Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-27
REPORTS sAY RUSSIAN GENERAL
HAS MADE ovERTUREs TO
YIELD FORTRESS.
MEDIATION is DECLINED

Safe Conduct of Garrison and Ships
From the Besleged Fortress and the
tarbor Said to Have Been the Re-
quest Made by the Russian General.
Nagasald, Dec. 2e.-A message from
Dalny reports that the Russians at
Port Arthur have proposed to surren-
der on terms which Gen. Nogi has re-
son and ship be allowed to return to
Russia.
Make Rapid Progress.
Toxic, Dec. 26.-The capture of an
other fort and the news of the death
Of two Russian generals, Kondratenko
and Irman, and the wounding of an
other, General Fock, indicates the
rapid progress of the closing events
Of the siege of Port Arthur.
The fort captured Is on the heights
of Houyangshukon, mile and a half
south Of 203 Metre hill and directly
west of the town of Port Arthur.
Mikado Praises Togo's Fleet.
Toxic, Dec. 26.-An imperial re-
script dispatched to Vice Admiral
Togo says:
1--WE hear with great satisfaction
that our torpedo flotillas engaged in
the work required of them at Port Ar
thur have gallantly and successfully ac-
complished the duties required of them,
and In so doing they had to brave the
dangers Of storms and shells by day
and night
Despite all the difficulties confront
ing them they have succeeded in per-
forming their duties without the least
confusion, rendering one another mu-
tual assistance.
I'VE especially note their brave and
loyal performance of the duties re-
quired of them and express our ap-
probation Of their gallant behavior.
Russia Denies Peace Rumor.
ST. Petersburg, Dec. 26.-The rumor
printed in London and the United
II States that the czar has accepted Pres
ldent Loubet's offer to mediate be.
tween Russia and japan in order tc
end the war is officially denied.
Delay for Rojestvensky.
st. Petersburg, Dec. 26.-It appears
I now to be quite certain that Vice Ad
miral Rojestvensky's squadron will DC
delayed probably at Madagascar, unit
REINFORCED by Vice Admiral Birileff's
!. third fleet.
" YTJl.s aS1ynT no n
%the annihilation of the battle ships al
Port Arthur. Wonderful efforts are
being made to get the fresh ships
READY.
Occupy Taliuchiatun.
Toxic, Dec. 26.-The Port Arthu
besiegers occupied Taliuchiatun OF
Saturday. 1t is officially announcet
that the whole of the Russian ad
vanced positions in front of the jar
anese right has fallen.
Must Never Retreat.
Mukden, Dec 26.-General Kure
N patkin, addressing the troops Sunday
h said: '.You must never allow youl
selves to retreat Even in the cas-
of the smallest detachment havin
once formed plan, it must be cal
ried out to the end"
Again Great Military Camp.
Toxic, Dec. 26-Tokio is again
4 = great military camp, and the scenes c
last spring, when the first armies wer
g modified and dispatched, are bein
duplicated. Thousands of recruits an
reseryists are assembled, drilling an
equipDing preparatory to taking tn
field. The permanent and tenporar
barracks are filed, and it is necessar
to billet the soldiers brought to tn
city.
Aoyama field is the center of actf'
Y ity. where infantry, cavalry and arti
lery are constantly drilling The ba
teries fire blank charges for the pu
pose of breaking in the new horses.
Half Million for oyama.
The general military preparation
4 are enormous 1t is planned to CIV
y Field Marshal Oyama 4 rough total
y half million men, with heavily Il
creased artillery arm, besides proyi
ing a defense for Formosa and til
southern islands in anticipation of tt
Russian second Pacific squadron's q
tempt to seize a base The port {
kelung. in Formosa, has been declare
In state of siege, and other position
in Formosa and the Pescadores al
progressing. Winter is not interferir
,M with the Japanese transport servic
q The railway between Dalny and Ye
tai is working WELL and the runnir
time between Toxic and Liao Yang
six days.
2
& PAPER coNFIscATED.