Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-12
NEW ADMIRAL TAKES CHARGE
OF czAR's FLEET AND
CHANGES PLAN.
DETAILS OF FIGHT
NOT YET REPORTED

Russia Lost Torpedo Boat and Japan
Torpedo Boat Destroyer-crew of
Former May Have Perished-Alex-
Jeff Reports Bombardment of Forts.
st. Petersburg, March 11.-7:1o p.
fn.-The Russian torpedo boat flotiIIa
left Port Arthur at daylight this morn.
ing and attacked the Japanese fleet.
One Japanese torpedo boat was sunk
and one Russian torpedo boat destroy
er, the Bezposhtihadni was sunk. The
late of the Iatter's crew is not known.
Tien Tsin, March 11.-A Chinese
refugee, who arrived today from Hsu
Yen insists that he has seen the Rus
tians retreating from the YaIu river
and destroying villages enroute.
st. Petersburg, March 11.-Admiral
Majoroff inaugurated his assumption of
command of the Russian fleet at Port
Arthur by complete change of tactics.
AS soon as he appeared he ordered
the removal of the battleshop Ret
visan, which was stranded at the
mouth of the harbor and barred the
channel at certain stages of the tide,
making egress of the battleships i'm
possible
This morning he directed the sortie
Of @Nr \
4 ~ the Russian squadron against the
I japanese squadron.
The details are not yet known ex-
cept that the encounter resulted in the
loss of one Japanese torpedo boat and
one Russian torpedo boat destroyer.
st. Petersburg, March 11.-Up4 to 3
O'clock this afternoon no. further news.
he'd been obtained of the bombardment
of Port ARTHUR which was progressing,
according to the latest advices, at 8
o'clock yesterday morning. Whatever
later information, if any, which the
emperor may have, is not known.
The czar has received the following
message from Viceroy AleXieff, dated
Mukden, March 10:
t'The commandant of the fortress at
Port Arthur reports that about 1
o'clock this morning the outlines Of
vessels, apparently torpedo boats, were
seen at sea, within the area swept by
our searchlights. Our batteries opened
fire upon these vessels. Our torpedo
boats put out to sea at 2:40 a. m. and
at about o'clock met the enemy west
of the Liao Tishin lighthouse. After
firing several shots, the enemy retired
to the south in the direction of Shan
dun. Our torpedo boats returned to the
harbor at o'clock.
''Later, torpedo boats were again
sent to sea to reconnoiter. They re-
turned in half an hour, having learned
that an enemy's squadron was ap-
preaching.
cat 8 o'clock the Japanese opened
fire upon our cruisers and the fortress
The enemy had fourteen shops and
fired the entire time from behind Liao
Tishin
Il have the honor to report the
above to your majesty.
(Sjgned) "Alexieff."
VIII Uphold Sawyer.
Washington, March 1.-THE cabi-
net today discussed the press reports
that Captain Sawyer of the United
States gunboat Helena, now in dock at
New Chwang, had protested against
the sinking by the Russians of junks at
the entrance to the harbor. No official
advices have been received on the sub
iect. but it is said that the discussion
by the members of the cabinet indicat-
ed that such an attitude, if taken by
Sawyer, would be sustained.
Japanese Sustained Big Damage.
yladivostok, March H. - Foreign
residents of Nagasaki who arrived
here report that all the Japanese
docks are engaged in making repairs
to ships that were damaged in the en-
gagement at Port Arthur.
Railway Agreement Made.
Toxic, March IL. The Wiju-Seoul
railway concession was signed yester-
day by the Japanese and Corean au.
thorities. The Russians are engaged
in building defenses at Wiju which
will cooperate with the Notifications
already constructed on the left bank
of the Yalu.
Fear Japs VIII Land.
1t is reported that the Russians have
$4,000 tons of coal at Wiju which they
keep drenched with kerosene in readi-
ness to burn should the Japanese land
4 there.
8 New chwang Fortified.
Tien Tsin, March 11.--One field bat
/. terry has been installed in the fort at
New Chwang and also one company OF
infantry, while preparations are being
made to mount siege gun.
The japanese soldiers who were re.
Gently captured near Wiju, Corea, were
paraded through the streets of Muk-
den on Tuesday
Russians At VIadivostok.
Toxic. March II. Russia's Vladi
vostok squadron apparently was in the
harbor at that port last Sunday during
the bombardment by the japanese