Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-17
ToDAYs DISPATCHES G FROM
czARs FORCES MENTION
EVERYTHING BUT FLEET.
JAPAN AWAITS
BIG SEA FIGHT
il Russians Are Striving to Unite Port
Arthur and vIadivostok Fleets Bat
tie is Likely Japan Fears Shortage
Of Money and Calls Upon Diet.
Port Arthur, March 16. Everything
is quiet here. There is no sign of the

is quiet here. There is no sign of the
enemy
Advices from Fong- Puan-C Cheng,
about forty-five miles northwest OF Wi
ju. say the Russian troops are show
ing an admirable spirit in surmounting
the difficulties and hardships in the
frozen lands of East Manchuria.
Expect Big Battle.
Toxic, March 16.-All Japan is anx-
iously awaiting news from the sea.
The reports that the Russian fleet has
escaped from Port Arthur and has
made dash for the Vladiyostok har-
Dor continue in circulation here and
although there is no official confirma-
ton they are believed by every Jap
anese.
Japs Believe In Togo.
Whether Admiral Togo can overtake
the Russians before they join the Via
divostok squadron is a question that
time alone can decide but it is believed
that even if he does not he will be vic
torious in the big sea fight that will
be inevitable in case the two Russian
fleets become united.
Insist Japs Lost Heavily.
Port Arthur, March 16. - Another
passenger of the steamer Argun, which
was captured by the Japanese off the
coats of Corea February Z and taken
to Sasebo, who returned. here yester-
day, declares that he saw two damag-
ed warships toWed into Nagasaki Feb
ruary 26. one being the Asuma and the
other a cruiser said to be a flagship.
Both had a heavy list, the man says
Traitor Is Court MartiaIed.
st. Petersburg March Is. Cap
tain Ivkov of the Manchurian commits
sarial service has been court martialed
and shot for acting as a spy in the
pay of the Japanese and when arrested
documents were found in Ivkov's pos
session which left no doubt as to the
truth of the charges that he had long
been revealing military secrets to the
Japanese.
Special Diet Called.
Tokio, March 16.-The cabinet after
Il conference with the elder statesmen
Rand other political leaders, has decided
to submit proposals for the extension
of the tobacco monopoly to include
manufactured tobacco and the creation
convening on Friday next.
Suggests Tax Increase.
The cabinet decided also to suggest
increases in taxes on many industries
amounting to 68,000,000 yen.
Expense of War Heavy.
The war expenses from the COM
mencement of the hostilities to the end
of March are estimated at 56,000,000
yen. OF this sum only 50,000,000 yen
have actually been disbursed.
Russian Shells Kill Russians.
Yin Kow; March 16.-The Japanese
again attacked Port Arthur March 12
Most of the shells fired into the city
during the bombardment were obtain
ed from the captured east Asiatic
steamer Manchuria, which was bound
for Port Arthur with 1000 tons OF
war material. The Russians were
greatly surprised at seeing their own
: shells bursting among them. Thirty
men were killed in one large fort and
the total Russian casualties were over
300 killed and wounded. This is au-
thentic. Evidently not much damage
was done to the Japanese ships, for the
forts made but feeble reply.
Students HarshIy Dealt With.
Berlin, March 16. - Thirty Russian
students, several of them women, have
received from the police, notices of ex
pulsion, in consequence of participat
ing in meeting Saturday to protest
against the governments permitting
Russian police agents to arrest Russi
an residents in Germany.
Says America Is Taking Sides.
San Francisco, March 16.---The Elk
aminer today says the San francisco
mint is making United States coin fol-
the Japanese government. Gold is be
ing sent here, the paper says, for coin
age into money which will be used in
purchases of food and other supplies
for the army and navy.
Clear Track for kouropatkin.
st. Petersburg, March 16-Genera
Kouropatkin expects to reach MukdeI
March 26. Everything will be side
tracked in order to get him to the
front on schedule time. The genera
may proceed on flying visit to Por1
Arthur, but he is more likely to entel
at once upon his duties as commander
in-chief of the Manchurian army. He
bears an autograph letter from the EN-
peror to Viceroy Alexieff, to whom hi
will report 1t is understood that the
viceroy then will turn over the entire
direction of the land operations to Gen
Kouropatkin, who will transmit his re
ports to the emperor through the vice
roy, but practically this is the onl,