Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-13
PORT ARTHUR is BEING shot
AND BURNED TO BITS
BY JAPs.
SHIPS ARE DISABLED
-Four Battle Ships, Two Cruisers, Ono
eunboat, One Torpedo store ship
are In the Harbor, Entirely UseIess
Little Activity at Mukden.

Toxic, Dec. 12-The commander
OF the Japanese naval land batter
les today says that four Russian
baItleships, two cruisers, one gun
boat, and one torpedo store ship
are lying in Port Arthur COM
pletely disabled. He adds there
Is no further necessity for the
bombarding Russian naval forces,
and that the troops are not en-
gagged in shelling the town of Port
Arthur, which is being heavily
damaged.
Washington, D. G., Dec. 12-The
Japanese legation received the fol-
lowing from Toxic today: The
Port Arthur army reports that Its
bombardment has inflicted consid-
cradle damage upon Golden Hill.
and has also set the Port Arthur
arsenal on fire.
Mukden, Dec. 12-On Friday
night the Japanese several times
attacked the trenches on the Rus
sian right, but in each case they
were repulsed.
London, Eng. Dec. IL. - A dispatch
to the Daily Mail from Toxic says 1t
is unoficially reported that Japanese
torpedo boats attacked the battleship
Seyastopol at the mouth of Port Ar.
thur Friday night. The result is un.
known.
Heavy Weather Protects Ship.
Toxic, Dec. IL. ~ (Delayed) - The
Japanese continue to batter the Port
Arthur deet aid there i little gro,tss,
for expecting that 1t will ever again
engage the Japanese. The battleship
Sevastopol continues at anchor outside
but possibly returns to the harbor at
night and anchors inside the outer
boom. which protects it from torpedo
boats. The recent heavy weather has
given added protection to the vessel.
Naval experts are discarding the
theory that the Russians themselves
sank any Of the ships The fact that
the vessels first showed lists while in
exposed positions and the efforts made
to save the Sevastopol are regarded as
conclusive evidence against the theory
of their being sunk by the Russians.
Shells Explode In Vessels.
A majority of the sunken warships
lie headed northward. They received
the bulk of the fire across their port
sides and the fact that at least two of
them showed lists to the starboard
gives rise to the theory that Japanese
shells exploded inside the ships and
against the starboard armor, driving
the armor outward and causing leaks.
To make sure of the destruction of the
Russian warships the Japanese con-
tinue to drop shells into the sunken
hulks.
The whereabouts of the torpedo boat
destroyers continues doubtful, but 1t
is thought they are sheltering outside
the harbor The weather prevents a
good observation being made, but the
Japanese are sending a searching fire
into the hooks which are not observa
BILE from 203 Metre hill and other
heights.
Avoid Hitting Hospital Ships.
The observers represent a number
Of tugs, launches, dredgers, and small
craft anchored near the hospital ships
in the west harbor, where they evil
dently have gone for the purpose of
protection. 1t is suggested
that the besiegers notify Lieut.. Gen.
Stoessel to separate these vessels from
the hospital ships or take the conse-
quences. The Japanese are exercising
care to avoid hitting the hospital ships
which frequently are in the direct line
Of fire.
Russian Fire Continues.
Oku's headquarters, via Fusan, Sun
day, Dec. 11.-(Delayed - The Rus
slams along the front of Oku's army
are continuing their artillery and rifle
fire day and night. The Japanese are
not replying. A Russian movement
southwark is not anticipated immedi.
ately. There are numerous outpost
skirmishes today, the enemy losing
number Of men. Last night the ther-
mometer reached seven degrees below
zero. The Japanese preparations for
winter are practically completed.