davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
LOSSES OF THE FLEETS
IN FIRST NAVAL FIGHT
Uncensored Account by Eye Witness Says
japanese Battleship, Cruiser and Two
Torpedo Boats Were Disabled.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

hereabouts, has been becoming a daily
increasing menace to our own future
safety and peaceful existence. Either
to enter into a cordial and durable un-
derstanding with her, clearlv- defining
and mutually recognizing the respec-
tive spheres of interests and binding
her thereby to a certain amount Of
self-restraint in the future, or else to
have recourse to measures for safe
guarding our future independence, ere
it was too late. was the drastic di-
lemma from which we could not longer
escape. We have tried our best to OBJ
tain our object by the first alternative
and we have sacrificed much energy
and time and many opportunities for
the sake Of peace. Having failed, how
ever there remains no other way for
us but to stand up in defense of our
own future safety and our own future
undisturbed enjoyment of the fruits of
peace and civilization. No trace Of race
prejudice, no smack of revenge or
chauvinism, nothing but the cool rea-
son of state necessity and of self
preservation influenced Japan's action.
The rest L leave to the impartial judg-
ment of civilized nations, which in the
course of their past history must have
had many experiences of noble strug
giles in defense of the honor and safety
of country.
"I take this opportunity of express
ing my thanks once more for all the
cordial hospitality shown me during
my sojourn in America"
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
RUSSIAN WARSHIP AND
TORPEDO BOATS PASSING
THROUGH SUEz CANAL.

in rough weather. The cruiser Novilz
has hole in her afterport side. The
battleship Retvizan is on the beach and
her bottom has fallen out. The cruiser
Pallada was torpedoed abaft the en-
gine-room. The battleship Cesarevitch,
which also was torpedoed, has been
docked. The others were chiefly dam
aged in their upper works.
The whole fleet has been taken into
the inner harbor, and Port Arthur is
depending for protection upon her forts,
which have been reinforced. There is
frequent firing, which is presumably
drawn by japanese torpedo-boats. Fir
ing was heard at midnight on February
IL at intervals; also on the night of the
18th and 18th. On February IA the fir
ing continued until o'clock in the aft
ernoon.
An eyewitness claims to have seen
eighteen dead landed from the Russian
ships on Tuesday. 1t is understood that
Admiral Stark has been reduced for his
failure to repulse the Japanese attack.
The cruiser Novik was the only vessel
to do effective work. She gave chase
to the Japanese torpedo-boats, and ac-
cording to the Russian account sank
two and captured one.
The Wenchow had 400 Japanese refu-
gees on board, and there was an ex-
citing time during the DdIIle, as SnellS
fell all around the Wenchow. After
several orders were given her to leave
port and as often revoked, she was al
lowed to sail on February Ia. The Rus
sian authorities supplied her japanese
passengers with rice, but paid no at
tention to a signal for fresh supply of
water
1t is said that the European residents
of Port Arthur have been reasSured, but
that the Chinese are making frantic ef-
forts to get away. Reports Of Russian
victories are, it is said, being circulated
to buoy up the hopes of the residents.
1t is apparent that the Russians have
for the present decided not to use their
fleet, but to depend upon the land
forces. Eleven ships will have to be re-
paired before she can take the ag-
gressive on the sea.
The captain of the Wenchow reports
that he was held at Port Arthur until
all the Japanese in the vicinity were
gathered and placed aboard. Japanese
were brought from points as far away
as Harbin. A few Japanese are left in
Manchuria. The refugees left their
homes and stores, in many instances
losing thousands of dollars.
Several Japanese have been arrested
on the charge of having in their pos
session maps and charts. Refugees who
go to Japan can give the Government
valuable information.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
RUSSIANS HAVE NOT
ASKED PERMISSION TO
PASS DARDANELLES

