Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-16
First Estimate of Losses
in Attack is Re-
ceived.
IS OBSERVATION POINT
Cannot Keep Troops There
Three Torpedo Boats
Sunk by Mines.

ChefoO. Dec. 1C.-PaSSengerS who
arrived here today from Kewanngtung
peninsula confirm the truthfulness of
the official Japanese reports of the
sinking of various Russian shops re-
Gently at Port Arthur. II is believed
the destruction of the Russian ships
indicates that the Japanese have
abandoned hope of capturing the fort
ress. The Japanese lost three torpedo
boats within the past month by mines.
The capture of Meter hill cost the
Japanese 10000 casualties.
The japanese have been unable to
occupy the hill except for observation.
They have taken none of the remain
ing forts.
Get Out With Dispatches.
Chefoo. Dec. 1G.-Seyen Russians in
civilian garb arrived today from Port
Arthur in an open sailboat carrying
dispatches. They refused to talk and
went Immediately to- the Russian con
sulate.
Were Nearly Frozen.
The sailboat in which the Russians
reached Chefoo left Port Arthur last
night under cover of n snowstorm and
had a terrible experience in crossing.
The men were nearly frozen when
they made this port.
Attack sevastopoL
Toxic. Dec. 1G.-Details OF the al.
tack on the Sevastopol, the last ship
OF the Port Arthur feet states that
the entire crew Of the torpedo boat
d--Iagpedo boats yolun.
teered for the attack. courting death
in their efforts to- destroy the only
floating Russian battleship at Port Ar
thur.
Facing a driving snowstorm and
heavy seas. the hotiIlas separated. and
under Individual commanders. the
vessels attacked independently. The
decks of the destroyers and torpedo
boats were coated with ice. and the
men suffered acutely from cold.
shielding the BattieshIp-
The Russians resorted to the most
extreme precautions to- protect the
Sevastopoi. They dropped torpedo
nets. which shielded the bows of the
warship. and the Sevastopol was fur
ther protected by a specially construct
ed wooden boom. the frame work of
which was composed of iron bound
logs and cables and heavy chains in
terlaced and entangled.
From the surface OF this boom hung
a deep curtain made of torpedo nets
taken from the sunken battleships. the
purpose Of which was to catch and de-
stroy the torpedoes and their mechan-
ism
The Japanese probably refrained
from attempting to cut or jump the
boom. a plan demonstrated by the
British. but the torpedo boats and de-
stroyers evidently forced the open
ings which the Russians had left so as
TO allow communication with the har-
Dor
Firing mt Mukden-
Mukden. Dec 16.-A brisk cannon
ade Is progressing along the center.
The Japanese are supplying Chinese
troops in the neighborhood OF Sinain-
tin with artillery.
Jnps Plan Finances.
Toxic. Dec. 16.-The budget com
mittee Of the house of representatives
completed is labors today. The meas
ure will be finally submitted TO the
house tomorrow. The war budget is
not changed but the ordinary budget
of estimates is reduced s1.000.0OO by
lowering the land tax
Taxes on beer and sugar imports
and transit dues are increased $1,000
600. The government has promised
additional retrenchment in the admin
istration to amount TO 100000 leaving
deficit under the estimates of $1,000.
600. The government is authorized TO
meet this by transfers of special funds
and other methods. All parties work
ed jointly and harmoniously.