The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-02-18
Destroys Russian Crui.exs and Tsans-
ports and Takes Several Thousand
Declaration of .War-Results Of
Fighting Thus Far.

had inflicted, but he was evidently con-
fdent that the Russians had suffered
heavily. A translation of Vice. Admiral
Togo's report follows: 5..s,5
after the combined feet left Sazbo
February 6, everything went as
planned. At midnight February s our
advance squadron attacked the. enemy
at Port >Arthur. At the time the en-
emey's advance squadron was for the
most part outside of Port Arthur. OF
the advance squadron at least the bat
tleship Poltava, the protected cruiser
Askold and two others appeared to
have! been struck by our torpedoes. On
February 8 at noon our fleet advanced
in the offing of Port Arthur bay and
attacked the rest of the enemy's ships
about 40 minutes. The result Of the
attack is not yet known, but it is be-
lieved considerable damage was infiict-
ed on the enemy, and believe that
they were greatly demoralized. They
stopped fighting about one O'clock and
appeared to retreat into the harbor.
The Japanese Losses. l1ti4
I'm this action the damage to our
feet was very slight, and our fighting
strength is not in the least decreased
The number Of killed and wounded was
So. OF these four were killed and 81
wounded. A report of this engagement
Of the squadron at Chemulpo has prob
ably been sent you already directly by
Admiral Uriu, as our advance squadron
bore the brunt of the enemy's fire. and
after the attack for the most part re-
Joined the main fleet. The imperial
princes on board the ships are I'M
harmed. =
The conduct of all our officers during
the action was cool, not unlike the
ordinary maneuvers. Since the, battle
their spirits have been high. but their
conduct was very calm"
Russian Transport Blown UP.
st. Petersburg, Feb. ia report has.
been received from viceroy Alexieff say
ing that the Russian torpedo transport
Yenisei had been blown up as the result
OF accidentally striking mine at Port
Arthur. The Yenisei sank and Capt.
Stepanoff, three officers and 81 men We're
lost.
Expects Japanese Victory.
London, Feb. 13.-The British gov
eminent has information which leads
it to believe that Japan is likely to be
in possession Of Port Arthur a week
from now. In the best informed Jap
anese circles here it is privately thought
that the war WILDE over by July.
Report Confirmed.
London, Feb. 11.-Baron Hayashi, the
Japanese minister here, has received
official confirmation from Toxic of the
destruction at Chemulpoo of the Rus
sian first-class cruiser Variag and the
third-class cruiser Korietz. A special
dispatch from Toxic says that the jap
anese have captured three more Russian
transports having on board 1000 troops.
Masampho Seized.
Toxic, Feb. H.-Japan seized Masam-
pho and dispatched heavy force there.
Japan will fortify the port and estab-
fish naval and military base there.
Masampho is an exceedingly important
point, as it controls the Corean channel,
and is an excellent base for future oper-
atoms.
The japanese have captured at least
five Russian commercial steamers.
Car Declares War.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 1.-THE Ofacial
Messenger yesterday morning contained
the following supreme manifest"
by the grace of God we, Nicholas
H., emperor and autocrat of all the Rus
sias, ETC., make known to all our loyal
subjects that without advising us of
the fact that the breach of peace rela-
lions would in itself mean an opening
Of warlike operations, the Japanese gov
eminent gave orders to it's torpedo boats
to suddenly attack our squadron stand
ing in the outer harbor of the fortress
of Port Arthur. Upon receiving reports
from the viceroy in the far east about
this, we Immediately commanded him to
answer the Japanese challenge with
armed force.
Russians Attack.
Tientsin. Feb. 12-Five Russian
cruisers from Vladivostok bombarded
the Japanese city of Hakodate. No de-
tails are known here, only the bare
statement of the battle being received.
Three japanese torpedo boats were
sunk In Sunday nights engagement, it
is reported here China is organizing
q force of 100000 Boxers, which is to
be poured into Manchuria to harass
the Russians in the rear.
Neutrality Proclamations.
Washington. Feb. 12.-President
Roosevelt signed the proclamation de-
claring the neutrality Of this govern
ment in the Russo-Japanese war yes
terday afternoon.
London. Feb. liking Edward, at
a council held at Buckingham palace
yesterday afternoon. signed procla-
nation declaring Great Britain's neu-
trality during the war between Russia
and japan.