Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-06-17
JAPS killed BY
Mine EXPLOSION
OFFICER AND EIGHTEEN MEN
LOSE LIVES AT ENTRANCE
TO PORT ARTHUR.
RuMOR OF BIG NAVAL
BATTLE NEAR HARBOR
Russian Commander at Besieged City
Said to Have Been Wounded-Mi-
kado's Troops Displaying Great
Activity.

Toxic, June 15.-While the Taihoku
was engaged in laying mines at the en-
trance to Port Arthur Monday night a
mine exploded killing one officer and Is
men and wounding two officers and
seven men. The Taihoku, which is a
naval transport, was not seriously dam
aged.
Report Of Naval Battle.
st. Petersburg, June 15.-A report has
reached here that great naval battle
was fought outside of Port Arthur on
June 10. Gen. Stoessel, who is in COM
mand Of the Russian troops at Port Ar.
thur, was wounded, and one of his legs
has been amputated at the thigh.
laps Seize Rations.
Chefoo, June 15.-A feet of junk
loaded with hour and rice for Port Ar
thur was seized of this port Tuesday by
the Japanese.
Activity Of the Japs.
st. Petersburg, June 15.-The Japan
ese are displaying activity at all theil
advance lines. According to informa
tion in the possession of the war offic,
two divisions Of the enemy are nov
marching north along the railroad to
wards Vafangow (25 miles above Kin
chou). They are having constan
skirmishes with the retiring Russians
but the advance is not being seriousl!
contested. Although it is too early tt
determine the exact purpose of the ad
vance the presumption of the genera
stAff Is that the northward movement il
intended to effect juncture at Kaicho,
with the column from Siuyen, which i
still moving westward. The lombard
ment of the coast near Kaichou and tn
blockade of Newchwang might indicat,
that the ultimate object of the combine,
movements is to clear the Liaotung pen
| insula Of Russians and occupy New
| chwang as q new base. The garrison a
| Newchwang it is claimed here remain
undiminished, but it is not believed the
the Russian plans contemplate q serious
attempt to hold Newchwang.
Still Holding saimatsza.
North Of Fengwangcheng the Japan
ese are also moving. The war Office ha
| no advice confirmatory OF their aban
donment Of Saimatsza (north Of Feng
wangcheng and east-southeast Of Lao
yang). On the contrary, the latest re
ports are to the effect that the Japanes'
hold Saimatsza. their outposts reaching
so far north as Fenshuylin Pass (abou
due east Of Liaoyang), which is held b.
the Russians.
| A Japanese force Of 5000 men is re
ported to be moving north from Huan
diansiang, 80 miles from Eaimatsza
The japanese are strongly fortifyinl
Fenewangcheng as q precaution agains
possible disaster.
The war Office has advioes since Jun,
| 70 from Pulantien in the southern par
Of the Liaotung peninsula), and they d,
not mention the reported Japanese ana
bush Of that date, resulting in the los
in that vicinity to the Russians of S0l
men. Neither has the war Office any
thing confirmatory Of the reported am
bushing and almost total destruction b.
the Russians Of two Japanese battalion
on the Haicheng road. The officials o
the war ofnce discredit both reports.
Private but reliable advices from Por
Arthur dated June are to the effect tina
the japanese on that date were still at
considerable distance from the fortiflca
lions. No mention was made Of an en-
gagement
The absence of official news from
Toxic regarding Gen. Oku's movement
before Port Arthur is raising suspicion
that the preliminary operations on LIANT
are not succeeding we'll and that news i
being withheld until the Japanese cal
announce victory.