Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-26
JAPANESE HAVE
THEIR BAD TURN.
LOSE CRUISER BY COLLISION,
BATTLESHIP BY MINE.

Two Vessels Meet in Foei Ioshino
Goes Down.--Hatsuse Hita Russian
Mine and Sunk.--1eavy Loss Of Life.
--Serious Blow 10 Japs.--Russlan
Cruiser Wrecked and Blown Up.--
Port Arthur Invested From Land
Slde.--Gen. Kuroh Falls Back to
Fengwanscheng.
During the past week there has been
somew hat Of a change in the aspect of the
Eastern war. The uninterrupted success +
Of the japanese has given place to serious
reyerses that may ultimately affect the
result Of the war.
Admiral Togo, in command Of the fleet
blockading Port Arthur, reported that
May Is the cruisers Kasaga and Yoshino
collided in fog and the Yoshino sank
almost Immediately, only 80 of her crew
being saved. Togo also reported that the
same day the battleship Hatsuse struck
mine and was sunk, some 800 Of her crew
being rescued. The Yoshino was a also
tonner, and the Hatsuse one OF Japan's
best ships, with tonnage OF 1900. The
Hatsuse was on the way to protect land
ing Of troops when she ran into a mine
field placed by the Russians ten miles of
shore and suffered the fate Of the Petro-
pavlovsk. II Is claimed that to place
mines so far off shore is breach of the
/ law Of nations. The Russians have sue
ceeded in removing the distractions
placed m the mouth Of Port Arthur har-
/ bor by the japanese so that small boats
/ can emerge. and Immediately after the
Hatsuses disaster a squadron Of seventeen
Russian torpedo boats issued forth, but
was driven back By the Japanese cruisers.
i Togo also reports that in a subsequent
reconnaissance one Of his torpedo de-
stroyers was struck by Russian smell
and one officer and u men killed. These
I losses by the Japanese navy have tended
+ 10 restore the two forces to something
Il like equality, and as soon as the pending
repairs on the injured Russian battleships
i al Port Arthur are ompleted-about June
/ lst-the latter may assume the aggressive.
+ The Japs are left with only five nrst-class
battleships.
sized the urgency OF their taking Port
Arthur before the arrival OF the Baltic
squadron. 80 that the latter would hnd
! itself without a depot in that quarter.
/ The investment OF the port from the land
side is being pressed, though IN the lace
OF difficulties. The narrow neck OF the
promontory gives the Russians splendid
defensive position that must be forced
mostly from the land side, as the shallow
water does not permit the cooperation OF
the feet or the debarkation OF hanking
/ columns. The port is entirely cut on, but
4 runners have managed TO get through
with dispatches reporting everything Wen
at Port Arthur.
i Russian rejoicing at the naval losses OF
their foe is somewhat tempered by the de-
struction OF one of their own fine armored
cruisers OF the Vladivostok squadron, the
Bogatvr, which got on the rocks and had
TO Sc blown up after her crew and guns
had been removed.
A Japanese force, protected by squad
ron. effected a landing last week near n IN
chow, defeated an opposing body OF Rus
slams with heavy loss, but for some reason
al once re-embarked and sailed TO the
southward. New Chwang, which had
been evacuated by the Russians, was re-
occupied s
Gen. Kuroki's army, which defeated
Sassulitch at the Yalu, advanced some as
tance from Fengwangcheng toward hal-
cheng and Liaoyang on the Manchurlan
railroad. when il came in contact with an
I outnumbering army of Russians strongly
posted and retired to Fengwangcheng
without offering battle. kuroki Is sup
posed to be awaiting reintorcements oe-
fore daring to proceed further INTO the IN
terror. Clashes constantly occur between
detached forces that have no real bearing
on results. The Russians are recovering
their courage and renewing activity.