LONDON, Feb. 15.-Answering a
question in the House of Commons to-
day as to whether the British Gov
ernment was taking steps to secure
an arrangement for the naturalization
of NeWchwang during the war, the
Foreign War Secretary, Earl Percy,
replied that the Government did not
consider it TO be practicable to neu-
traliZe any territory in the actual Oc-
cupatiOn of either of the belhgerents.
Home Secretary Akers-DOuglas, con-
firming press dispatches, announced
that the British Government not only
had not been approached with a Sug-
gestion that it should consent to the
Russian Black Sea fleet passing out
through the Dardanelles, but said
there was no reason whatever for sup
posing that Russia contemplated such
a violation of her treaty obligations to
the European powers.
Foreign Minister LansdOwne an
nOunced in the House of Lords to-day
that he had received a cable message
from the commander in chief of the
Chinese station giving absolute denial
of the report that the Japanese feet
had been allowed to use Weihaiwei
as a base of operations against Port
Arthur. The commander in chief
added:
''Weihaiwei did not know operations
were proceeding until / notified them.
In fact, Weihaiwei's first direct knowl-
edge of belHgerent proceedings was
the visit Of the steamship F'uping to
report the circumstances of her being
fired upon when leaving Port Arthur.
The air is full of baseless rumOrs, OBJ
viously deliberately cOncOcted."
The White Star Line steamer Ma
jeStic, which is to sail Wednesday
from Liverpool for New York, will
take among her passengers the Earl
of Caithness and General Sir William
Nicholson, director general Of mill
tary intelligence of the War Office. and
Colonel J. A. L. Haldane of the Cor
don Highlanders, who will accompany
the japanese armies in the field.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
ACCOUNT OF PORT
ARTHUR BATTLE AS
RECEIVED IN RUSSIA

ST PETERSBURG, Feb. 15-The first
unofficial account of the battle off Port
Arthur on Tuesday last has been re-
ceived in a telegram dated Port Arthur,
February 9. 1t is as follows:
"At half past eleven the Japanese
squadron of fifteen vessels began the
bombardment of Port Arthur Our
squadron and the fortresses replied and
the battle lasted forty minutes.
"The Japanese squadron could not
stand the well-placed first fire of our
fleet and forts, and began a rapid re-
tirement. The Japanese flagship was
seriously damaged and, according to
the testimony of an eye witness, five
other Japanese ships were considerably
damaged. Boats belonging to the port
report that they saw two Japanese
ships sinking at sea.
Our losses afloat were two officers
wounded, one so slightly that he con-
tinued fighting; six men killed and
fifty-four wounded. In the forts two
men were slightly wounded. The bonn
bardment of the forts and the town did
no damage, but frightened the pop
ulace. At intervals during the night,
firing was heard at sea-"
The dispatch adds that the temper of
the army and navy is excellent and
that the bulletins circulated by the
Novyerai have begun to tranquilize the
people. No attempts have been made
by the Japanese to land on the Kwang-
tung Peninsula.
The repairs to the ships damaged by
the torpedo attack are proceeding rap
idly.
Captain BelIiaeff of the gunboat Ko-
rutz, which was sunk at Chemulpo,
writing to relatives on January 8, just
previous to the battle, said:
IT am ready to go to sea at any min
ute. From day to day we have been
expecting a fight with the Japanese.
We expect sudden attacks, without a
previous declaration of war. The wood
en- fittings are being taken ashore. We
have no armor; our strength is only in
the guns and the courage of our men.
We Russians often depend on courage,
and the outcome is all right. 1t may
happen that it will not fail us now. /
shall do all possible. If they send US
to the bottom say a good word for u.s.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
RUSSIANS
CRUEL TO
PRISONERS
Maltreatment of De-
tanned Japanese
Is Charged.
United States Consul
Protests Against
Outrages.

NEWCHwANG, Sunday, Feb. IA
About fifty japanese men on their way
10 Tientsin were arrested at Taihai-
chou on February u with their wo-
men and arrived here in custody. The
American Consul, Henry 7. Miller,
procured the release of the women,
but Niceroy Alexien ordered their re-
arrest and transportation. together
with all the japanese in Manchuria, to
Fort Arthur.
Miller based his action on assur-
ances the Russians gave the Japanese
Consul that all Japanese subjects
would be protected and permitted to
leave when they desired.
There are numerous japanese COM
plants of Russian ill-treatment. It
is alleged that 400 japanese refugees
from Harbin and elsewhere, who ar
rived at Mukden on February 10.
were arrested and that many of them
were severely beaten and detained un-
III they purchased their release. When
they were liberated the japanese were
sent in ODen trucks 10 Taihaichou,
where they were again maltreated and
sent OF. TO Port Arthur Some Of their
women were sent 10 NeWchWang.
Consul Miller took the women under
his protection and sent them to Shan
kaikWan.
Miller protested TO the civil admin
istratiOE against the cruel treatment
OF the japanese refugees by Russian
soldiers and requested a census of all
japanese transported TO Port Arthur.
The Consul himself was menaced by
a COssack without provocation and the
oniCer commanding at Newchwang eX-
pressed his regrets and promised to
severely punish the Cossack. The civil
administrator promised to afford bet
ter projection to the refugees.
Independent naval officers say the
Cesarevitch, RetviZan, Pallada and
NOvlk, damaged in the naval battle off
Port Arthur, cannot be repaired in
tire 10 decide the command of the sea.
They also say the Russian land forces
are demoralized. They are trying to
watch the entire coast.
The officers Of the Russian gunboat
SivoCfch at NeWchwang declared they
are prepared 10 blow up their vessel
in case of danger. They are employ
ing a searchlight all night long over
the surrounding plains.
The cutting Of telegraphic commune
cauon threatens TO complete the iso-
laI;On or tho war zone, except by dis
patch boats. Admiral Alexieff has for
hidden all ships TO enter any of the
ports 90 the Liaotung Peninsula. For
eigners are not permitted to move
without military permission.
The foreign missions at Mukden,
arprehending a Chinese outbreak, are
sending the missionaries and their
families away.
The reports that japanese ships
have been seen using searchlights off
Eewchwang and off the coast near
MinchOu are fictitious.
There are about 1000 troops now at
NewchWang-
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
NEUTRAL
SHIPS ARE
RELEASED
Port Arthur Officials
Heed Protest of
Nations.
AIexieff Explains the
Cause of Their
Detention.

