Gilpin observer., 1904-06-30
BATTLESHIP- rs SUNK
Two MORE ARMoREp RUSSIAN
VESSELS CRIPPLED.


Y Fight Separate Attacks Made by Jap.
anese Torpedo Boats Upon Port
Arthur quadron-Mikado's Forces
Y Move Steadily Forward.
London. June 27.-The Central
News has received the following dis
patch from its Toxic correspondent:
IA detailed account OF the naval bat
le ut Port Arthur has just been pub
isbed here. The Russian battleships
Peresviet Poftavs and Sevastopol and
he cruisers Bayan, AskOld and Novik
attempted to emerge from the harbor
bt dawn on June 20, led by steamers
used for clearing the mines. At IL
,. m. the batt!eship Czarevitch, Ret
vizan and Pobieda joined the others.
All the ships then advanced. endeavor-
ing to dispose of the mines laid by the
Japanese. but they were hindered by
two Japanese torpedo boat destroyers,
which had been guarding the mouth
OF the harbor. At ps m. the Japa-
nese torpedo boats exchanged shots
with the seven Russian destroyers.
which were covering the clearing op-
e-ations. One of the Russian destroy
ers was set on fire and retired inside
the harbor. Subsequently the Japa-
nese decoyed the Russians out to sea
and awaited an opportunity to begin
a general action, but between 8 and 9
p. m. the Russian ships made for the
lharbor. The japanese torpedo boat
destroyers and torpedo boats chased
the Russians and at 9:30 delivered the
hrst attack. in consequence OF which
the enemy was thrown into disorder.
During the night eight separate at
tacks were delivered. lasting until
dawn Friday. In one OF these as
saults the Chirataka twice torpedoed
battleship OF the Peresviet type and
sank her. A battleship of the Sevas-
topol type and q crusier of the Diana
type were disabled and towed away.
The Russian vessels reentered the
harbor during Friday. The newspa-
pers published eulogistic articles upon
Admiral Togo's prompt action"
Three Armies In Motion.
st. Petersburg June 2S.-Dis-
patches received here confirm the be-
lief that the great decisive battle OF
the campaign between General Kouro-
patkin's army and the armies of Gen.
erals Kuroki and Oku Is imminent
The three armies probably aggregate
100000 men and their outposts are in
touch all along the line. The Japa-
nese evidently tried to draw Kouropat-
kin as Ear south as possible. holding
out as an incentive check to the ad-
vance OF Oku's main army. Meantime
Oku swung sharply to the eastward
to join Kuroki toward the Chapan
pass, Kuroki at the same time NOV
ing strong force by the right flank
towards Hal Cheng. The main Japa-
nese advance continues along the
main Feng Wang Cheng-Liao Yang
road, avoiding the Mao Tien pass by
detour to the northward. The ad-
vance in all points is being attended
by skirmishing.
Nothing is known here of the exact
point at which Kouropatkin's main
force Is concentrated. According to a
dispatch from Ia Tche Kiao a large
force has pushed southwark from
there against Oku. While Kouropat-
kin is thus extending himself. the jap
nese, with great mobility, seem to be
trying to concentrate for the purpose
of striking the Russians in flank and
rear.
A brief dispatch from Rear Admiral
Witsoeft, naval commander at Port
Arthur, throws little additional light
on the fight of Port Arthur. The ad-
miralty and the emperor are waiting
further details with the same eager
ness as the genera, public.
The loss of three vessels OF the
Port Arthur feet is admitted to be
severe blow, especially II not pur-
chased by greater loss to the Japa-
nese than reported by Admiral Togo.
The meagerness of the reports is
greatly mystifying the authorities,
who continue to believe that there
has been later fight. which has not
yet been reported.
There is a belief that the Vladivo-
stok squadron put to sea Saturday and
is likely to be next heard OF in the
Korean straits.
Five Japanese Ships Damaged.
Che Foo. June PA Chinese who
has arrived here from the vicinity Of
Port Arthur. In junk, reports that at
daylight last Friday morning he saw
two large Japanese ships and three
torpedo boats Withdrawing from the
feet OF Port Arthur. The vessels
were all damaged.
= -., 49,
49, Japanese Moving Forward.
Lao Yang. June 27.-Reports OF
fighting between the advance guard
regiments are continually coming in.
The battles are indecisive, but they
show that the Japanese are moving