Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-08-09
STORY is NOT CONFIRMED AND
is NOT CREDITED EITHER IN
ST. PETERSBURG OR
AMERICA.
KUROPATKIN TFLLS
OF DESPERATE FIGHT

in st. Petersburg Today Says Jap
anese Lost From 10000 to $4,000 In
Battle Near Lao Yang, While Russi-
an Losses Were insignificant.
NagasakI, Japan, Aug. Cit Is
reported here that Port Arthur
has been captured by the Japanese
after an extended and desperate
battle.
st. Petersburg, Aug. GA dis
patch to the Bourse Gazette from
Lao Yang says another great bat
Gle has been fought in the neigh
borhood of Houtsiatze, on the rail-
road about fourteen miles west of
Lao Yang, in which the Japanese
loss es are estimated to have been
from 10000 to 10000 and the Rus
sian losses are Insignificant.
VIadivostok, Aug. 6.-The prize
court yesterday adjudged the
sunken Knight Commander and
Its cargo a lawful prize.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 6. - The
Lao Yang dispatch to the Bourse
Gazette is believed to refer to the
fighting on July 80, 81 and August
I. The war office has not received
any reports of later fighting.
New York, Aug ct is not probable
that Nagasaki would be the first point
and the only point to learn of the fall
of Port Arthur. There are no advices
from Toxic or the Japanese legations
at Washington or London to confirm
the Nagasali report.
Not Believed BY Russians.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 6.-The report
of the fall of Port Arthur which has
been received from Nagasaki today
does not obtain any greater credence
at tho admiralty and the war office
than the previous kilograms on the
same subject.
Surrender is Sure.
Chez Foo, Aug. 6.-"Port Arthur Ger.
tainly will fall inside of one or two
months, depending how fast the Jap.
anese move"
This opinion was expressed today by
an educated Russian who has just ar
rived here from Port Arthur by the
junk. He occupied an important semi
official position at Port Arthur and his
views are regarded as valuable.
Russians Continue Retreat.
New Chwang, Aug. ga strong
Japanese naval force composed of
gunboats and torpedo boats proceeded
up the Lao river yesterday. The
shallow draft of these vessels enables
them to ascend the river for 100
miles. They are to intercept the Rus.
sian retreat to the westward. The
Russians have again been outfanked
and compelled to retire.
kuropatkin Tells of Fiaht.
A dispatch to the Bourse Gazette
which is dated Thursday evening, says:
There has been fierce fighting Tues
day, Wednesday and today. The Jap
anese made a vigorous attack on the
centre of the Russian position a
HoutsaitZe. The enemy was flfty-fou
battalions strong, thlrty-six OF which
were regular troops and the balance
reserve men.
General kuroki's Plan of Battle.
General Kuroki employed the reserv
men in an attack while the regular
carried out feints intended to delud
the Russians. The reserve men at
tackled with desperation and thei
ranks were decimated by the Russian
fire each time they advanced, but tn
vacancies were quickly filled up wit
fresh men.
Russians Retire Still Fighting.
The Russians ultimately slowly n
tired to suitable positions, whenc
they inflicted great losses on the Ja]
anese by heavy artillery fire. TIL
Japanese losses are estimated at iron
10000 to 1900 men and the Russia
losses are comparatively insignificant.
The military officers think it ur
likely that General kuropatkin is gil
ing battle at Lao Yang since thi
would involve an abandonment of tn
stores, totaling million of pounds
which are accumulated there. 1t woul
be almost as bad as a general defea
To Close Ports.
The closing to foreign vessels, e,
cept under stringent regulations, c
the posts of Cronstadt, Sveaborg L
bau. SebastGpol, Battoum and Otshif
koff is the subject Of long official al
nouncement in the Official Messenge
OF this morning. The regulations ar
extremely rigid and extend to tn
right of search by the port author
ties of all vessels before permission t
enter the port is granted.
Names of Russian Dead.
The army organ today published til
names OF the officers killed or wounc
ed on July 81 and August /, shown
seven killed and forty wounded, il
GLIDING General Dekinlin, commando
of the Thirty-First Artillery brigad
In addition eight officers are missin,
One officer died from sunstroke. TIL