The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-22

eight Russians and 80 Chinese on
board arrived here Tuesday, five days
from Port Arthur. The Russians re-
fused to talk, but the Chinese say
that on July IL and IL the Japanese
captured and occupied with 1000 men
one Of the eastern forts near Port Ar
thur. Before reinforcements arrived
the Russians cut on the 1000 troops
in the fort and exploded mines which
resulted in the killing of every Japa-
| nese soldier there.
The Chinese report also that the
night before they left Port Arthur a
Russian torpedo boat sank a merchant
boat near Port Arthur, mistaking her
for Japanese transport. Many Chi
nese on board the merchantman were
drowned, but the white crew of the
steamer and a number of her Chinese
passengers were rescued by the Rus
slams. II this story is true the steamer
in question probably is the Hipsang.
blonging to the Indo- China Navigation
Co.
Suez, July 20.-The Peninsular and
Oriental Co.'S steamer Malacca, cap
tured by the Russian volunteer fleet
Sea while bound from Antwerp for
Japan, entered the canal yesterday on
her way to Libau, on the Baltic. The
company's agent attempted to board
the vessel, but the Russian command
sr refused him admission.
Berlin, July 20.-The foreign office
denies the report, circulated by a
news agency In the United States,
that Great Britain had informed Ger
many that she is sending a squadron
to check Russian irregularities in the
Red Sea.
Russia has not yet answered the
German protest against the seizure of
the mails of the Prinz Heinrich by the
Smolensk. but the foreign Office conf
IDENTIFY expects a disavowal of the ac-
tion Of the commander of the Smo-
lensk
Shanghai, July 20.-The British
steamer Lien Shing, which arrived
here yesterday from Wei Hal Wei, re-
ports that she was signalled by the
steamer Pei Ping, (owned by the Chi
nese Engineering and Mining Co., of
Shanghai.) whose commander asked
the Lien Shing to advise the owners
of the Pei Ping that the ship and
cargo had been captured by the Japa-
uese cruiser Hong Kong and that the
vessel was proceeding to Japan with a
prize crew on board.
Chicago, July 20.-A special to the
Daily News from New Chwang says:
Hard fighting has been going on for
several days In the neighborhood Of
Tongschu, eight miles east of Tatche-
kiao. 1t is reported that the Russian
loss in Monday nights engagement
was 2.100 and the Japanese loss 1,2OO.
The Japanese also have been In active
contact with the Russians east of Hal
cheng. where there have been many
minor actions. All along Kuropat-
kinis front and flank the japanese
are moving into position, but the gen.
eral attack is being postponed until
supplies and reinforcements come to
the front.
London, July 20.-In British Official
circles the recent seizures and over
hauling of British ships In the Red
Sea by the Russian steamers Smo-
lensk and St Petersburg are regarded
as very grave international incidents.
The seizure Of the steamer Malacca
by the St. Petersburg and her arrival
In the Suez canal as a prize of war on
her way to Libau, on the Baltic. has
come as a climax and the cabinet is
considering the course to pursue.
The British law officers acknowl-
edge the right of the Russians to seize
and detain mails, provided that only
official communications are taken, but
they take the most serious view of
the status OF the two Russian ships
patrolling the Red Sea and IL any Of
ficial protest ensues 1t will be in re-
gard to the passage Of these erstwhile
merchant ships through the Darda
nelles and their subsequent transfer
taation into varships.
The Conssantinople correspondent
of the Daily Mail in a dispatch dated
July IS. says: "A Russian cruiser
has just passed through from Odessa
with several guns covered with can
vas on her deck. She also carried
torpedo tubes"
The Suez correspondent of the Daily
Mail says: THE German steamer
Sambia, it is stated. has been seized
by the Russians and is expected here