Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-17
TOXIC DISPATCH SAYS RUSSIAN
FLEET HAS GONE TO
vLADlvosTok.
RUSSIAN OFFICERS
TALK OF LEAVING
Story Of Personal Encounter Between
Japanese Seaman and Russian Cap.
tain During Fight At Port Arthur
Correspondents Held At Seoul

- okio, warren 10. - 1t is strongly
believed here that the Russian fleet
abandoned Port Arthur after the
fourth attack made upon it by the
Japanese fleet and is endeavorina to
reach VIadivostok. Confirmation of
this movement is not obtainabIe from
any reliable source but recent scouting
In the vicinity Of Port Arthur has fail
ed to reveal the presence of any Rus.
sian Warships.
Paris, March 15.-An official denial
is given the report that exchanges of
views are now going on between Paris,
London and Washington relative to Of
fering mediation in the far eastern
war.
Tien Tsin, March Is. - A foreigner
who has just arrived from Port Arthur
reports that a short engagement took
place between the, Russian and Jap
anese fleets Sunday and that the pro.
tected cruiser, Diana, belonging to Rus
sia, received some injuries. About
twenty or thirty shells were exchange
ed.
Toxic, March 15.-A steamer bear
Ing ten wounded men and the bodies Of
nine seamen who were killed in the
Port Arthur fight on March 10, between
the Japanese and Russian torpedo boat
destroyers, has reached Sasebo. The
survivors unite in praising the desper-
ately heroic attack on the Russians
and tell a story of a personal encounter
between a Japanese sailor and the cap
tain Of the Russian destroyer Stere-
gustchi. When the Japanese closed
on the Russians the sailor sprang
aboard the enemy's vessel and met her
commander emerging from the cabin.
The sailor felled the officer by striking
him on the head with his cutlass,
IA. Officer Is !. Drowned.
The Russian endeavored to rise but
the Japanese sailor kicked him over
board and he was drowned.
Honor HERDS Memory.
The Japanese say there were twenty.
two dead on the two Russians DESTROY
ers. The Japanese dead were landed
at Sasebo a9dfreceived with full mill
tary honors.
Object to Abandonment.
Tien Tsin, March 15.-The British
consul here has filed protest with
the British minister at Pekin against
the projected abandonment of New
.Chwang and Of the Chinese railway by
Its directors and management in Great
Britain. The haste Of the British and
American gunboats to leave New
Chwang, while the intentions of the
Japanese are unknown, and while con-
.sular jurisdiction and full treaty port
rights Of neutrals are unquestioned,
thus prematurely abandoning the pro-
lection heretofore maintained has pro-
voked indignation among the residents
and officials protest has been made to
the United States government This
is done especially in view Of the ac-
ton of the Japanese in placing their
consulate and other property under
British protection.
Russian Ambush Succeeds.
St. Petersburg, March 15.-General
Zilinski telegraphs as follows:
ION March our patrol discovered
four Of the enemy's posts on the Chong
Cheng Ang river, and troop of caval.
ry acting as scouts near Pa Tet Chen,
northwest of ANU. A Japanese caval-
ry patrol fell into an ambuscade pre-
pared by our patrol and was dispersed,
losing one killed. The Japanese left
behind them quantity of guncotton
and some swords and blankets.
Manchurians Quiet.
"The population of Manchuria is
quiet.
Con the night Of March II the enc
my's ships explored Helena bay and
the shore opposite Sc NJ Tchin with
searchlights.
Japs Moving Slowly.
According to information, which has
been verified, the Japanese have made
no attacks north Of Gensan.
1.-THE population along the Tumen
river is favorable to u.s."
Correspondents Recalled.
Seoul, March 15.-The Japanese au-
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