Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1904-08-12

to be disappearing. According to a
statement issued by the general staff
tonight rims are again falling over a
wide are in Manchuria, with the
prospect Of impending operations;
but evenmore important is the infor-
nation raching the Associated Press
from an exceptional source that the
Japanesi have delayed too long.
GENIAL Kuropatkin has now with
drawn he bulk of his army safely
north Lao Yang, leaving only a
strong rear guard line southeast Of
Lao ing to contest the advance
when / comes.
Acccding to this information the
Japanse have about 100000 men in
the anies operating against General
KuroEtkin, rendering it too hazardous
for hin to risk general engagement.
TIL general staff has no informa-
ton caring on the reported presence
Of alarge force of Japanese at Pal
thuh a place that cannot be located
on asilable maps. The report agrees,
howVer, with the general tenor Of the
information received by the Associa.
ted Iress and here given, that General
Kurpatkin is already retreating
non of>Liao Yang.
# 0e Foo, Aug. 12.-According to the
blayt information obtaina BILE, the Rus.
@sia squadron has not returned to
PIT Arthur
Il IN the night of August 9 heavy can
kmading was heard at sea in the di-
srtion of PortArthur.
I Advices from the fortress say that
lie Japanese bombarded the town,
facing theif batteries in dense saolin
elds, whers they were eifectually
lasked.. Tie shells dropped mainly
n the western basin, where the sona-
iron was yanchored. Many of the
shells fell Son the bat.leship Retvizan,
tut no serious damage wos done either
o the totyn or the fleet. Later the
orts gots the range of the Japanese
ield batteries ami drove them from
heir shelter in the kaolin.
On the morning Of August 10 the
quadron put to sea, where heavy
was heard for several
hours. The result of the battle is
lot known, and nothing definite has
'een learned regarding either squad
on. ..,
London, Aug. PA dispatch to a
!ews agency from Toxic announces
definitely that Admiral Togo has
frustrated the attempt Of the Port
Arthur squadron to escape, and adds
hat the Port Arthur forts participated
With the warships in the engagement,
ii true, that the fighting
ccurred close to the port.
London, Ang. ia dispatch to the
apanese legation from Toxic confirms
he reports of a severe naval engage.
nen Wednesday before Port Arthur,
nd Of a subsequent attack on the
edo boat destroyers.
The dispatch concludes bv saving
hat at dawn yesterday the Retvizan
nd another battleship of the Pobieda
ype appeared, taking flight towards
'ort Arthur.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 12.-Public
nXiety regarding 1Ee fate of the Port
.rthur squadron. which has reached
he highest pitch, renamed unreliev-
d when Tile people of st. Petersburg
tired last night SD
The reports from Toxic and Che
90 OF the sea fight which followed the
eparture of the squadron are so con-
letting and inconclusive that strong
ope exists that the Russian ships
ucceeded in breaking through the
apanese fleet. Indeed, it is rumored
lat the admiralty had received infor-
lation that the squadron has passed
eyOnd the Shantung promontory,,
which would bring the squadron at
EAST $50 miles to the southeast of
Ort Arthur and into the yellow Sea-
Although unable to confirm this r,l-
lOr, the Associated Press learns that |
he family of Lieutenant Smyrnoff. an
fticer of the battleship Czareyityh, |
st evening received a telegram from
i'm dated at Tsingchau yesterday.
he message contained only two
ords: Awe; embraces"
Tsingchau is sixteen miles south
est Of Che Foo and is at the entrance
kiauchau bay. The recent of this
,legram might be construed as par.
al confirmation of the rumor that
re squadron he'd reached the open sea
ayond Shanturg.
1T Is regarded as more likely that
ne Of the torpedo BOAT destroyers
as sent there with official dispatches
I'd filed Lieutenant Smyrnoff's tele.
am.
-lRe news Of the dismant.ng Of the
rpedo boat Resnitelni at Che Foo,
Is no, caused surprise. 1t is under.
God that she was deliberately sacri-
led so that Vice Admiral Skrydloff
light be apprised Of the departure of
e Russian vessels from Port Arthur
order that he might start out with
g Vladivostok squadron to meet
EN-,
1t is aeniel at the admiralty that
g squadron left Port Arthur because
Q situation OF the fortress was des.
rate.+~ine admiralty authorities say
IS more than likely that with the
panese close up to the perimeter of
g fortress the warships were un-t
le to render further effective aid
q that their safety was endangered
inc plllnging smells dropping from
9 Wolf hills.