Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-29
SAY MOVEMENT is
NOT IMPORTANT
RUSSIA NOT ALARMED At AD.
VANCE OF JAPs.
LATTER CROSS YALu RIVER
It Is Said Russians Had No Intention
of Vigorously Contesting the
Passage-Japs Prepare to
Oppose Baltic Fleet.


day night and Tuesday morning the
Japanese forced passage Of the Yalu
two companies crossing between
Tchangdjiou and Siaopoussikhe
Heavy firing was heard near Tatung
kau, in which it is believed the Japan
ese made feint in order to distract
attention from the real point Of pas
sage SO far no bridge spans the river
1t is believed the Russian fire sue
ceeded in destroying the floating parts
of the Japanese bridges.
Not An Important Victory.
st. Petersburg, April 27.-The cen
sors committee did not give out the
dispatches received regarding move
ments of the Japanese across the
Yalu river. 1t was estimated that
information had been received that the
Japanese hao crossed the river, but
this was accompanied by statement
that the success of the enemy should
in no sense be regarded as an impor.
tant victory, the Russians having NO
intention of vigorously contesting the
passage.
Japanese Latest Move.
Paris, April 27.-a despatch to the
Petit Parisien from its Shanghai cor
respondent says: "A rumor is cur
rent here that Japan intends to occupy
a portion of the Fukien coast opposite
Formosa, with the object of prevent
ing the Russian Baltic squadron pass
ing through the Formosa strait"
Another Bombardmsut.
Tientsin, April Pit is reported upon
good authority that the Japanese feet
bombarded the town of Newchwang
Monday night The Russians here deny
that there is any truth in the report.
Helps Port Arthur Defense.
st. Petersburg, April 27.-The en-
trance into the service of four subma-
rine boats at Port Arthur means the adj
dition of new and formidable weapon
for the defense of that stronghold. The
dispatch of the boats in sections over the
railroad has been shrouded in secrecy,
and even to-day many in st. Petersburg
are inclined to doubt the report by Of
ficials of their presence at Port Arthur
or to accept the information as trust.
worthy. An effort now to close or block
Rde Port Arthur will be too dangerous.
it is thought, for Vice Admiral Togo to
attempt. The defenders Of the port Will
be able to guard against Japanese sub
marine vessels entering the harbor and
attacking the Russian ships at anchor.
The officials here are not certain that the
Japanese have submarine boats. - they
possessed none before the war, but since
the beginning of hostilities they un-
undoubtedly have laid down Anumber Of
them. The Russian submarine boats
may soon have an opportunity to demon
strate the value Of their type In war. as
the Japanese fleet is reported ct Chefoo
and the interval of time it is usually ab-
sent from Port Arthur has about ex-
pired.
Has Much Significance.
ST Petersburg, April 27.-While
King Edwards move to restore peace
between Russia and Japan has failed.
dt is nevertheless regarded as highly
significant in diplomatic circles. It is
the first tangible evidence Of a change
in the relations between Russia and
Great Britain. The king, however,
has never approached the emperor, no
matter how indirectly, on the subject
of peace, but if the situation between
the two countries is what 1t was before
the war began, even prior to the An
glo-F'rench entente, diplomats believe
that, despite the declaration Of Russia
that she will never accept intenven-
ton, the door can be opened for rep.
Tesentation when the campaign has
progressed for some time and Russia
has had an opportunity to wipe out
thur. If future attempts at mediation
be made, it is necessary, say the diplo-
mats, in order that they should have
q chance of success, that good rela.
tions between Russia and Great Brit
ain be assiduously cultivated, and they
believe that no one appreciates this
better than King Edward.
Emperor's Attitude Approved.
Official circles are agog over this
move for peace. The attitude Of the
emperor is thoroughly approved, per.
son in authority, voicing the opinion
Of his colleagues, saying that media.
tion cannot be accepted, and that Rus
STA alone will determine when 1t IL
time to stop fighting. That time, he
said, will not arrive until every Japan.
ese soldier has been elected from the
continent. Despite the frmness of the
intention of the government and peo-
pie to carry on the war until the end
they have in view is reached, 1t is rec.
ognized that good relations with Great
Britain mean the confinement of the
war to Russia and Japan, and may
lead to pressure on the latter which
will shorten the conflict.
Has Not Suggested Mediation.
London, April 27.-Inquiries made
; here reveal no traces of any effort or
intention to intervene in the Russo
Japanese war. No step looking to a
pacific settlement of the conflict has
{ been taken by the foreign office, nor,
so far as known in Downing street, by
King Edward himself Those who
have discussed the war with the king
within the last few days say that such
q step is the last thing he contem,
plates. Such step, however, infor
mally taken, so it Is held here, might
seriously endanger the vital negotis-
lions now progressing between Russia
and Great Britain with view to the
settlement of outstanding diftereuces
between the two countries. King I'D.
ward and the foreign Office are fully