Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-08-19


st. Petersburg, Aug. 13.-Public anx-
iety regarding the fate of the Port Ar
thur squadron has reached the highest
pitch, and remained unrelieved when
the people Of st. Petersburg retired last
night.
The reports from Toxic II Chefoo
OF the sea fight which followed the de-
parture of the squadron are so conflict
ing and inconclusive that a strong hope
exists that the Russian ships succeeded
In breaking through the Japanese fleet.
Indeed. it is rumored late last night
that the squadron had passed beyond
the Shang Tung promontory, which
would bring the squadron at least LOO
miles to the southeast of Port Arthur
and into the yellow sea.
Although unable to confirm this ru-
NOR, the Associated Press learns that
the family of Lieutenant Smyrnoff, Of
ficer of the battleship CZarevitch, last
evening received q telegram from him
dated at Tsingchau today. The mes
sage contained only two words: Alive;
embraces"
Tsingchau is 100 miles southwest of
Chefoo, In the province Of Shan Tung.
and is at the entrance of Kiauchau bay.
The receipt of this telegram might be
construed as partial confirmation of the
rumor that the squadron has cached
the open sea beyond Shan Tung. In no
other way can Lieutenant Smyrnoffs
family explain the message from Using
1t is hardly believed the squadron
itself put into Kiauchau, although some
time ago il was reported that it might
take refuge in this port. 1t is regarded
as more likely that one of the torpedo
boat destroyers was sent there with Of
fetal dispatches, and filed Lieutenant
Smyrnoff'G telegram.
The news of the dismantling OF the
torpedoboat Rieshitelni at Chefoo has
not caused surprise. 1t is understood
that she was deliberately sacrificed so
that Admiral Skrydloff might be APP
priced of the departure of the Russian
vessels from Port Arthur in order that
he might start out with the Vladivos-
tok squadron for the purpose of meet
ing them.
1t is denied at the admiralty that the
squadron left Port Arthur because the
situation OF h fortress was desperate.
The admiralty authorities say 1t is
more than likely that the Japanese are
close up to the perimeter Of the fort
ress, and the warships We're unable to
render further service, and that their
safety was endangered by the plung-
ing shells dropping from the Wolf
hills.
London, Aug. ia news agency
Toxic dispatch announces definitely
that Togo has frustrated the attempt
of the Port Arthur squadron to escape,
and adds that the Port Arthur forts
participated with the warships In the
engagements indicating. if true. that
the lighting occurred close to the port.
Toxic, Aug. 13.--Evidently driven to
sea tby the fire of the Japanese land
batteries, the Russian fleet emerged
from Port Arthur Wednesday morning.
Admiral Togo Immediately closed In
and opened a severe engagement, which
lasted until nightfall. Afterwards the
japanese destroyers and the torpedo
fiotillas delivered a series OF attacks.
The Japanese fleet withdrew dur
ing the night. A gunrdship sta
toned off the harbor reported that she
saw at dawn today the battleship Ret
vizan and the Pobieda steaming toward
Port Arthur.
Admiral Togo has not yet reported
the results of yesterdays engagement.
1t is thought here that h Russians at
tempted TO escape seward from their
base. which is no longer tenable. but
again refused TO attempt to force Togo's
line.
Chefoo. Aug. 13.-It Is reported the
Japanese protected, cruiser Kasugi was
sunk of Round island In q recent en-
gagement. The Russian ships before
leaving Port Arthur, ook IN board
heavy stores of machinery material fer
ship repairing. The torpedoboat de-
stroyer Ryeshitelni has been dis
mantled by the removal OF the breeches
Of her guns.
The only Round island TO be found on
maps and charts available Is situated off
southwest Korea. The island forms one
or q very great many larger and smaller
isIads of that part Of the Korean coast.
1t Is described az being small and ITO feet
high. II this Is the Round island referred
to. the engagement took. place not far
f fSs so mSsDna' csosassll c cf ko sn0wn port on
London. Aug. IA dispatch to the
Japanese legation from Toxic confirms
the above Dispatch Chefoo refugees
from Port Arthur state that during the
last fve days the Japanese shells from
wolf Hill have been dropping into the
town, causing much damage. Several
civilians have been hurt.
Captain Shesakovsky OF the Russian
torpedo boat destroyer. which arrived
here today, reports that ~ Japanese
sunk during the past week He con-
laror Russian warships had left Port
Arthur. and intimates that the war
ships exDect to Join the v~ladivoetok