Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-04
FIERCE ASSAULT
ON PORT ARTHUR
JAPANESE FLEET DETERMINED
i TO REDUCE THE STRONGHOLD.
CITY is AGAIN. BoMBARDED
Russian Battleships Fail in Effort to
s. Meet Attack-Forced to Retire
in = Very Badly Damaged
Condit3en.

in Very Badly Damaged
Conditaen.
London, March IA dispatch to the
Daily Telegraph from Yin Kow, dated
February 20, says: Fifteen Japanese
warships furiously bombarded Port
Arthur from ten until - o'clock this
morning. The Russian cruisers Novik,
Askold and Bayan, accompanied by
four torpedo boats, steamed out to meet
the attack. They were, however, forced
TO retire. The Askold was in a sinking
condition. The Novik was badly dam
aged, and torpedo boat was sunk.
The Russian battleship Retvizan was
again damaged. The Japanese With
drew in good order"
Attack Ordered.
Liao-Yang, Manchuria, March L.
Foreigners living at Yin-Kow say that
the Japanese fleet has received orders
to attack and capture Port Arthur on
March at all costs.
Prepare to Defend Port Arthur.
Port Arthur, Sunday, Feb. 28.-Gen.
Stoessel, commander of the garrison
here, has issued general order direct
Ing the attention of the troops and Ia
habitants to the fact that the Japanese
intend to land and seize the fortress.
The general declares the Japanese con-
slider the seizure Of Port Arthur to be
q question OF national honor, and from
their obstinate attacks and lombard
ments of the fortress and bays he can
only conclude that the enemy will
make every effort to capture the
fortress. failing which the Japanese
will destroy the railroad and withdraw.
THE enemy, however" proceeds the
general order, lis mistaken. Our
troops know and the Inhabitants are
herewith informed by me that we will
not yield. We must fight to the finish,
rs I, the commandant, will never give
an order to surrender. l bring this to
the notice of those less daring and call
on all to become convinced of the
necessity of fighting to the death.
Those who leave without fighting will
not save themselves. There is no way
out. On three sides there is the sea
and on the fourth will be the enemy.
There is no means Of escape except By
fighting"
Notwithstanding the heavy gale
which is blowing the lights Of Japanese
scouting vessels were visible in the
ofing during the night.
Russian Scouts Driven Back.
Chefoo, March III ne Twenty-ninth
Japanese infantry, occupying Ping
Yang. midway between Seoul and the
Yalu river, on Sunday met y SoGsy VI
Russian cavalry scouts north Of Ping
Yang and drove them back.
It ie estimated that 10000 Japanese
troops have landed at Chemulpo. The
transports now are not escorted by
war vessels.
Il Two Jap Boats Destroyed.
st. Petersburg, Marck Am official
news agency Monday published the
following dispatch:
Port Arthur, Feb. 29.-It is con-
Armed that q Japanese torpedo boat de-
stroyer was blown up and another
sunk during the recent fighting. The
wreck Of the latter was subsequently
washed ashore"
Not Improbable.
7 st. Petersburg, March Direct con-
afmation Of the report from Hakodate
that Vladivostock is blockaded by the
Japanese vessels cannot be obtained
here, but 1t is considered not improb-
able. During the Japanese landing OPP
eyatdons in Corea the Russian war
ships to the north were a constant
menace, and blockading them would
be the most effective means OF Sc
curing noninterference. Furthermore,
Il 10 worthy Of note that for more than
one week no word has been allowed to
come from Vladivostock, and this in
itself seems strong presumptive EVIL
dence that important events are traus-
piring.
The report from Liau Yang. Man.
churia. that the Japanese feet has re-
ceived orders to attack and capture Port
Arthur on March / at all costs, coupled
with the comparison of Port Arthur and
SevAstopOl made by the Novoe Vremya,
has created profound Impression, and
has added to the belief that the Japan.
ese pussibly intend to commence land
and sea operations against Port Ar
thur sooner than was anticipated.
Grants the Request.
Washington, March The Rus.
Sian army formally has granted the re-
quest of the United States that certain
officers Of the American army be per-
mitted to accompany the Russian
troops and witness their operations in
the war with Japan. Ambassador Nc
Cormick, in a cablegram informing
Secretary Hay of this fact, states that
the officers cannot join the Russian
army before April Is, of the Russian
calendar.
The officers who have been designat-
ed for this service are Col. j. B. Kerr,
Of the general staff; Capt. Carl Reich
man, Seventeenth infantry, Capt. George
Galley. and Capt. William d. Judson,
Of the engineer corps. All of the above
are in Manila except Capt Judson,
who is in this city and who will leave
at once for st. Petersburg.
Ii China Japan's Ally.
st. Petersburg, March discussing
the attitude Of China the sviet says #
considers China is a. secret ally o,
Hopan. and that "nke America and
(ileaL Britain she will do everything
possible to injure Russia" The Sviet
anticipates that China eventually will
become an open enemy and says the
Russian authorities In the far east are