stories Of Conditions Differ.

-
Stories Of Conditions Differ.
London, Nov. 16.-According to
a News agency dispatch from
Chez Foo, the commander Of the
Rastoropny confirmed reports that
Lieutenant General Stoessel is
Wounded, but says General Fock
Is quite well. The commander
says there are sufficient supplies
of food, ammunition ard coal at
Port Arthur to last year.
Llbau, Russia, Nov. IS. - The
second division Of the Russian
Pacific squadron sailed from here
today. It is expected that it will
overtake Rear Admiral WoeIker-
SANS squadron by way of the
Suez canal.
chee Foo, Nov. 16.-A private
letter received this afternoon from
Port. Arthur requests the AssocI-
ated Press to publish a statement
to the effect that all foreigners
there are we'll and none Of them
has received any wounds during
the fighting.
Chez Foo, Nov 16.-The Russian tor
pedo boat destroyer Rastoropny has
been blown up by her commander in
the harbor Of Chez Foo, after having
eluded the blockade at Port Arthur
and succeeded in filing dispatches
from General Stoessel to st. Peters
burg. 1t is presumed that she was de-
stroyed in order to prevent the jap
anese from cutting her out as they did
the Ryeshitelni.
Dispatches Are Secret.
Al dispatch from st. Petersburg says
the dispatches filed by the vessels de.
stroyed at Chez Foo have reached there
but their character has not been d.
svulged.
An important Mission.
It is surmised from the fact that
serviceable vessel was removed from
Port Arthur and exposed to large risk
Of destruction or capture, that the dis
patches she bore are of great import
ance. Interviews with the Rastoro-
y5pny's officers bring out optimistic ac-
counts Of conditions at Port Arthur.
No News From Armies.
No advices of Importance were re-
ceived today from the armies which
are still facing each other along the
shakhe river.
The Russians with the exception OF
one man left the destroyer during the
afternoon This last man lit the fuses
and blew up the vessel. There were
khrnA I,,11 -.
taneously the Rastoropny sank ani
settled to the bottom 1t is impossible
tonight to secure an explanation of the
action of the Russians but it is be
lieved they we're determined not to al
low a repetition Of the Ryeshitelni in
cident.
stoesseI May Surrender.
1t is rumored that the Rastoropny
brought dispatch from general Stoes.
sci asking ST. Petersburg for instruc
tions as to whether he should con
make immediate terms with the Jap
aDese for surrender upon the most
advantageous terms possible.
Tells of Bold Dash.
The commander of the Rastoropn.
in an interview said: 81 left Port Ar
thur at midnight in a binding snow
storm. The boat was navigatet
through all the dangers of floating
mines without mishap. On reach
ing the open sea we saw Japanes
cruiser and some torpedo boats in th'
distance but we were steaming rapid.
through the storm with out lights es
tinguished and passed them unnoticed
We reached Chez Foo without q mis-
hap of any kind"
Says Soldiers are Cheerful.
The commander was optimisti
with reference to Port Arthur He dc
clared that all the forts remain Il
Russian hands and that the garrison
confident and in good spirits.
Discredit Talk of Surrender.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 16.-The AS
sociated Press learns from high place
that q general who was with the EN-
peror this afternoon, end who know,
the contents of General Stoessel's mes
sage, that all the talk about Stoesse
asking for instructions to surrende
is absolutely false He said he Is no
al IUSIIy W uioClOoe thG AuLulC "
Stoessel's report, but remarked: "Onl,
when the last biscuit is eaten and tn,
last cartridge fred will the garrison
surrender the fortress. This cal
state positively"
Vessels Break Blockade.
The general added tnat several yes
sells had broken the blockade and re
Drovisioned the garrison.
Japanese Reports Are Different.
Headquarters of the Third Japanes
Army before Port Arthur, Nov. IA