The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-27

Shanghai, December 22.-NV
of powerful cruisers under Al
minimum has gone south TO
50 70 meet the Russian SecorV
squadron.
: JAPANESE SQUADRON 81
ING WEST.
Sinpapore. Straiht Settlementy
cember 1.-TWO Japanese cruisers\
ed here this morning and left al u
They reported that two japanese
tleships, two first class cruisers,
second class cruisers and twelve TOD
pedo boat destroyers were nearby
steaming west. The cruisers that CALL
ed here were the Nippon and Hong
Kong formerly Pacific liners with
great coal capacity.
WATCHING MOVEMENTS OF THE
RUSSIAN SQUADRON.
ST. Petersburg. December 22-The Az
nouncement that four Japanese cruisers
and twelve torpedo boats are proceed
ing west from Singapore is received
here with much interest. II is not be-
lieved however. that such a small
squadron could have been sent out by
The japanese with any lei OF engag-
ing in offensive operations, but U g
regarded as the more probable that IL
is h purpose of this squadron TO keep
a surveillance over the two detach-
ments OF the Russian fleet which are
expected TO soon unite I'm the ~neighbor-
hood of Madagascar. 1t is generally
believed ~tSat Vice AdmiE2l~mRjeSiS@
ky intends To establish a a coaifhtf
base on some small island
Madagascar n the Philippines and
that the japanese cruising squadron
hopes to mark down the rendezvous for
Vice Admiral Togo's information The
hope Is expressed that Admiral RojeSt-
vensky will be able to catch UP with the
Japanese scout ship which 1t Is believed
he could easily destroy, thereby weak
ening the japanese IN the final naval
engagement.
London, December 23.-The Daily
T~elegraph's Che Foo correspondent r.
ports that eight torpedo boat destroycrs
! have escaped from Port Arthur. where.
for the last twenty-four hours, he says,
! a severe snow storm has been raging
Toxic. December 22.-Evening-A re-
port received from Vice Admiral Togo
! al 10 O'Clock last night, says:
"A prisoner taken by our feet, who
les considered to be reliable, REPORTS that
as the result Of our attack since Deem
be- 13. eight t~orpedoes struck the net
; of the battleship Sevastopol, and that
at least one took effect on her hull.
This seems to have occurred on thp
night OF December 18th. or early on the
morning OF December 10th. The Sevas-
| tOpool's crew was seen to be in a state
of confusion and a hawser from tho
shore was attached to the battl.6hip.
The torpedo which struck the hull
of the Sevastopol took effect on the
port side, damaging about eight feet
! along the rivet lines.
The Sevastopol ~ now headed tow
ard the outer part OF the entrance to
the harboT, witt her stern aground and
her gun ports amidshlps almost awash.
The ship is listing TO arboar and
the side lights IN her lower deck arc
submerged.
There IS one ton pezio BOAT to the
~starboard Of the S~eyastopoi and one
pumping vessel TO port. together with
; n ,eSsel resembling a m~ine-layer, all
Of which are busily engaged IN pump
ing, but II VIII be difficult to restore
the SeawOrthiners Of the warship.
on the night OF December 15, one
Of our torpedoes struck the hull Of A
TORPEDO boat destroyer and that yessel
rs now aground"
Another report from Admiral Togo
received at II O'Clock last night Ii as
follows:
After personal observation outside
Port Arthur ! found that the Seyasfo-
pol, which was attacked by our torpe-
do fotllaS IS now anchored n the
shadows about 800 yards from the
shore % Chengtao mountain The
Russians are engaged in pumping. u
the SeyastopOl IS listing at least ten de-
grees. with her bow slightly sunk. There
can be no hope OF restoring the vessel
to a fighting trim. considering the
present condition of Port Arthur and /
Judge she a been completely disabled.
! also observed nat the enernys de-
has been destroyed"
IMPORTANT POSITIONS CAP
TCRED.
Toxic, December It p. m.-rhe
japanese troops have captured SOME
important positions on Pigeon Bay.
A DISPATCH received by telegraph to-
dav from the japanese army before
Port Arthur says:
The right column OF the army 20 5
O'Clock this morning taking advantage
OF the en- sny'e excitement drove the
enemy OF an eminTnce north or Hous-
anyentao on Pigeon Bay and occupied
the position and at 7 O'Clock dislodgec
the enemy from a height on the pegiin-
sula west 6f FiOUsanyEntao. which we
occipia1. cartu'srg enc small gun AZ
ter the :1.sI.sa on NJ II ra
sstio1g, the enemy made a counter at
tack. but was Immediately repulsed- A.
present occupation OF the positions
10 y.-1cff~ofT.. G01aK-z