Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-06-15
Japanese sweep
THE Peninsula ;
MIKADO'S TROOPS ENGAGE In
BLOODY sKIRMIsHEs WITH
THE RUSSIANS.
LATTER DISLODGED
FROM SEVERAL TOWNS

Report from Chefoo Says Attack on
Port Arthur Has DEMONSTRATION
to Leave Harbor Before the Strong
hold Falls.
Fusan, Korea, June 1.-The first jap
anese army has recently been engaged in
most important operations. For two
days past four columns have been re-
connoitering the roads towards Lao
yang, Haicheng, Saimatsza and Stu
yen and have occupied towns on these
roads, dislodging the Russians, num-
bering several hundred, from each, after
sharp fighting. The Japanese casualties
we're IS men killed or wounded.
Several Skirmishes Reported.
Toxic, June 11.-Gen. Kuroki reports
that detachment of Japanese troops on
Tuesday routed a battalion of Russian
infantry, with two guns, at Haimachi,
and occupied the town. The japanese
lost three men killed and "a wounded.
The Japanese captured two officers and
five men. The Russians left on. the field
% men dead or wounded and probably
lost 70 men.
A Japanese detachment dispatched in
the direction of Tungyuanpu repulsed 60
or 70 of the enemy's infantry at Lincha-
tai Monday and on Tuesday encountered
six companies of Russian infantry and
300 cavalry at Characteristic. After two
hours engagement the Japanese drove
the Russians off in the direction of Tung-
yuanpu. The Russian casualties were &c
or 80 men killed or wounded. The Jap
anese lost four men killed and 16
wounded.
On Wednesday japanese detachment,
cooperating with another detachment
from the force landed at Takushan, en-
countered a Russian force of 1000 caval-
ry, with six guns, near Siuyen, and drove
hem back towards Chimuchang and
Kaichou, losing three men killed and
two officers and % men wounded.
The Battle Has Commenced.
Indianapolis. Ind, June H. A spe-
cial cable received by the Indianapolis
News from its staff war correspondent
at Chefoo says:
"Chefoo, June 9.-The long contem-
plated attack by the Japanese on Port
Arthur began early this morning. The
Russian forces around the beleaguered
city were reinforced by the troops
which had Sarirsoned Dalny and Kin
chou. The Russian vessels in the lrar-
Dor, with their great guns, aided the
land forces in repelling the attack. The
fighting still goes on
Cause of Activity
Liaoyang, June 1.-THE suddenly in
creased japanese activity in the neigh
borhood of Siuyen. west of Fengwang-
cheng. is believed to be rather in the
nature of feints to distract attention from
| Port Arthur. whittier it is believed. more
than half of the enemy's forces have
gone, than serious forward movement
Kuroki's bombardment of the coast in
the vicinity of Kaichou probably had
the same end in view, but the develop
ments are closely watched at headquar-
ters. Gen. Kuropatkin is in a position to
act promptly in the event of develop
ments of real Importance
Persistent rumors are in circulation
of battle at Port Arthur. that place
being attacked by land and sea- Nothing
definite is known. however. except that
an attack made by the Japanese did not
succeed
Fleet to Leave Harbor
St. Petersburg. June 11.-There is rea-
son to believe that the plans for the de-
parture of the Port Arthur squadron in
the event that the fall of the fortress be-
comes imminent have been completed
They involve the cooperation of the
Vladivostok squadron. After the block
aiding fleet has been engaged the unin-
jured Russian ships will effect juno
lure with the Vladivostok squadron and
make their way to VladivostOk. The
'act that the Korean straits are mined
and guarded by Japanese torpedo boat
dotilla, which has been established to
the satisfaction of the admiralty here,
greatly increases the difficulty of the op-
Grafton, but the Russians will probably
prefer to take chances of getting
through rather than of making a 1000
miles journey around Japan. The at
tempt may occur at the first favorable
| opportunity. The squadron is useless
! for the defense of Port Arthur, while If
preserved entire, or in major portion.
even, the fall of Port Arthur would be
robbed of much of it's Importance from
the standpoint of Russia's future plans.
The repairs to the Russian battleship
Pobieda are now practically completed.
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