YINGKOW. Sunday. Feb. 14.-Ths
administrative authorities at Port
Arthur have formally notified the
American and British Consuls there OF
the release Of neutral ships which had
been seized. Both COnsuls have asked
for explanations. The civil admins
tratiOn Of Port Arthur has inttmated
that VicerOy AIeXier will not recOg-
nize the COnsuls in matters relating 10
Port Arthur and Manchuria.
The Russians are Communicating
supplies at Newchwang and the Chi
nese are alarmed and are closing their
shops and placing their possessions
under foreign protection
Russian residents at Newchwang.
fearing that the army will be unable
to protect them and their property,
are deDOsiting their treasure under
the Jurisdiction of foreign flags.
Thursday, Feb. lin consequences
of the attack by the japanese upon
Port Arthur NicerOy AleXien has or
dered all foreigners and civilians TO
leave that place. The families of the
Russian officers in Manchuria are be-
ing sent to Russia and this is causing
great pressure upon the railway. Dalny
was the first place TO be deserted
These nOn-cOm batants and civilians
have abandoned all their property at
Port Arthur and Dalny.
The Russians freely admit their
unpreparedness for the japanese at
tack TO have been a terrible blunder.
Only half the ships were in line OF
battle and their officers were ashore
celebrating the anniversary Of Vice
roy Alexieff's birth.
A stirring episode was the re-en-
trance into the harbOr of the war
ships Cesarevitch and NOvik after the
fight, They came in under their own
steam, with bands playing and men
cheering Throughout the afternoon
and night of February 8 wounded men
We're being removed TO the shore
PORT ARTHUR, Saturday, Feb. IL.
In answer to the demand of the
British Government for an explana-
ton of British ships having been held
up by the Russians at Port Arthur
VicerOy Alexieff replied that the yes
sells were detained because they had
Japanese on board.
The shots fired at the British
steamer Fuping by the Russian guard
ship at Port Arthur as the Fuping was
leaving that port last Tuesday were,
the Viceroy says, due to a m1sunder-
standing on the part of the officers
of the guardshiD-
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS
WITH RUSSIA ON THE
MANCHURIAN QUESTION

LONDON, Feb. ia lengthy pre-
liminary paper issued to-day contains
correspondence regarding the Russian
occupation Of Manchuria, covering the
period from July, 1900, to January s,
1904
On the latter date Count Bencken-
dOrff. the Russian ambassador to Great
Britain, communicated TO former Sec
retary Lansdowne a formal declara-
tion that Russia would not interfere
with the existing treaty rights of the
powers. Lord Lansdowne expressed
satisfaction with these assurances, but
he expressed his regret that Russia
should have found il impossible to take
even a single step in pursuance of a
policy which she thus prescribed for
herself, and said that the people of
England were looking for some con-
crete evidence Of Russia's intention 10
fulfill her promise. For example, the
announcement that Newchwang would
be evacuated at an early date would
have a reassuring effect, and Lord
LansdOwne was not aware Of any local
difficulty in the way Of this movement
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16

