The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-02-18
The War.

A dispatch to a London daily states
there has been a renewed attack on Port
Arthur. The Japanese captured seven
Russian ships and chased others. There
have been disturbances at Port Arthur,
in which number of Japanese civilians
we're killed or imprisoned.
By direful incident for which they
apparently have themselves alone to
blame, the Russians have sustained
what WAS the heaviest casualty up -
that time A torpedo transport struck
a mine at Port Arthur and by the ex
plosion three officers and 81 men we're
killed.
Two small Japanese merchant ships,
Seensho Maru and Nakon oura Maru,
while on their way to Otaru, Ia port on
the western coast of Yezo island) from
Sakata Ia port on the northern coast or
the main island of JAPAN we're fired on
February 18th by four Russian men-of
war, off the coast of Aomori prefecture
and the latter was sunk, while the for
mer had narrow escape.
According to advices received, the
18th, the engagement at Port Arthur
commenced at 4 o'clock on the morning
of the 9th. Altogether II vessels we're
destroyed and eight captured
The French and German governments
have declared neutrality in connection
with the war between Russia and Japan.
One thousand Japan troops have en-
tered Seoul, the capital of Korea.
Baron De Roven, the Russian minister
to Japan, left Toxic, the 18th instant.
1t is reported that 1900 japanese
troops were landed at Dove bay, the
10th, and that they were met by the
Russians, who engaged them in hand
to hand fight. The reports say the
Japanese were driven back.
1t is officially announced at Berlin
that nothing is known of the alleged
passage or impending passage of the
Russian Baltic feet through the Kaiser
Wilhelm (Baltc-North Sea) canal.
The Chinese government has pro-
claimed the neutrality of China during
the war between Russia and Japan.
The Japanese government, in a note
defining its attitude regarding Chinese
neutrality, declares that the beligerents
are morally bound to reduce the area of
war as much as possible and to preserve
order in China.
The attitude of Germany, while neu-
trail, is defined as sympathetic toward
Russian rather than Japanese predomi-
nance in the east.
The Russian battleship Oslabya, the
volunteer fleet transport Saratoff and
four torpedo boat destroyers are at
Jebeizukup, in the Red Sea, 90 miles
from Babel 81 Mandeb and the volunteer
| feet transport Smolensk and another
destroyer are at Daedlus, or Abdul
Khezan on the Red Sea, $50 miles south
of Suez
A correspondent of the London Daily
Mail, who witnessed the engagement off
Port Arthur, says one Japanese torpedo
boat was sunk and another deserted by
its crew in sinking condition and sub
sequently captured by the Russians. He
says also that the Japanese lost one
battleship and had one cruiser put out
of action
The mobilization of the Japanese
army has been carried out methodicslly.
1t is estimated that 100000 troops are
now ready to be placed in the field with
out imparing the national defences.
The Russian secold-class cruiser,
Boyarin was blown up by mine, Feb.
10, in the same manner as was the Rus
sian torpedo transport Yenisei She
had on board 1877 officers and men, all of
whom, it is understood. were lost. No
details of the disaster have been given
out. m
The Japanese have captured at least
five commercial steamers of the enemy.
These vessels were caught in Japan,
Korean and adjacent waters at various
times since saturday by small Japenese
cruisers and gunboats. Some of the
steamers are rich prizes.
More than 1C Geo japanese troups are
said to have been thrown into Korea.
Six hundred Russian soldiers are re-
ported to have persisted with cold while
marching across Lake Baikal, Eastern
Siberia.
Japan forces seem to be making fire.
quent demonstrations against Port Ar
thur both by water and land. Great
activity is shown by Japan and large
be lies of troups are being modified.