Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-05-25
THE NAVAL SITUATION.
Loss Of Japs' Warships Gives
Russia an Advantage.
The Port Arthur Channel Is Free
>-Rr. Adm. Wittsocft Can Now Make
Frequent Trips to the Sea
With His Vessels.

Washington, May 20.-Advices re-
ceived at the Japanese legation from
Toxic confirming the press account of
the sinking of the cruiser Yoshino and
the battleship Hatsuse, state that aft
er the Hatsuse had been struck by
Russian mechanical mines a Russian
fiotilla OF 16 torpedo boats and destroy
ers appeared but were repulsed by the
Japanese cruisers, which saved 300 of
the Hatsuse's crew, including Adm
Mashiba and Capt. Nakao.
London, May 20.-The Standards
correspondent at Tien-Tsin cables that
while the Japanese fleet was covering
the landing of troops near Kai Chau
on Monday, a fierce engagement oc-
Cured at Hen Yen Cheng. Two thou
sand Russians were killed or wounded
st. Petersburg, May 21.-So changed
is the naval situation at Port Arthur
by the Japanese disasters, naval Off
GERS say, that the officials would not
be surprised should RI. Adm. Witt
scott, as soon as his lame ducks" are
repaired, make frequent trips to sea,
as the late Vice Adm. Makaroff did. in
order to harrass the enemy's opera
tions along the western coast of the
Lao Tung peninsula. They assert
that the latest advices show the chan
mel to Port Arthur is free. despite the
japanese claim to the contrary
Second thoughts have caused the ad-
miralty officials to discredit the report
that the Japanese battleships Shiki-
shima and Fuji have also been destroy
ed. 1t is believed that the Russian
refugees from Port Dalny who circu-
lated the report on arrival at Che Foo
Thursday, probably COMPOUNDED the
Shikishima and Full with the Hatsuse
and Yoshino. But the official advices
do show that the Kasaga, which ram
med the Goshino, was damaged; and
the opinion prevails that she must he
seriously injured, necessitating her
withdrawal from the fleet for a time.
London, May 23-The correspond
ent of the Times, on board that papers
steamer Haimun, which is still ex-
cluded from the real theater of war,
gives a review of the present position
OF affairs and says:
Reserves from Japan are being
brought to reinforce Gen. Kuroki's
lines of communication which are be-
ing harrassed by Cossacks.
Gen. Kuroki appears to be waiting
for the landing and cooperation of
third army. 1t was while holding the
Mao Tao straits against torpedo at
tacks from Port Arthur for the pas
sage of transports with the third army
that the Hatsuse met with disaster.
Realizing that they were effectually
isolated, the Port Arthur Russians
made their desperation an excuse for
sowing the whole gulf of Pc Chi Ii
with floating blockade mines.
1T is reported that they sent
launches and junks to drop mines in
the paths Of the Japanese warships
and transports. The mines drifted to
the high seas and to Chinese waters,
constituting the gravest danger to neu-
trail shipping
Sunday the Haimun passed two
floating mines within six miles of Wei
Hal Wei. Even as the act of a desper-
ate garrison this must be in violation
of the law OF nations"
Fusan, Korea. May 23-From Chi
nese sources it is rumored that 1000
Russians have reoccuped Hsiu Yen.
Cossacks have been seen near Kaoli-
man and 10 miles west. none have
been observed on the main road to
Laio Cheng.
The Russians are scouting on all
sides. but are disinclined to fight un-
less they are in far superior numbers
The recent landing of the Japanese
forces at Takushan guarantees the ia
pan lines Of communication.
London, May 23.-The Daily Tele-
graph Monday morning prints the fol.
lowing dispatch. dated May 10. from
its correspondent az the Japanese
headquarters, which the dispatch does
not locate:
There has been no change in the
position here for the past ten days.
Our advanced division is in touch with
the enemy near Mao-Tienz Pass. where
the Lao Yang road traverses the de-
file. The Russian line extends from
Hal Cheng to tne west of Mao-Tien
Pass"