The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-02-11
BLOW is HEAVY
Russia Staggered by Japan's
First Attack on Her
Big Squadron.
Naval Engagement Is Fought in
Outer Roadstead at Port
Arthur.
The japanese Fleet Disables Three
Of the Biggest Vessels of the
Russian NAVY.
So Far as Can Be Learned Not
One of the Mikado's SHIPS
Suffered Damage.
Car Notified Officially That Russia
Lost Ten Wen Killed and
Forty-Six wounded.

st. Petersburg, Feb. 10.--An ofIicia
anese torpedo boats have attacked tht
Russian squadron in the outer roads
at Port Arthur, and that three Russian
4 ships were damaged.
0Hicial Report of Attack.
Admiral Alexieff's official report Of
the attack by the Japanese is as fol-
lows:
II most respectfully inform your ma
jesty that at or about midnight of Febru.
airy S-9 Japanese torpedo boats made a
sudden attack by means of mines upon
the Russian squadron in the outer roads
of the fortress of Port Arthur, in
which. the battleships Retvizian and
Cesarevitch and the cruiser Pallada
were damaged. An inspection is being
made to ascertain the character of the
damage. Details are following fol
your majesty"
ii News Creates Excitement.
The news that Japan had, duplicated
her tactics at the opening of the Chino.
Japanese war by a torpedo attack on
the Russian ships off Port Arthur Gre
ated intense excitement, the bare an
nourcement coming from Viceroy Alex.
Jeff at eight O'Clock Tuesday morning. De.
tails are anxiously awaited. Extra edi.
tons Of the morning papers printed
early in the forenoon, after the appear.
ance Of the Official Messenger, conveyed
the intelligence to the population of tn,
-.eani! q! sss any IingerirS 3d.
& s,s5sI "a cispssE'Isss oAIalla y PEE
that war could be ayerted.
The car and his ministers, who had
been informed Immediately Of the re-
ceipt OF Vicefoy Alexieffs telegraph, ac-
cepted the gauge and prepared TO face
the reality of war. The cars mani.
festof declaring state of war to exist
is expected to be issued to-day at tht
latest. I
Feverish activity reigned at all the
ministries, and war preparations were ,
pushed in all directions, J
The Russian Losses.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 1O.-The follow
Ing official bulletin has just been issued
In the form of telegram from Maj. Gen.
Flug, Niceroy Alexieffs chief of staff,
dated February 3: by order of the
yiceroy | beg to report that this day al
about II o'clock in the morning, Japa-
nese squadron consisting of about Is bat
tleships and cruisers approached Port
Arthur and opened fire. The enemy was
received with a cannonade fro. the
shore batteries and the guns of our
squadron, which also participated in the
engagement. At about midday the Japa-
nese squadron ceased its fire and left
proceeding south. Our losses in the feet
were two officers wounded nine men
killed and Al men wounded On the shore
batteries one man was killed and three
were wounded. The battleship Poltava
and the cruiser Noyik each had hole
Knocked in her side below the water
line The forts were slightly dam
aged"
Further Details.
Chefoo, Feb 10-The steamer Colum.
bia has arrived from Port Arthur with
additional news of the attack by the
Japanese fleet upon the Russian fleet in
the roads outside Of the harbor of Port
Arthur The CnIumhia was in the roads