Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-05-19
BIG BATTLE
AT LAO YANG
JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN ARMIES
ARE STRIKING
DISTANCE.
FIRST RUSSIAN NAVAL SUCCESS
NAPHTHA LAUNCH SAID TO HAVE
SUNK A JAPANESE
CRUISER.
FIRST RUSSIAN NAVAL SUCCESS

Niuchwang, May II. - A battle al
Liao-yang is imminent. Yesterday the
Japanese main force was within TWEEN.
ty miles OF Liao-yang and their ad'
vance guard exchanged shots with Cos.
sack scouts.
The Russians are removing immense
stores to Mukden. II is rumored that
the Russian sare ~evacuating Lao
yang, but this has not been verified.
Within Striking Distance.
Toxic. May lit is stated hat the
Russian garrison at Liao-yang made
one attempt to check the Japanese adj
vance, sending a force of 5000 men
south to Motienling pass to meet the
enemy's first division. which was ex-
pected to cross by that route, but the
Japanese frustrated this by avoiding
the dangerous road.
Despite the fact that the exact
whereabouts of Gen. Kuroki's division
is unknown, his position is perfectly
clear. The army that has occupied
Siuyen is that from Takushan under
Marshal Oku. To the left,
Advancing On Haicheng.
is a greater part of the army that
landed on Liaotung peninsula. In the
center is Kuroki, with probably 100, 900
men. On his right is the force which
occupied Kuantien a week ago, the
strength of which is unknown, and
still further east is another force de-
tached from Kuroki's command. which,
no doubt, is moving round to the Rus
sian rear that is, to the north Of
Mukden. Both this force and Kuroki's
must now be within striking distance
of Liao-yang, and the combined
armies cannot number less than 200,-
600 men. Against them it Is doubtful
IL the Russians can muster half the
number at Liao-yang.
First Russian Naval Success.
Liao-yang, May II. - The Russian
fleet scored its first distinct naval sue
cess of the war by ~torpedoing and
Gripping, If not sinking, an armored
Japanese cruiser in Talienwan bay,
The Russian attack was carefully
planned on May 10 while the Japanese
squadron was concentrated outside of
Dalny, ~devoting its whole attention to
Talienwan bay, and was carried out
the same night. The attacking force
not a regular torpedo boat, but
only a
Small Naphtha Launch
In command of a young naval officer
who had with him three jackies. The
launch mounted a small machine gun
and carried three torpedoes.
When darkness fell the launch crept
out Of Port Arthur, hugging the shore
with no lights aboard and no glow
from the engines to betray her pres
ence. 1t was late when she gained
the outer line of the Japanese squad
ron. Slipping through the torpedo
boat pickets, and selecting the near
est warship. a big armored cruiser,
she stole toward her and succeeded in
exploding against her side a single tor
pedo. A d~eafening roar followed the
explosion which echoed far achore.
Immediately flames enveloped the
cruiser. which evidently was badly
crippled. The crew Of the cruiser
was seen to be
Fighting the Fire.
which they at last succeeded in ex-
A sister ship took the
damaged vessel In tow and disap-
to the southeast.
The launch escaped the hot fire d.
rected against her by the Japanese
ships, but being unable to return to
Port Arthur or get into Dalny. she
beached not far from Dalny.
Only q few OF the higher officers
we're aware Of the plan, the success of
which depended upon secrecy. The
achievement raised the spirits Of the
Russians afloat and ashore. and the
young naval oficer who was the hero
,f the exploit was feted and recon.
nended for the Cross of st. George.
Chinese Menace Russians.
Shan Hal Kwan. May 17.-Bandits
gradually are approaching Niuchwang
For three nights In succession there
has been sharp lighting. A number OF
The marauders have been killed and
their bodies left exposed as . warning
10 the villagers.
Chinese soldiers yesterday attacked
he railway coal mines occupied by the
Russian administrative near Port Ad-
ans. They drove out the oficials
who were working therein. and many
.MWI.M"T. M. UNM.MNM HE 4.