The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-04-29
RUMOR OF severe
Defeat FOR JAPS
RUSSIAN REPORT SAYS MIKADo
LOSES 1000 MEN ON THE
YALU RIVER.
CHINA is TAKING A
PRO-JAPANESE STAND
Russians Suffer from Another Mine
Explosion-Operations Begun on a
Large Scale Around Wiju-Fresh
Disaster at Port Arthur.

is current in this city that the Jap
-anese sustained heavy loss while at
tempting a landing near the mouth of
the falu river. According to the re-
port, which is said to be based upon
a private dispatch from Port Arthur,
the Japanese lost 1000 men. The
story has not yet been confirmed.
China Favors Japan.
Paris, April 25.-It is reported here
that China has taken quite a definite
pro-Japanese stand within the last
few days. It is said this may in
voive serious consequences to the re-
latlons between Russia and China.
Chlna's action, it is noted, follows the
report that Viceroy Alexieff had
requested the retirement of the Chi
nese troops. 1t is also reported that
the Chinese minister at st. Peters
burg will be recalled. Although the
latter report is denied, there is rea-
son to believe that it has some founda-
ton.
Russian Launch Blown Up.
st. Petersburg, April 25,-The en-
rperor has received the following tele-
gram from Viceroy Alexieff, bearing
Fridays date:
Il respectfully report to your males
ty thai to-day, during the placing of
mines by some steam launches. Lieut..
Pell and 20 men were killed through a
mine exploding prematurely under ths
stern of n of the launches.
Serious Fighting Reported.
London, April 25.-All dispatches
from the far east indicate that a Japan
'ese division has crossed. the Yalu river
and that serious fighting has succeeded
Ethe preliminary skirmishing of the last
few days.
Reports to this effect from st. Peters
burg and Shanghai are borne out by the
Seoul correspondent to the Chronicle,
who says that heavy fighting occurred
DE- the Yalu river, but adds that for
strategic reasons it is impossible at
present to send further information,
The inference is that the censor in with
holding particulars seeks to shield a
disastrous coup d'assai on the part of
the Japanese. In confirmation of this
view comes a dispatch from Port Arthur
declaring that $4,000 were repulsed by
the Russians with considerable loss.
Land West of Yalu.
Advices to the Standard from Shang-
hal report that the japanese have land
ed west of the Yalu river and that the
Russian forces under Kuropatkin are
concentrating at Fengwhancheng. The
correspondent to the Morning Post de-
sclares that the first Japanese army has
crossed the Yalu with practically no
opposition.
Dispatches from Seoul state that Jap
anese scouts have crossed the river ~
miles . Wiju for the purpose of
accommodating the Russian position.
They are said to have sustained no loss.
1t is believed that the Japs have succeed
ed in blocking the mouth of the river.
The Russians are strongly reinforcing
their troops on Tiger island, opposite
Wiju, and are extending their fortifca-
7tions.
Try to Kill Kuropatkin.
From st. Petersburg comes the report
thai an attempt was made to assassinate
Gen. Kuropatkin at Newchwang. Two
- SASSl1SO1J olSSulSCu, SuCcG6u-
ed in gaining an audience with the gen
eral, when a movement on the part of
one to draw a knife from bis robe was
observed by the guard and both Japs
were made captives.
An official telegram from Gen. Kuro-
patkin to the car informs his majesty
that the Russians were defeated while
trying to prevent the enemy from lay
ing a pontoon bridge across the Yalu.
Three Russians were killed and II
wounded.
Tries Adventurous Plan.
According to adyices to the Daily Tele-
graph from st. Petersburg, the Japanese
under Gen. Kuroki nave undertaken an
adventurous plan Of advancing along
the middle reaches of the Yalu river via
Kangge, for the purpose of outfanking
the Russian position on the right bank
of the Yalu. The plan is an extremely
hazardous one and will probably be long
in reaching its contamination, owing to
the difficulties of moving the army over
the mountains.
Other dispatches from St Petersburg
contain reports of Russian scouting par
ties to the effect that the japanese are
concentrated@With a large force at Win,
and are building pontoons across the
river.
Various Landings Rumored.
The Standards correspondent at Che
foo reports that 1t is rumored without
confirmation that a large Japanese force
has effected a landing on the west coast
of the Liaotung peninsula, 80 miles
north of Port Arthur.
Dispatches to the Express from Che
foo state that the japanese propose to
base their attack upon a number of
TENTS at various points on the west
roast of the Liaotung peninsula and an
Dthera feiAt in Takushan, but that the
real descent will be from the shore of
Talienwan bay on n side and from
Kinchau bay IN the other, which will
be the mostsdirect method ef securing
the isolation Of Port Arthur