Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-22
First attempt Was Frus-
trated by Snow
Storm.
REPORT FIGHT ON YALU
Russian Boat at Shang-
hal still Threatens
Complications.

Nagasaki, Feb. 22.-The steamer
Solberg arrived here from Nladivos-
tock with 20 white foreigners. LOO
Chinese, 30 japanese and 40 survivors
of the japanese steamer NakOnoura
Maru, which was sunk by the Russian
cruiser squadron frcm Nladivostock
- Feb. II.
The NIadivustocI< squadron intend
eG TO lombard Hakodate. but a SNOW
storm prevent the vessels from en-
terin@ the straits Of Tsu"aro. They
intend To make another attempt to
reach HokaGate with the cruisers. five
torpedo boats and an armed trans
port.
Likely to Delay Operations.
London. Feb. 22.-The latest ad-
vices of japanese Minister Hayashi
lead him to believe japanese troops
may now wait possibly two or three
months before Undertaking aggressive
operations in Manchuria. Hayashi
does not credit the report that 2.j0O
Russians have been killed in an out
post engagement at the Galu river.
He says there is no Japanese force in
that vicinity large enough to inhict
such loss. The minister credits the
Russians with having barely 100000
troops in Manchuria.
2,5OO Russians Reported Killed.
st. Petersburg. Feb. pa scnsa-
tiunal report i in circulation that the
war Office has received information of
Il hard battle on the Nalu river. in
which the Russian army was rcpulscd
with the loss of 900 men. The report
cannot he verified and the officials Of
the war Office refuse to give out any
information whatever. The battle is
said to have been fought on the Ko
rean side of the river. The Russians.
according to the report, succeeded in
forcing Il passage of the river, but
were met by such an army of Japan
csc a. to bar further progress. In the
battle that followed 100 Russians
are said to have been killed and the
remainder driven back to the Man
churian side.
Firing Heard at Sea.
Port Arthur. Feb % - Sounds OF
dcsultory firing at sea are heard al
most nightly, and yesterday morning
firing was again heard. This is doubt
less. due to the attempted approach of
serious has developed
KuropatkIn Takes Charge.
St Petersburg. Feb. -. - General
Kuropatkin has been relieved of his
functions rs minister OF war. and has
been appointed commandcr-in-chief OF
the Russian army in the Far East.
Latest Rurnors from the Seat of War.
London. Feb. 22.-Following are the
latest runners from the seat of war
in the Far East. None of them is late
and the news from there this morning
is ve.y meager and tells Of nothing
thrilling: Cannonadin@ was heard Of
the Japanese coast of ShimOnosci and
an important naval enG:s .cment was
thought TO be on. y decisive battle III
the Yalu valley is expected a, any mo-
mcnt. Cossack pickets have captured
a small detachment Of Japanese sol
diers in the first land engagement OF
Korean territory. Major Tatsaru is
among those captured Three hundred
Russian scouts are reported at Wiju.
All sin ..Sasses" the Muscovite.
Toxic. Feb. 22-AdVices to the Jap
ancSe government from PckiuS say
that while at Mukden Niceroy AleXieif
asked the Chinese troops TO aid in
guarding the railway. To prevent the
interruption of traffic The Chinese
refused the request. and asked for in
strIctionS from PeknE. The Chinese
government told them 10 inform Alex
Jeff that as Russia had insisted that
the Chinese Nvere unable To guard tie
railway in time OF peace. surely Rus
sia could not expect them TO guard il
IN time of war.
Russia Both willing and Glad.
Washing gton. Feb. % Russia
gladly and willingly favored the sug-
gcstion of Secretary Hay that as far
as possible the belligerents in the Far
sstefn war localize hoStilitieS and re-
Spect the neutrality of China. in the
interest OF a continuance OF peaceful
intercourse of the rest OF the world.
Nv government expressed the con-
viction that Mr.. Hays suggestion was
prompted by motives OF the highest
humanity and was mutually advan-
tageous 10 the beiligeTents." This