Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-12-28
FORTY VESSELS
IN ONE FLEET
Japanese Ships steamins South to
Meet Russian squadron-AII in
Fighting Trim.
MORE FORTS ARE CAPTURED
impending Naval Conflict viii be the
Greatest in History-Russians
May be Surprised.

Washington, Dec. 26.-Naval au-
thorities and the whole world are
watching with deep interest the jour-
ney Of the japanese fleet Of warships
which Is hurrying toward the east
Gas OF Africa to give battle with
Russia's powerful Baltic squadron. At
last accounts The feet of japanese
ships. forty strong. anG considered n
of the mo : formidable bodies Of float
ing fighter ~ the world. had passed
the Pescador, islands.
The Pescadoies islands lie just to
the south OF Formosa. Thus. Japan
has moved. far ahead OF the line y.
pected to bring about a sea battle
that H. expected to be the most I'M
portant In modern times.
At this moment the Baltic feet is
divided. Admiral Foelkersahm's d.
vision, comprising 20 ships, has en-
tered the Indian ocean, having been
last reported at Jubutil. Admiral Roj-
.estvensky's detachment, Is ships or
more, is believed to be in the vicin-
ity of the Cape of Good Hope, having
sailed around Africa.
The place agreed upon by the Rus
slams to concentrate Is believed to be
the Chagos group of islands, south
OF India. Naval experts here figure
that the cars officers expected to
mobolize the armada ABOUT January
4.
The Chagos are a group of coral is
lands, practically uninhabited, form
ing a dependency of the British col
ony of Mauritius, and situated 2,100
miles southwest of Aden and 1850
miles to the northwest of Delagoa bay,
on the east coast of Africa. Minicov
is a coral atoll some $50 miles to the
west of the southern end of India, and
about 900 miles to the north of the
Chagos group.
From the Chagos 1t is 1000 miles
to Batavia, on the Straits Of Sunda,
where the feet will probably enter the
east Indies and turn north in the di.
Tection of Japan, and where, 1t Is
said, attack by the Japanese may first
be expected.
However, this sudden and dranlat.
ic on the worlds chess board
by the mikado is declared here to he
certain to surprise the Russians and
compel a hurried change of plans.
Various foreign merchantmen have
reported having seen the Japanese
Mikasa and other vessels entirely re.
painted, repaired and in the best of
hghting trim of Nagasaki, the great
naval depot Of Japan. 1t believed
that the mikado's ships have had their
bottoms scraped and are now able tC
steam at their swiftest.
They Have Taliuehiatun.
Toxic, Dec. 25.-The following re
port has been received from the army
~besieging Port Arthur:
"A body of our right wing surprised
the enemy at Incorporating and
Siaofanyuan at 10 o'clock on the
night of December "a, and subsequent
ly occupied these villages. After
gradually d%islodging the enemy, ouI
force at 1855 o'clock this Sunday
morning, occupied the whole of Taliu'
chiatun. Our repeated attacks fol
the past few days have been uniformly
successful. All the enemy's advanced
positions fronting our right wing arc
now In our hands.
Japanese Capture Houyangskukou.
Toxic, Dec. 24.-The Japanese forces
tesieging Port Arthur yesterda,
stormed and now hold the heights
east of HouyangskukOu. Prisoner
captured by the Japanese report thai
the Russian general, Kon dratneko
and another general officer, whose
name Is not known, have been killed
and that General Focek Is among thu
wounded.
A dispatch from the Japanese arm.
before Port Arthur, at midnight, says
ION December 20, the Russian de
tense works on the heights east Of
Houyangshukou, Shungsau mountain
. Ruhlung mountain and the H fort
were bombarded by the Japanese will
heavy guns which inflicted consider
able damage. AS a result Of the BON
bardment, a detachment OF the ia
panese right wing at dawn December
10 dIIdCheu TIE tucIuy ou tnS hSi6he'
east of Houyangshukou and captured
the ridge and heights In the morning
I'm the morning after the enem,
concentrated its fire from severa
ports at Tai Yangkou upon our newly
occupied position, following this will
a determined counter attack, during
which hand grenades were thrown
but our force finally repulsed the en-
envy. Later the enemy's lombard
ment abated, we constructed some de
fensive works and our occupation be
came more assured.
CONTEST NoTicE-Department o
the Interior, U. s.. Land Office, Lew
istown, Mont, Dec. q. 1904.
A sufficient contest affidavit having
been filed In this Office by
ERNEST ELKINS,
OF Fergus county. Mont, contestant
against homestead entry No. 20S(
made August 9Th, 1900, for the e1
nek, sec %, and WIZ nwA, sec "a
tp IS n, r 16 e, by William H. Ride
nour, contestee, in which 1t Is alles
ed that the said William H. Ridenou
has wholly abandoned said homestea,