Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-08
PoLTAvA is SUNK, THE RETvl.
SAN. DAMAGED SERIOUSLY
AND BAYAN AGROUND.
FIGHTING A 7 MUKDEN
Terrific cannonade Around PoutlIoff
Hill Is Most Severe During War
Except at Port Arthur-Japanese
Occupy New Positions - Armistlce
Granted to Remove Dead Bodies.

Occupy New Positions - Armistlce
Granted to Remove Dead Bodies.
Toxic, Dec. 7.-The headquar-
ters of the Japanese army In
front OF Port Arthur has reported
confirming the sinking Of the Rus
sian battIeship PoItaya and stat
ing that the battIeship Retvizan Is
seriously damaged and the cruiser
Bayan Is aground.
The Japanese troops occupied
Akasaka hill, fronting on Port Ar
thur, on Tuesday and occupied an
entire fort yesterday. Subse-
quentIy they dislodged the enemy
and occupied an eminence north
of SuerE1kou and two eminences
north Of San Lichian.
At q p. m. yesterday in response
to the bearer of the enemy's flag
of truce an armistice of five hours
was granted for the removal of
the dead bodies.
PekIn, Dec. 7.-Mukden re-
ports tremendous noise of a can
nonade around Poutiloff hill and
the railway, which began on Tues
day morning and reached its
height from 8 to o'clock In the
afternoon. 4 was unlike anything
of the kind heretofore during the
war except at Port Arthur, and is
due to the constantly Increasing
number of siege guns Of large cal
lbre, all CT which seemed to be in
use a. the time. The impression
prevails that the bombardment
was In anticipation of Japanese
offensive movement.
Mukden, Dec. THE report that
Rennenkanpff has administered a
heavy defeat to the Japanese continues
to circulate among the Russian troops,
hut has not been officially confirmed.
To the earlier rumor is added a report
that the Russians have succeeded in
carrying off twenty-four guns, which
they captured in the rout of the Japa-
nese, but were at first unable to re.
move owing to the cross fire from the
Japanese.
Everything now indicates that the
of an immediate encounter on
q large scale has passed. During the
fighting below Tsinkhetchen the Rus
sian loss was twenty-five men killed
and 1913 wounded, including two Off
GERS. Seventeen Japanese prisoners
were taken, one of whom com mitted
suicide.
Think stoesseI Can Hold Out.
st. Petersburg, Dec. Although
the war Office and admiralty are still
without direct news from Port Arthur,
confidence in the ability of the fort
ress to hold out continues to be ex-
pressed. Reports from Toxic of the
shelling of the battleships and of
heavy losses by the Russians in an
attempt to recapture 203 Metre hill
are considered misleading. According
to a high officer Of the general staff
the warships would be able to seek
shelter from fire from 203 Metre Hill
by anchoring behind Tigers Tail pen
instla
The report that the Russians are
clearing mine fields outside of the
harbor are regarded as the best indi-
cations that the squadron is preparing
to move to this anchorage, where it
will be secure under the protection OF
the shore batteries.
Says Japs Cannot Hold Hill.
An artillery officer who knows Port
Arthur thoroughly expresses the be.
lief that the Japanese will be unable to
hold the summit of 203 Metre hill on
account of the fire of Antse and Else
forts which are less than two miles
distant This officer declares it will
be impossible for the Japanese to
mount guns at the top of 203 Metre
hill until the ammunition of Antse and
Else forts is exhausted.
The Toxic estimate that the Rus
SLAMS lost 5000 men in an attempt to
recapture 203 Metrelhil is declared to
be absurd, and 1t is pointed out that
such loss would imply a virtual Grip
ping of resistance. Yet reports from
Toxic admit that Stoesel continues to
make counter attacks.
Russian Ships Leave Tangier.
Tangier Morocco. Dec. All the
Russian war vessels have now left
this port for the east, the last one
sailing today.
Brushes Near Mukden.
st. Petersburg, Dec. Genera
Sakharoff reports that the Russian
main guard at a village southwark
from Laotchengulni Pass was driver
out yesterday by Japanese artillery
The Russians sustained few casual
ties
General Kuropatkin, telegraphins
the emperor, mentions the Japanese at
tacks on Sidchinpu and Soudgianin
both of which were repulsed, and an
unimportant outpost affair on the right
wing when the Russians routed an6
bayonetted the Japanese guard.