Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-02-24
JAPS WIN FIRST LAND BATTLE
REPORTED THAT YALU RIVER
FIGHT COST $500 RUSSIANS.
It Is Said Russia Reinforces Port
Arthur-Japs Make Boast-Rus.
sian Squadron Tries to Locate Jap.
anese Cables-Lost a Torpedo Boat
-Japs conoratulates Admiral Nasi.

A dispatch from Chefoo is printed
in London saying that it is reported
there that an engagement has occur
red between Japanese and Russian
troops south Of the Yalu, in which 1000
Russians were killed.
The Paris edition of the New York
Herald tells of Russian repulse on
the Yalu river, with a loss Of $500
lives.
Prepares for a Siege.
Word reaches Chefoo that Russia
is sending reinforcements to Port
Arthur, which, Japan declares, will fail
into ner hands inside Of two months.
1t is claimed that Port Arthur Is pro-
visioned for a 10 months siege.
Jap Torpedo Boats.
Sounds Of desultory firing at sea are
heard almost nightly. This is doubt
less due to the attempted approach Of
Japanese torpedo boats, but nothing
serious has developed.
The garrison is in excellent spirits
and is firmly convinced Of the ultimate
success of the Russian arms.
TO Cut Japan's Gables.
The Toxic dispatch of the London
Times confirm the report that the 81
berian squadron Of the Russian navy
has again left Vladivostock. The four
armored cruisers are apparently trying
10 locate the japanese interisland ca.
bles in order to cut them and thus In
terrupt communication between the
various military centers.
Regret is expressed in Japan at the
attitude Of France in not enforcing
the neutrality principles Of interna.
tional law. By permitting the Russian
squadron to remain at Jiboutil, France
permitted the establishment Of a Sec
ondary base by Russia ON French ter.
ritory.
Japanese Cabinet Changes.
1t is announced that changes have
been made In the Japanese cabinet,
whereby the position Of home Sec
retary. which has been vacant. has
been filed. At the request of the EN-.
peror. it is said. Count Yoskiawa has
accepted the portfolio.
The mikado has addressed q mes.
sage Of congratulation to Rear Ad.
miral Nagi. who commanded the de-
stroyer squadron which made the night
attack in the face of a snowstorm on
the Russian squadron IN Port Arthur
on Sunday, February IA.
Emperor William of Germany has
sent a direct message to the mikado,
in which he tenders for the use Of the
pitals at Yokohama and Kiaochau.
This acticn is most appreciated
throughout the empire.
Japs Lost One Vessel.
A special to the London Chronicle
from Shanghai says: The Japanese
troops on the transport Seanuki Maru
and Hakata Maru. which were laden
with munitions, arrived at Chemulpo
February Is. The Japanese are con-
structing jetties at Chemulpo.
During the engagement on the 9th
the Japanese certainly lost one tor
pedo boat. Korea fishermen report
that the Japanese removed the fun
rel and masts from the wreck on the
10th. apparently with the idea Of de-
stroying the evidence of the loss.
The opinion here is that Russia is
forcing China into the war.
Most of the heads of the Russian de-
partments are now In Harbin. The
headquarters Of Viceroy Alexieff are
at present in Mukden.
Powers Still Have Rights.
While France has acceded to the
British proposal for the extension OF
neutrality by China to all points in
China leased by powers save those oc.
cupied by Russia, the foreign office
says that such action In nowise i'm.
pairs the rights Of the powers under
their leases.
Russian Official Talks.
Bourden, Figaro's special cores.
pondent at ST. Petersburg. has obtain.
ed a statement from a high Russian
official on the situation In the east.
The official statement is made that the
Japanese almost daily are attempting
to land troops north and east Of Port
Arthur, with the evident design OF cut.
ting the railway and besieging the
town. The Japanese already have
landed 10000 men at Chamulpo and
are landing others on the eastern coast
Of Korea. The official declares 1t will
be a month or more before they can
reach the Yalu, when they will be ex.
hausted by the long. difficult march
in an unfavorable climate. which the
Russians bear easily. Russia now has
a hundred thousand men In Man.
churia and is landing $500 daily. She
will have an army Of 100000 In the
far east in six weeks, not to mention
the reinforcements which will con-
stantly be sent out. Serious hostili-
ties can not begin, he thinks. for sew.
eral weeks.
A dispatch from the New York Her
aid from st. Petersburg gives the fore
cast that some morning the Russian
Black sea feet may be Unexpectedly
found in the Mediterranean. Turkey
being assured that this being once an
accomplished fact, not one Of the pow
ers would have a word to say In OBJ.