The Somerset reporter., 1904-08-18
The War.

Japan asks China to enforce neutral
ty.
The Japanese demanded the surrender
of the fortress at Port Arthur, Tuesday,
coupled with an offer to release the nom
com batants
There was a steady downpour of rain
for two days and the roads are becom-
ing heavy. No Japanese movement has
been reported southeast of Mukeden,
but the Japanese are reported to be
working around to the westward of that
city.
Dispatches from various points, on
Friday, indicate that the attempt of the
Russian Port Arthur squadron to reach
Valdivostok failed and the vessels have
become widely scattered. One torpedo
boat destroyer put into Che Foo, where
she was boarded and captured by the
Japenese.
Rear Admiral without, who was in COM
mand of the Russian naval forces at Port
Arthur, was killed during the engage
ment on Wednesday. 9'he emperor has
received telegram from Tsingchou
signed by Capt Matousevitch, the rear
admiral's chief of staff, reporting that
w llHOlI ulol Ills u6dlu dDOdIu THO nag
ship (Zarvevitch. Both his legs were
blown off
AS near as can be figured from reports
of the naval battle off Port Arthur.
Admiral Togo thwarted Russia attempt
to liberate her beleaguered fleet. Three
vessels, the tzarevitch, Novik and one
other vessel have arrived in the German
harbor of Kiao-Chou. the first named ia
a damaged condition. A destroyer
which put into Che FOO. dismantled and
put herself under the protection of the
Chinese authorities, WAS cut out by the
Japanese and taken from the harbor. 1t
is reported that four Russian "battle-
ships" we're sighted off Saddle Islands,
seventy miles southeast of Shanghai and
more than five hundred miles south of
Port Arthur
Toxic advices of Monday state that
Vice Admiral Kamimura encountered
the Russian Vladivostok squadron at
dawn, Sunday north of Tsu Island in
the strait of Korea and attacked the
enemy at once. The battle lasted for
five hours and resulted in a complete
Japanese victory. The Russian cruiser
Rurik was sunk and the cruisers Rossia
and Gromoboi fled TO the northward
after having sustained serious damage.
Vice Admiral kamlmura cables the navy
department that the injuries inflicted
upon his vessels were slight. The fate
of the crew of the Rurik is not known.
1t is presumed that many of them were
killed or drowned. The strength of the
fleet under Vice Admiral Kamimura is
not known, but it is presumed he had
the Adsuma, ldsumo, lwase, Takashiho
and other light cruisers.
Admiral Togo reported on Friday as
follows:-On Aug. 10, our combined fleet
attacked the enemys fleet near Gugan
rock The Russian vessels were emery
ing from Port Arthur, trying to go south.
We pursued the enemy to the eastward.
Severe fighting lasted from l o'clock,
Wednesday afternoon. until shutdown.
Toward the close the enemy's fire
weakened remarkably. His formation be.
came confused and then his ships scatter
ed The Russian cruisers Askold and No
vik and several torpedo boat destroyers
fled to the southwark. Other of the
ensmy's ships retreated separately to-
ward Port Arthur We pursued them
and it appears that we inflicted consider
able damage We found life bouys and
other articles belonging to the Russian
battleship Czarevitch floating at sea,
The Czarevitch probably was sunk. We
have received no reports from the tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers
which were engaged in the attack on
the ships of the enemy. The Russian
vessels, with the exception of the
Askold, the Novik, the Czarevitch and
the cruiser Pallada. appear to have re-
turned to Port Arthur. Our damage
was slight. Our fighting power has not
been impaired.