Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-05
NAVAL CONTEST
IS IN PROGRESS
GREAT SEA BATTLE IS REPORTED
OFF PORT ARTHUR.
NO DETAILS ARE RECEIVED

NO DETAILS ARE RECEIVED
Heights on the Outskirts Of the City !,
Are Carried by Japanese Land
Forces After Three Fierce
Charges.
Chefoo, July 2.-What should prove
to be decisive naval engagement was
In progress Friday afternoon midway.
between Chefoo and Port Arthur. The
steamer Chefoo, which has arrived here,
passed within is miles Of the Japanese
fleet, consisting of two battleships and
five cruisers, all actively engaged. The
Russian feet was not seen, but the dis
lance Of the japanese from land pre-
cludes the possibility OF any attack on
the land batteries. The captain Of the
Chetoo says he heard a terrific explo-
sion, but was unable to discern whether
a Russian or a japanese ship was az
fected. The battle is held here to con-
firm the Chinese report that only four
of the larger Russian warships were at
Port Arthur Thursday night.
The Fighting at Port Arthur.
Mukden, July 2-Heavy fighting IL
reported to have occurred near Port Ar
thur June 26, resulting in the Russian
withdrawal from Guinsanshan, after Sc
we're losses on both sides. The Japan
csc fleet approached Siaopingtao, mid
way between Port Dalny and Port Ar
thur, in the morning Of June rs, and
bombarded the coast north of the bay
SO far as Uitseloshan. Strong Japanese
forces which had been landed then at
tackled the neighboring heights, which
were occupied by Russian riflemen.
Three times the Japanese were driven
back with heavy losses, but the Rus
SLAMS were forced to retire from their
main position near Guinsanshan The
Japanese reinforced their advance
guard and pressed the attack. After sew
eral fruitless assaults on Guinsanshan,
the Japanese commander sent strong
column along the central road from
Dalny to Port Arthur, with the object
of turning the Russian left, forcing the
Russians to retire. The Russians lost
seven officers and nearly 200 men killed.
The Japanese losses are believed to be-
much larger, as during the battle they
passed over mine which the Russians
successfully exploded.
-Four Japanese Ships Sunk.
Liaoyang, July Russian advices
from Port Arthur say that the Russian
Port Arthur squadron, consisting of IL
ships, attacked the Japanese squadron,
of is ships, June %, sinking four of the
Japanese torpedo boats and inflictins
damage to the other vessels. The Rusa
sian ships returned to Port Arthur.
Not single large vessel, 1t is added, was
damaged.
In the evening of June 20. Is miles
from Port Arthur, two Japanese regi-
ments, the advices further say, were
ambushed by company OF Russian in-
fantry, who allowed the Japanese to ap-
proach within 400 yards. The Japanese
attacked three times, getting to within
go yards Of the Russians, but each time
they were repulsed. Later, being REIN
forced by two other regiments the jap
anese compelled the Russians to fall
back to their Notifications. The total
Japanese loss was 1000 men. The
Russian loss at Dalin pass, June 81,
was 80 men killed. The Japanese losses
were heavier.
Says Story Is False.
St Petersburg, July 2.-Maj. Gen.
Plug, telegraphing from Mukden un-
der date Of July !. says: THE reports
from foreign sources that the Japanese
feet sank several Of our squadron on
June %, and that our loss included
Rear Admiral Prince. Ouktomsky and
700 sailors, are absolutely untrue"
Russia Don't Want Mediation.
st. Petersburg, July 2.-Dispatches
from Washington saying that inquiries
made by the United States government
as to the possibility of mediation show
that neither Russia nor Japan is in
the humor to entertain overtures. but
that the state department is ready to
offer its services in the interests of
mediation whenever they may be ac-
ceptable, are attracting considerable
attention in government and diploma
tic circles, but the optimistic opinions
attributed to official circles at Wash
tngton regarding the early opening of
friendly offices are not shared here.
On the contrary, wherever inquiries
have been made the opinion has been
unanimous that there is absolutely
nothing in the present situation, so far
as Russia is concerned, on which to
base an early termination Of the war.
and that the question of peace will ba
considered only when direct proposals
have been made by Japan. Russia has
announced her determination not to
tolerate mediation, and this determf-
nation seems to be rather STRENGTHENED
than shaken by the reyerses Of her
arms.
There can be no mediation" the
Associated Press was emphatically in
formed, "and any propositions looking
to peace must come from Japan. The
United States government might be-
come the medium through which pro-
posals would be submitted for our con-
sideration, and, of course, any such
proposals would be considered, blu.
Russia Is not seeking good offices, and
neither the United States nor any
other power will be asked to act as
mediator"
Democratic Committeeman Dead.
st. Louis, July 2.-Joseph r. Ryan.
national democratic committeeman
from Nevada, and head of the Nevada
delegation to the democratic national