Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-10-05
NAVAL BATTLE REPORTED.
The Expected Engagement at Port
Arthur Has Been Fought.
BAYAN MAKES ESCAPE.
Said to Be at Anchor in Hongchau Bay
and Wul Re lowed to
Shanghai.

London, Oct. 1870 a. m-The long
expected naval battle at Port Arthur
may have taken place. News Of an eff
fort by the Russian fleet to escape has
been looked for at st. Petersburg and
Toxic for several days. Toxic reports
the rumored loss of a japanese gunboat,
put says the report lacks confirmation.
News Of severe land fighting at Port
Arthur comes from Toxic as well as Che
100. Ioklo says the Russians are endeav-
0rlng to recapture the forts held by the
japanese that control the water supply.
Ihe Daily Telegraph's Chefoo CORE
spOnCent gives a Chinese account Of deS-
perate fighting at Port Arthur in which
the Japanese are said to have swarmed
ike locusts upon the Russian bayOnets.
There were fierce breast to breast con-
hlcts, and the trenches were filled with
the dead and wounded The japanese
siege guns, according to the japanese,
nave done serious damage. The premises
OF the principal merchants, Gen. Stoes-
sells residence, the Russian church. and
the police station have been wrecked.
Shanghai Hears the Report.
London, Oct. 3.-3 a. ma dispatch
to The Daily Telegraph from Shanghai
says 1t is reported there that another
naval engagement has taken place off
Port Arthur.
'OHdHSudI, OcI. IA RUSSIAN WarShlp,
supposed to be the armored cruiser Bay
an of the Port Arthur squadron. is re-
ported to have anchored off Gutzlaff
island IN Hangchau bay. Two tugs have
proceeded thither to bring her to Shang-
hal.
st. Petersburg, Oct 3.-6:15 p. NJ
The admiralty expresses incredulity at
the report that a Russian warship, be-
ineVed to be the armOred cruiser Bayan,
has arrived at Hangchau bay, near
Shanghai The officials are evidently
not prepared to believe that the Bayan
has succeeded in slipping through Adj
mlral Togo's Port Arthur Gordon alone.
Russians Fighting for Water.
TOXIC. Oct. News just received from
Fort Arthur is to the effect that the Rus
SLAMS are engaging Gen. Nogi's men at
many points around the beleaguered city
ana are making desperate efforts to retake
Fort huropatkin, and thereby regain con-
troI OF the water supply. The japanese
continue to hold the positions, but are
being mercilessly shelled day and night.
Japanese Gunboat Sunk.
Chefoo, Oct. So a. ma gunIoat
flying the japanese flag struck a mine
at Lao lung and was sunk. The name
OF the Warship is not known A portion
OF her crew is reported to have been
rescued.
Russian Armada Ready to Sail.
= St. Petersburg, Oct. So a. m.-The
russian armada, the Baltic sea fleet. is
ready to sail and on its ability to drive
the japanese navy from the sea hangs
the issue of the war. The fleet will sail
from Reyal tomorrow. 1t will be the
most powerful fleet that ever set sail
from any European port and is relatively
larger than the whole Japanese navy.
The Car will go in person to RevaI to
say farewell to his commanders and sea-
men.
While hopes are still entertained that
Fort Arthur may be able to hold out un-
til the appearance of the Baltic fleet. the
question of the fall of that stronghold
does not, apparently, enter greatly into
the calculations of the admiralty. The
only thing. expected of the Port Arthur
squadron is to break out Of the harbor
and lntlict as much damage as possible
upon Admiral Togo's fleet. Such ships
as escape are expected to make their
way to Vladiyostok, where the repairs
upon the cruiser Bogatyr are understood
to have been practically completed and
those on the Rossia and Gromoboi are
nearing completion.
The war in the far east will depend
upon the issue Of the sea fight after the
arrival Of the Baltic fleet. VIadivostok.
although icebound in winter for com
mercial ships. can easily be kept open
for a fleet Of war vessels by means of
lcebreakers If the Japanese fleet is
caught in such a weakened condition thai
TIE Baltic ships are able to win a victory
officials here hold that other problems will
solve themselves, and with Japanese com
munlcatlons severed the japanese army
on the mainland Will be at the mercy of
Russia,
Fighting Near Mukden.
st petersburg, Oct. "a dispatch
from Mukdcn says that fierce fighting is
going on south, southeast and east of
the city SklrmiShCs are occurring daily
between detachments from the Russian
ana japanese outposts, and an aggres-
slve and to some extent decisive engage
ment will be fought within the next few
days.
Repulse Of the Japanese.
Chefoo, Oct. 81 p. m.-An official
report from Gen. Stoesse. dated Semen
Der %, reached Chefoo today, confirming
a previous report of the repulse of the
Japanese attack on Port Arthur, which
began September 10 and ended Septem-
Der -. The fighting was of an extreme
~ severe character
The Japanese having retired, Gen.
Stoessel issued the following procIama-
tom
,t Glory: Thanks to God. Glory to our
and Poggorsky-heroic, all. Thanks to oui
valiant volunteers, who routed the enemy
from the trenches, destroying them. Cod
mas permitted Us to repulse the enemy.
Praise to God
The volunteers referred to by Gen.
Stoessel in the proclamation were made
up OF regulars called upon to take high
hill, which had been captured by the
Japanese.
From semi-official sources it is learned
that the attack began on the 10Th along
the whole line and lasted four days,
various positions changing hands many
tlmes. The high hill mentioned was a
very important position to the Russians.
The Japanese attacked repeatedly, day
and night, finally occupying the position
On the night of September %, after suf-