LONDON, Feb. ia correspondent
who says he was an eyewitness of the
Port Arthur naval fight sends from
YinkOw (Manchuria), the port of New
chwang, under date Of February IL, the
following uncensored story:
About midnight on Monday the town
was aroused by the firing of big guns.
Six Japanese torpedo boats had ap-
preached within half mile of the Rus
sian fleet and were showing lights,
tunnels and signals just like those of
the Russians. The Japanese torpedo
beats crept quite close to the Russian
ships before they were discovered.
Each of the Japanese boats discharged
torpedoes, three of which took effect,
striking the battleships Cesarevitch and
Retz1van and the cruiser Pallada- The
three damaged ships returned to the
harbor to avoid sinking.
notwithstanding the continuous fire
from the ships and forts four of the
Japanese torpedo boats escaped. One,
however, was sunk and another, which
was in sinking condition, was desert
ed by the crew and was afterward cap
tured by the Russians. The action
ceased at o'clock in the morning
The loss on the Russian ships was
eight killed and twenty wounded.
Apart from the disablement of three
Russian ships the damage done to the
fleet and forts was not very great.
The Japanese fleet again came in
sight about IL o'clock on Tuesday fore
noon. There were in all fifteen ships in
two lines of battle-six battleships, six
first-class cruisers and three second
class cruisers. The Russians had out
side thirteen large vessels under Ad-
miral Stark. After the commencement
of the action the populace fled toward
the hill outside of town.
On both sides 1 counted more than
300 shells, few Of which reached the
mark. The others did not explode.
The Japanese warships steamed slow
ly past, in line of battle, to the west
ward and about four miles off. each
vessel beginning to fire when opposite
the Russian ships, which were two
miles off shore. The action became gen.
eral. There was no maneuvering, sim
ply heavy and fast firing.
The firing ceased at noon, the jap
anese ships withdrawing to the south
ward, having one battleship and one
large cruiser put out of action. One
small boat was chased and was sunk
by the Novik (Russian), which after
ward received a shell at the water line,
but reached port all right. Admiral
Stark signaling well DONE" while all
the rest of the fleet cheered her ar
rival. Even the three Russian ships
aground fired during the action.
The casualties on the Russian side
were twenty-five killed and sixty-fou
wounded. Nearly half of the casual
ties occurred on the Pallada and Novik.
The Japanese fleet sailed southwark
at p. m. and all was quiet.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
JAPANESE SECTION
HANDS CONTRIBUTE
TO THE WAR FUND

PORTLAND. Or, Feb. 15.-Six thou
sand dollars has been raised toward
the war assistance fund by local Jap
anese. Amounts have been received
ranging from s25 to $1,000 by S. Ban,
head OF the committee.
What do you Think he said to-
DAY. a party Of five Japanese section
hands on a railroad sent in $50 from
Junction City this morning. Each one
contributed from $25 to $50. In a few
DAYS we viii have raised $4,000, and
this amount viii Immediately be sent
10 Japan. We viii then start on an
other fund. Notices and subscription
lists have been sent throughout the
State and they will bear golden Srult.
I headed the list with $1,000, and the
clerks in my Office all gave from 500
TO $500 apiece. Every one is enthusi-
astic over the fund
I'VE are not desirous Of receiving
contributions from Americans at pres
ent. We want to make this first con-
tribution all our own"
About a dozen OF the naval reserves
Of this city, who have been called to
service in Japan, viii leave for their
country on the next Maru liner from
Seattle.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
SIXTY CHICAGOANS
TO ENLIST IN THE
ARMY OF MIKADO

CHICAGO. Feb. 15.-Sixty Chicago
ans, many of them veterans of the
Spanish-American War, will, it is said,
leave this week for Japan. Five for
mer members of the Illinois National
Guard and the regular and volunteer
armies of the United States, left to-
night for Pacific Coast ports, whence
they will sail for the Orient. Owing
to the neutrality proclamation Of
President Roosevelt, the men are
keeping their plans secret. but it is
intimated that the purpose is to join
the Japanese forces.
The sixty Will go West in small
parties of five and six and sail for
Japan on different steamships. Their
ultimate destination is Toxic
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
NO BIDS ASKED IN SAN
JOSE FOR A FRANCHISE
City Tires of Efforts of Competing
Companies to Obstruct New
Railway

