The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-02-15
JAPS GATHERING FORCES FOR THE
ASSAULT UPON PORT ARTHUR
Reported That Fierce Battle Between the JaDS ana
Russians Is Being Fought on the Northern
Bank the YaIu River

LONDON, Feb. ia concerted at
tempt on the part of the japanese land
and sea forces to invest Port Arthur is
imminent. All dispatches this morning
ante Indicating that such is the plan OF
lcti n. News of the first shot of the
battle is momentarily expected
The loss Of Port Arthur would prove
an ireparable blow to Russia.
TIE fact that only 10 600 japanese troops
we've landed at Chemulpo is taken at Che
foo to indicate that the main japanese
army has been detected for the land in
YES. ,nent of Port Arthur.
Admiral Toge is still commanding the
town from the outside in the same manner
that Sampson managed the Santiago block
ade
News that the Japanese are landing on
the eastern shore of the Liaho Tung gulf,
near Port Arthur, is momentarily expect
ed Such step would be Immediately fol-
lowed up by bombardment by Toge's
japanese fleet
a dispatch from Toxic says that the re-
port that the Russian Nladivostock fleet
has been torpedoed and sunk near Hako-
date has not been confirmed. Instead the
report reached here today that Russian
warships had entered the Pacific for
wide detour southwards. The japanese
flying squadron has been detailed to watch
this fleet.
LONDON, Feb. 15.-The Paris CORE
spondent of the Central News wires that
information from a Russian source states
that battle between the Russian and
japanese land forces is now being fought
on the northern bank of the Yalu river,
where the Russian land forces are con-
centrated.
Reuters agency states that the Japan
ese minister at Seoul has advised the en-
peror of the arrest of Vi Yong, the Korean
minister of finance, who is practically die
tator of the country and who has been
most friendly to Russia.
CHEFOO, Sept. l5.-The Puget Sound
steamer Pleiades, which was detained sew
eral days at Port Arthur by the Russians,
has arrived here, having quietly left there
during storm.
VLADIVOSTOCK, Feb l5.-The Rus
sian government departments here have
been transferred to Nikohk and the Russo
Chinese bank has removed its valuables to
Khabarovs These moves indicate that
Russia considers an attack on Vladivostock
imminent.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb ia tele-
gram from Viceroy Alexief confirms the
report of the landing of 10000 japanese
troops at Chemulpo. 1t also states tina:
attempts have been made by japanese to
cut telegraph wires along the Chinese East
ern railway and to destroy the Sungari
bridge.
TOXIC, Feb. ia late report said to
come from the japanese feet near Port
Arthur indicates the probable loss last
Wednesday of the Japanese cruiser Taxa
shiho, which is alleged to have been
rammed and sunk by the Russian battle
ship Czarevitch. when the latter, after
receiving torpedo. was hurrying back into
the harbor at Port Arthur.
CHEFOO, Feb. l5-Defnite news of the
naval engagement last Wednesday has
been received by the steamer Wenchow,
which has just arrived from Port Arthur
loaded with 400 japanese refugees.
Eleven Russian warships were damaged,
The cruiser Askold with big hole at
the water line, has been towed into the
inner harbor and beached.
The battleship Sebastopol is in bad con-
dition as the result of "a shell hole just
above the water line.
The cruiser Novik has a shell in her port
side.
The battleship Retvisan is on the beach
Her bottom has been knocked partially
out.
The cruiser Pallada was torpedoed abaft
the engine room.
The battleship Czarevitch, which also
suffered from a torpedo, has been doclled.
The other five ships were damaged chief
" in their upper works.
The cruiser Novik claims to have chased
the japanese torpedo boats, sinking two
and capturing one.
After the engagement the Russian fleet
retired into the inner harbor at Port Ar
thur for repairs.
The 400 japanese aboard the Wenchow
were gathered up by the Russians at Port
Arthur and elsewhere.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. l5.-Minis-
ter Takahira called this morning on the
state department to request this govern
- b ;,,4s,r,-,n1 with Ptecia in bnbalF