Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-01
CO2[A'S FORCES
TO JOIN THE JAPS
ORDERS FROM GOVERNMENT TO
THE STANDING ARMY.
ANOTHER BATTLE REPORTED.
Engagement Between Russian Shore
|. Batteries and Japanese Squadron
:. at Port Arthur-Little DAM
u. age Inflicted.

~ age inflicted.
| Seoul, Feb. 27.-The Corean govern
ment has decided to order the Corean
troops to join the japanese in the field.
The standing army now consists OF about
900 men with European methods. In
1896 1t was taken in hand by a Russian
colonel with three commissioned and ten
non-commissioned officers, who retired,
however, in $685. A royal bodyguard of
1000 men was formed and has been we'll
drilled, and periodically draft Of we'll
trained men is transferred from it to
the other regiments of the standing
army.
H, Another Engagement.
! St Petersburg, Feb. PA dispatch
received here from Port Arthur, dated
February rs, says: AT Acne O. clock this
morning several Japanese torpedo boats
were sighted from here with their sails
Set for the purpose of Disgusting their
character. The battleship Retvizan and
the shore batteries opened fire on them
and continued firing until day break with
out any visible result. After daybreak
q Japanese squadron, apparently con-
weying transports, was sighted. At a
quarter past II this squadron came near
er and an engagement which lasted 40
minutes ensued. There was no dam
age. Few shells fell in Port Arthur. 1t
is expected here that the Japanese will
attempt a landing soon.
can inspection of the Japanese fire
ships sent into this harbor February "a,
shows they were loaded with coal and
kerosene and that electrical internal ma
chimes had been placed in the midst Of
this cargo"
Gen. Plugs Report.
London, Feb PA dispatch to news
agency from st. Petersburg says the Of
ncial report of Maj Gen. Plug, chief of
staff of Viceroy Alexieff, on the details
OF the attack on Port Arthur during the
morning of February rs, is as follows:
THE enemy's squadron of 16 warships
approached from the Dalny side toward
the harbor of Port Arthur at about
Al o'clock this morning, and at once
opened fire upon our three cruisers
standing outside in the roadstead, name
~ the Askold, Rayan and Novik, and also
against the land forts. The lombard
ment lasted half an hour. At its con-
clusion our cruisers retired into the har-
Dor. The enemy then bombarded one
land battery for some minutes. Then
the enemy also retreated, remaining out
0f the range OF our guns.
I'm the meanwhile four Japanese
cruisers separated from the enemy's
main squadron and went into Golubinsja
bay, where they openeda heavy fire upon
one OF our torpedo boats stationed, In the
bay and also upon the coast batteries.
Consequently the commander Of the fort
sent troops to this point, but NO land
Ing took place. The bombardment there
lasted 20 minutes, at the expiration Of
which time the Japanese cruisers re-
treated. The loss on our side this day
was one man wounded in one Of the land
batteries.
1.-THE oflcer commanding at Vladivo-
stock reports that on February "a earl,
IN the morning ten of the enemy's ships
were seen south Of the islands. They dis
appeared on the horizon in the evening
Says Harbor Is Blocked.
Washington, Feb. 27.-The Japanese
minister has received the following
cablegram from the japanese minister
Tor foreign affairs, dated Toxic Friday:
Before dawn on the oath instant -four
old ships under escort of torpedo boats
proceeded to the mouth of the harbor o.
Port Arthur where they were sunk will
success In order to close it. The officers
and crew Of the vessels returned safely
No official report has as yet been re-
ceived from the admiral commanding
The squadron, but there is no foubt tina
the squadron itself is all SAFE
Attempt Failed.
Toxic, FeD. z1.--vlce Admiral Togo's
attempt to bottle up the Russian feet
ut Port Arthur by sinking feet Of
stone-laden merchant steamers in the
mouth Of the harbor evidently failed
though the venture caused no loss of life
and the vessels lost were not of great
value. Five ships were prepared by
vice Admiral Togo for the attempted
blockade. Four are reported to have
been sunk, but the fate of the fifth Il
unknown here. 1t Is presumed that 4
withdrew with the other Japanese YES
sells The Ave vessels were illed with
stones 80 as to make the obstruction
permanent, and were manned by volun
teer merchant crews, 1t was impossible
to select naval officers and sailors or
account Of their great rivalry to par.
Ncipate in the daring venture.
Accompanied by four batueships, nine
cruisers and numerous vessels of the
torpedo flotilla, the stone-laden steam.
ers reached Port Arthur on Wednesday
While the feet engaged the shore bat
teries, the steamers made dash for the
mouth of the harbor, directly under the
Russian guns. Details of the attack
have not been received, but it is evi.
dent that the Russians fire sank the
steamers before they reached the points
planned for their laundering by the
Japanese. 1t is said that all of the crews
OF the four vessels escaped in boats and
were picked up by the Japanese tor.
pedo boat destroyers. The report that
two OF the torpedo boat destroyers vert
sunk by the Russians IL denied. The
naval department has received brie,
dispatch from the commander of one
OF the torpedo boat destroyers saying
that no lives and no warships were lost
and that no damage was inflicted by tn,
Russians. Pending the receipt OF tn,
ofhcial report of Vice Admiral Togo, tht
naval department declines to make an,