SAN JOSE, Feb. 15.-The Board Of
Supervisors to-day granted Mehling
& Lockwood an electric railway fran
chise for a distance Of about 1000 feet
along the AlvisO road from the north
ern city limits of this city. This gives
them connection with a franchise
secured inside the city and their pri-
vate right of way leading to AlvisO.
Upon the advice Of the District At
torney the franchise was granted
without calling for bids. This was
done because Of the previous attempts
made to block the building Of an cleo
trio railway from this city to AlvisO-
For many months Mehling & Lock
wood have been trying TO get fran
chise that would give the road they
are going to build between San Jose
and AlvisO an entrance into this city.
but bidder would always appear and
outbid them for the franchise. r. ID.
Crawford of GilrOy was the agent of
the parties and it is believed repre-
sented the Southern Pacific Company.
A few weeks ago the City Council
granted Mehling & Lockwood fran
Chise for line inside the city limits
without asking for bids.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16

can dollar has practically advanced
from 81 cents to its present figure
within a year. This last increase is
explained at the War Department by
the statement that the war has caused
heavy drain, Chinese and Japanese
merchants converting much Of their
stock into cash TO be prepared for
emergencies. The result is expected to
be the practical extirpation of the Mex
lean dollar in the Philippines, an OBJ
ject very much desired, for a heavy
import duty on Mexican dollars will
keep them out Of the islands, once they
are withdrawn
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
ITO'S SENTIMENTS
TOWARD AMERICANS
TOLD IN WRITING

TOXIC. Feb. 15.-Marquis Ito to-
day gave the press a written express
sion of his sentiments toward the
American people, as follows:
1T is with profound satisfaction that
I see so many symptoms of spontane-
Gus sympathy with which the free
thinking people of your great nation
seem to watch the present crisis. In
my opinion it was evident that Russia s
high handed expansion toward the
hegemony Of the East, combined with
her recent strenuous military efforts
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
RUSSIAN FLEET is
SEEN OFF THE SOUTH
COAST OF JAPAN

NAGASAKI, Feb. 15.-The French
and Russian Ministers to Korea have
requested the Japanese Government to
allow the survivors of the Russian
ships Variag and Korutz, which were
sunk in the fight at Chemulpo, to pro-
ceed to Shanghai They guarantee
that the Russians will remain there
until the war ends.
Martial law has been proclaimed in
Nagasaki. 1t is rumored that a Rus
sian fleet has been seen off the south
coast of Japan. The East Asiatic
Company's steamship Manchuria has
been captured and has arrived at
Sasebo.
The steamship Manchuria sailed
from Copenhagen on November 20 for
Port Arthur and Vladivostok. She is
of 370S net tons register and was built
at Copenhagen in 1891.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
JUDGE ADAMS WILL
DECIDE BURTON DEMURRER
United States Court VIII Rule on
Case of Fraud Against the
Kansas Senator.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15.-Judge Adams,
in the United States District Court an
nounced that he will tomorrow make
known his decision on the demurrer
of United States Senator j. r. Bur-
ton of Kansas to the indictment charg-
ing him with accepting money from
the Rialto Grain and Securities Com
pany for using his influence with the
Postoffice Department to prevent the
issuance of fraud order against the
Rialto Company.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
FREQUENT FIRING
OCCURS IN THE BAY
OF PORT ARTHUR

CHEFU. Feb. 15.-The steamship
Wenchow, arriving from Port Arthur
reports that eleven Russian ships were
struck in Tuesdays engagement. 1t is
said that the cruiser Askold with a big
hole at the water line, has been towed
into the inner basin and beached. The
battleship Sevastopol has a shell hole
just above the water line and is useless
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16
German Emperor Is Not II.

BERLIN. Feb. 15.-The rumors
circulated regarding the alleged ill
ness of Emperor William are abso-
lutely ungrounded. He went out walk
ing this morning. visited Chancellor
Won Bulow and transacted the usual
state business.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16

This is Exhibition Day at Benguiat's s
Rug Sale. Palace Hotel (Marble and Ma
ple rooms). Don't fail to attend.
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16

BOSTON, Feb. 15.-The LOthrop Publishing
Company assigned to-day. Liabilities sstimat-
ed at $15O,00o.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03

No OF To Whom For What
Warrant Issued Purpose
1860 o. S. Reigstad, days and mile
age. 19O2......... ......
1918 Thos. H. Olson, days and mile
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03
Statement of Balances.

Condensed Staemet Of Funds and Accounts Of the Gen.
era| Ledger, followed by a Detailed Statement
Of Warrants on Each Fund.
Summary of Receipts and Disbursements
ndngw notcount in '"'''@'"'
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03
Per Diem and Mileage of
County Commissioners.

mot including Committee Work.
First District.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-02-03

;41e1 Chas. Johnson, County Attorney,

1919 B. F. Fink. Superintendent Of
Schools JAM 1925
4z9S r. W. Dobbyn, superintendent of -
-o- .-- .u..u -: schools, Jan. 67.75
47O5 do do Feb 10000