The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-12
IS TRUTH CONCEALED.
General Opinion That Russia Ha. sut
fered Greater Damage Than
Has Been Reported.

General Opinion That Russia Has suf
fered Greater Damage Than
Has Been Reported.
London, Feb. lott is the general
opinion Of the British press this morn.
ing that Viceroy Alexief's dispatches
conceal the extent of the damage that
the Japanese onset inflicted upon the
Russian fleet, and that when the actual
facts became known it will be seen that
Japan, by her pluck and energy, hae
practically secured command of the
sea.
In an editorial article the Daily Tele-
graph says that unless all signs are
astray the far eastern fleet which Rus
STA built up with extraordinary exer-
tons during the last five years Is in ita
death agony
The Times says the moral effect of
the blow which Japan suddenly deliver
ed can hardly be exaggerated. and that
the immediate strategic consequences
are only second in Importance to the
moral effect.
' All the daily papers express the
greatest satisfaction at such a complete
and unexpected initial success on the
part of the Japanese.
Secretary Hays note to the powers
on the integrity of China created great
Interest at the Japanese legation here,
where 1t was characterized as "a SER
ious blow to Russia" Beyond this
1itate1nent, however. the legation Off
I ials refused to be quoted. The daily
papers publish the note with great
but while admitting Its ex-
IRENE Importance and urging the most
l'areful consideration of the proposal,
hey comment upon it In a tone of con-
l.derable caution. The Times says II
hopes 1t will meet with general support,
as 1t would limit the danger Of the dis
turbance of the worlds peace.
h Daily Telegraph's correspondent
IT Che Foo. in a dispatch dated Tues
gay evening, says the Russians are en-
.deaVorlng by pumps and collision mats
to stop the holes In their battleships in
order to take them inside at high wa
tor.
British Saw the Engagement.
Che Foo, Feb. 1O.-The steamer CO.
lumbia has arrived from Port Arthur
with additional news of the attack by
the Japanese fleet upon the Russian
fleet in the roads outside of the har.
Dor of Port Arthur. The Columbia was
IN the roads at the time, and felt the
first shock of a torpedo explosion at
III O'Clock on Monday night. The at
tack continued all night, and at day
break Tuesday morning two Russian
battleships and one first class Russian
cruiser We're seen to have been dis
abled and beached at the entrance OF
the harbor. The cruiser raj badly
listed to n side.
Tuesday morning the Russian forts
opened fire on the Japanese fleet,
which was about three miles distant
The Japanese vessels returned the fire.
hitting several Of the Russian ships,
doing little damage. The Rus
sian cruisers hi vent out. and the
Japanese vessels disappeared. They
We're seen later going In the direction
OF Dalny, apparently unchanged. AL
though the officers Of the Columbia
say that there were seventeen in the
attacking party. only sixteen were seen
later in the day by the steamer Foo
Chow.
A member of the crew Of the Colum-
bia tells this story of the naval battle
mt Port Arthur:
THE Columbia was lying in the road
stead. surrounded by fourteen battle
ships and cruisers. At about IL:
o'clock Monday night a severe shock
was felt on board the Columbia. The
Russians Immediately began to operate
their searchlights n opened fire.
towards :he sea. The firing lasted only
u short time. At / O'Clock more shocki
were felt. and the Russians again COM
lne.ced flrlng.
1 Russian Vessels Beached.
+. "Tao Japanese did not return the fire,
AZ , O'Clock two Russian battleships
went in and We're beached across the
of the harbor. They were soon
followed by a Russian cruiser, which
ilso was beached. None of the vessels
vas damaged above the water line.
.iore shocks from %torpedoes were felt
turing the early morning, and then all
I as quiet.
Alto O'Clock Tuesday morning three
q sight of the Russian fleet. The whole
fleet Immediately weighed
: ilchoI and went after them. but re
turned in half an hour.
The Russians left one, cruiser out
/. de to watch for the Japanese ships.
J he cruiser was fired upon by the jap
! 1ese, and the other Russian vessels
look up their anchors and cruised
~ound the roadstead. The Japanese
I get came up within three miles, and a
attle commenced. The japanese fred
T, = the ships and forts. which replied.
wo Russian ships We're struck by
laells, but We're only slightly damaged.
.sae Russian fire fell short.
The Columbia steamed away while
le battle was in progress, but later
aw the Japanese fleet leave.
] one Japanese cruiser, with torpedo
Soats, Is reported north of Che Foo.
The two battleships disabled are the
Polateva and the Czarevitch. The dis
/ Ted armored cruiser Boyaim and the
FOUNDED battleships block the en-
ance to the harbor, preventing gun
ats from going out and battleships
md cruisers from gong in and getting
lfal. Besides this, Japan has the Rus
ian %gunboats Variag and Koretz
taught at Chemulpo. They were bound
+ V~ladivostok.
! The japanese fleet was under the
Command of Vice Admiral Togo, and
of four fast cruisers, the Chit
! e, Shikishima, Yashima and Iwate.
/ lich circled outside. drawing the fire
the Russians. They Their Joined the
! ein fleet and all ven in to attack the
! mored cruisers. In the japanese
| Get, which consisted of two divisions
/ ere the Mikasa, the flagship: the first
ilass battleships Asahi. Fuji, Inashima,
liSasht Ma, Hatsusa I'M the dispatch
Loaf Tatsuma. The second division Of
re fleet. under command of Admfra
on the flagship Idsumo.
consisted of the armored cruisers Yak
INA, Asama and Iwate when seen by
he Foo Chow on Thursday. 2
resident Nominations