Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-02-16
RUSSIAN BOAT
STRIKES A Mine
Torpedo Transport Is Blown Up at
Port Arthur.
TWENTY-FIVE LIVES ARE LOST

NlNETY-FWE LIVES ARE LOST |
Preparations Being Made for a Land
Campaisn-Japan Rushing Troops
Into COrea as Rapidly
as Possible.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 10. 4 Q. ma
report has been received from Viceroy
Alexieff saying that the Russian tor
pedo transport Yenisei had been blown
up as the result of accidentally stril-
ing mine at Port Arthur. The Yen
isei sank and Capt. Stepanoff, three
officers and 81 men were lost.
War News Summed Up.
New York, Feb. ia careful study
Of the reports that have reached Amer-
lea and Europe from the East, including
press dispatches and om.lunications
through official channelss<Would indi-
cate that but two actual conflicts OF any
moment have so fpi occurred. These
are the Japanese laval attack on Port
Arthur on Monday night and Tuesday
Monday and Tuesday. In,circles whose
knowledge of conditions in that part of
the world allows them to speak with ac-
curacy, the variGls reports of other en-
gagements are<considered but echoes Of
these two/fights. News travels slowly
In North China. Cable and telegraph
facilities are very limited, and it is evil
dent that as reports of the Port Arthur
and Chemulpo affairs reach various
points they are promptly cabled by res
ident correspondents, resulting in a
natural confusion of dates. The cir
cumstantial report of another engage
ment, sent by the Reuter- Telegram COM
pany from Toxic under date of February
10, published in this country Thursday
afternoon, also undoubtedly referred to
the original Port Arthur attack, news of
which had just reached Toxic. This be-
lief is strengthened by the fact that no
official confirmation has been received
of subsequent engagements, and it is
pointed out that such official advices
were received through the various en-
bassies at Washington promptly on the
heels of the press reports of the events
Of Monday and Tuesday. The flood Of
conflicting dispatches from various
North China points during the Boxer
revolution is recalled. For this reason
the report cabled by the Tientsin cores
pondent of the London Standard thai
Russian feet had bombarded Hako.
date is entirely disregarded Naval mer
In this city say that so far as is known
the only Russian vessels in position tt
make move are those at Vladivostock
and that it cannot for moment be
thought they would be withdrawn from
the defense of that important depot
even if they are free from ice, and not
blocked up by Japanese squadron, as
has bssnsssasss e view Of the fact
tween Japan and China, except by way
of Shanghai, 1t is, to say the least, Inn
probable that such important news
would be first heard in the inland town
of Tlsursin.
The official notice sent out Thursday
night from st. Petersburg that the cable
from Vladivostoci to Nagasaki, the
telegraph line from Seoul to Masamphc
and the telegraph line from Seoul Il
Wonsan are broken, limits communica.
ton with, Japan to the cables that LAND
ut Shanghai, which are under Japanese
censorship. This is additional reason tt
!. discredit the vague reports of furthel
engagements.
Japan Landing Troops.
London, Feb. 13.-The Japanese min
lister here, Baron Hayashi, has re
ceived a dispatch from the government
at Toxic, announcing that the latte
has not yet received an official repor
of the battle fought off Port Arthur
and adding that apparently the disem
barkation of Japanese troops is pro
ceeding satisfactorily and without dis
order at Chemulpo, the port of Seoul
Corea, and elsewhere.
Germany Stops Fleet.
London, Feb. ia dispatch from
Berlin says that the German govern
ment has notified Russia that tn,
czar's fleet cannot proceed through tn,
Kiel canal en- route to the far east.
Expects Japnnese victory.
London, Feb. 13.-The British govern.
ment has information which leads Il
~ to believe that Japan is likely to BIZ
In possession of Port Arthur weel
from now In the best informed Jap
anese circles here it is privately thought
that the war will beover by July. Those
British officials who are cognizant of tn,
extraordinary thoroughness with which
Japan prepared for the war are inclined
to share the Japanese view regarding tn,
duration of the struggle.
Called Into Active Service.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 13.-An imperia
ukase dated February 10 was ISSUED
Friday. 1t commands that all tn,
troops in the military establishment
in the Siberian military districts b,
placed in readiness for war; that al
the divisions in the far eastern vice
royalty be brought to war strength
and that the army and navy reserves
IN the Siberian and Kazan districts b,
called out for active service. The au
thorities are empowered to reauisitio,
the necessary horses
Sunk by Russian Warships
London Teb. 13.-Baron Hayashi
/ the Japane,se minister here, has re
ceived dispatch from Toxic announ
cling that on February II two Japanes,
merchant steamers, the Nakancur;
Maru and zensho Maru, while on thei