Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-17
Baltic Fleet Ordered to Far East
Denied-Report That Ger
many Stopped 1t.
A General Summing Up Of the News
Accounts for But Two Naval
Battles Thus Far.
British War ONCE Believes Japau
Will Capture Port Arthur With.
i'm the Next Week.

lea and Europe from the East, including
press dispatches and communications
through official channels, would indi-
cate that but two actual conflicts of any
moment have so far occurred. These
are the Japanese naval attack on Port
Arthur on Monday night and Tuesday
morning and the affair at Chemulpo on
Monday and Tuesday. In circles whose
knowledge of conditions in that part of
the world allows them to speak with ac-
curacy, the various 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 thu
heels of the press reports of the events
! n nd T,,1r -
conflicting dispatches from various
North China points during the Boxer
revolution is recalled. For this reason
the report cabled by the Tientsin CORES
Eondent of the London Standard that
a Russian fleet had bombarded Hako-
date is entirely disregarded. Naval men
in this city say that so far as is known
the only Russian vessels in position to
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thought they would be withdrawn from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 been reported. In view of the fact
that there is no cable communication be-
tween Japan and China, except by way
of Shanghai, it is, to say the least, i'm
probable that such important news
would be first heard in the inland town
of Tientsin.
| The official notice sent out Thursday
night from st. Petersburg that the cable
from Vladivostock to Nagasaki, the
telegraph line from Seoul to Masampho
and the telegraph line from Seoul to
| Wonsan are broken, limits communica-
ton with Japan to the cables that land
at Shanghai, which are under Japanese
censorship. This is additional reason to
discredit the vague reports of further
engagements.
No News at St. Petersburg.
| st. Petersburg, Feb. 13.-It is posi-
lively asserted by the government that
no kilograms have been received from
Viceroy Alexieff, except those already
| given out, and it is understood that
! even the car is expectantly waiting
| for complete, direct official informa-
ton.
At the admiralty it was said that
some additional technical details had
been received, but nothing in regard to
! further fighting.
The explanation of the admiralty o.
! the non-receipt here of direct news OF
| the naval battle off Chemulpo was lack
of cable connections.
Japan Landing Troops.
London, Feb. 13.-The Japanese min
lister here, Baron Hayashi, has re-
ceived dispatch from the government
| at Toxic, announcing that the latter
has not yet received an official report
| of the battle fought of 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.
| Baltic Fleet Not to Go.
Berlin, Feb. 13.-It is officially an
nounced, here that nothing is known
of the alleged passage or impending
passage, of the Russian Baltic feet
through the Kaiser Wilhelm baltic
North Sea- canal.
The best denial Of the statement that
Russia wishes to send Is warships
through the Kaiser Wilhelm canal was
made at the navy Department. where
| it was said that Russia has not Is
ships In the. Baltic that could readily
be sent to the far east, seven or eight
being all she has there, according to
the intelligence here. that could be