The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-02-12
JAPAN SCORES IN
FIRST ATTACK
Her Torpedo Boats Damage
Russian Warships Outside
Port Arthur.
ONE OF THEM REPORTED SUNK
Great Excitement at ST. Petersburg
Report of a Russian Victory
Proves a Canard-Sfate
ment by Japan.

Paris. Feb ct is announced at
the French foreign office that the Rus
sian cruiser Pallada was sunk in the
tOpedo boat attack made by the Japan
csc on the Russian feet off Port Ar
thur. The injuries sustained by the
RetviZian and Cesarevitch are not
known. 1t was reported on the same
authority that the cable from Vladivo-
stOk has been cut.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 9-An official
dispatch received here says that Jap
anese torpedo boats during the night
attacked the Russian squadron in the
outer roads at Port Arthur and that
three Russian ships were damaged.
Viceroy Alexief Reports the Affair,
Admiral AleXieff's official report of
the attack by the japanese is as fol-
lows:
II most respectfully inform your
majesty that at or about midnight of
Feb. SO japanese torpedo boats made
sudden attack by means of mines
upon the Russian squadron in the out
-er roads of the fortress of Port Ar
thur, in which the battleships Retviz-
ian and Cesarevitch and the cruiser
Pallada were damaged. An inspection
is being made to ascertain the charac-
ter of the damage. Details are fol-
lowing for your majesty"
1t was reported in this city that elev-
en- japanese and one Russian vessels
had been sunk at Port Arthur and the
town to be in flames. Investigation
proved this to be a canard.
Excitement in st. Petersburg.
The news that Japan had duplicated
her tactics at the opening of the Chino
japanese war by a torpedo attack on
the Russian ships off Port Arthur Gre
ated intense excitement. The bare an
nOuncement was received from VicerOy
AleXieff at s o'clock in the morning
Details are anXiously awaited Extra
editions of the morning papers print
ed early in the forenoon, after the ap-
pearance of the Official Messenger, con-
Veyed the intelligence to the population
Of the capital and dispelled any linger-
ing hopes that war could be averted.
The ear and his ministers, who had
been informed Immediately Of the re-
ceipt of VicerOy AleXieff's telegram,
accepted the gage and prepared to face
the reality Of war. The cars mani
festo declaring a state of was to exist
is expected to be issued tomorrow at
the latest
Denounced as an outrage
The action of the Japanese in attack
ing the Russian fleet without a declar
alton of war is denounced as an out
rage by the Russians generally. and
the result instead of discouraging
them. seems to have been to furnish
the spark necessary to fire Russian
patriotism. From the larger centerS
throughout European Russia comes in
formation that the country is already
aroused by the Japanese action in
breaking off the negotiations. Com
menting on the address Of loyalty from
the provincial council of the govern
ment of YarOSlaye The NovOe Nrem-
va says it indicates the sentiments Of
the whole Russian people, adding:
''Woe betide Japan
CONSERVATION at Paris,
Paris, Feb. 9.-Tho news of the first
Japanese attack with torpedo boats
on the Russian feet off Port Arthur
created CONSERVATION here.s The Off
Gals of the foreign Office were among
the first to receive the information and
their advices were similar to those of
the St Petersburg Official Gazette,
showing that two Russian battleShips
and one cruiser were damaged. and
also showing that four torpedo boats
made the attack. An official of the
foreign office said: 1T is profoundly
to be regretted that such a decisive
step has been taken as it terminates
the efforts of the powers might have
made to avert actual warfare"
Rejoicing in Berlin.
Berlin. Feb. 9-Japan'S initial sue
cess in the first attack with topedo
boats ON the Russian feet off Port Ar
thur produced a deep impression both
on the people and military and naval
critics here. Groups gathered around
the distributors of the extras in the
streets and read the news almost with
exclamations of gladness. The COM
ment at the marine department was
that even the temporary disablement
of three warships placed the Russians
at great disadvantage in the future
operations.
JAPAN ISSUES STATEMENT
Review of Negotiations with Russia Lead
ing Up to the Rupture
Toxic. Feb. 0-The foreign Office
hoS is,Sred q roVipM of the neontia tinnS