The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-02-18
WAR HAS BEGUN
IN THE FAR EAST
Japan Scores Several Naval Veto
ries Over Russia in Vicinity
Of Port Arthur.
Destroys Russian Cruisers and T ra ms.
ports and Takes Several Thousand
PrisOners-Czar Makes Formal
Declaration of War-Results OF
Fighting Thus Far.

perate attack of the Japanese fleet at
Port Arthur reached Toxic late this
afternoon. The report was written at
sea, February 10, at point undisclosed
by the navy department. The report
briefly and modestly recounts the Jap
anese victory. Vice Admiral Togo left
the battle-ground not knowing the full
extent of the damage his torpedo shells
had inflicted, but he was evidently con-
fident that the Russians had suffered
heavily. A translation of Vice Admiral
Togo's report follows:
After the combined fleet left Sazbo
February 6, everything went as
planned. At midnight February s our
advance squadron attacked the enemy
at Port Arthur. At the time the en-
emey's advance squadron was for the
most part outside of Port Arthur. OF
the advance squadron at least the bat
tleship POltava, the protected cruiser
Askold and two others appeared to
have been struck by our tOrpedoes. On
February 9 at noon our fleet advanced
in the ofing of Port Arthur bay and
attacked the rest of the enemy's ships
about 40 minutes The result OF the
attack is not yet known, but it is be-
lieved considerable damage was infiict-
ed on the enemy, and l believe that
they were greatly demoralized. They
stopped fighting about one o'clock and
appeared to retreat into the harbOr.
The Japanese Losses.
I'm this action the damage to our
fleet was very slight, and our fighting
strength is not in the least decreased.
The number of killed and wounded was
So. Of these four were killed and -
wounded. A report of this engagement
of the squadron at Chemulpo has prob
ably been sent you already directly by
Admiral Uriu, as our advance squadron
bore the brunt of the enemy's fire, and
after the attack for the most part re
joined the main feet. The imperial
princes on board the ships are I'M
harmed.
The conduct of all our officers during
the action was cool, not unlike the
ordinary maneuvers. Since the battle
their spirits have been high, but their
conduct was very calm
Russian Transport Blown Up.
St. Petersburg, Feb. ia report has
been received from Viceroy Alexief say
/ ing that the Russian torpedo transport
Yenisei had been blown up as the result,
of accidentally striking a mine at POrz
Arthur. The Yenisei sank and Cap;
Stepanoff, three officers and 81 men were
. lost
Expects Japanese Victory.
London. Feb. 13.-The British 2oy-
eminent has information which leads
/ it to believe that Japan is likely TO te
in possession of Port Arthur a week
from now. In the best informed jap
anese circles here it is privately though
, that the war will be over by July.
Report Confirmed.
London, Feb. 11.-Baron Hayashi, til
japanese minister here, has receives
| official confirmation from Toxic CT the
! destruction at Chemulpoo of the Ru>-
sian frst-class cruiser Variag and tn"
! third-class cruiser KorietZ. A speci2l
| dispatch from Toxic says that the jap
anese have captured three more Russian
b
Masampho Seized.
Toxic, Feb. 11.-Japan seized Masani
! pho and dispatched heavy force there.
Japan will fortify the port and estab
| lish a naval and military base there
| Masampho is an exceedingly importan.
! point, as it controls the Corean channel,
{ and is an excellent base for future Oper-
atoms.
The japanese have captured a. Least
| five Russian commercial steamers.
Gar Declares War.
st. Petersburg, Feb. 1.-The Cficia.
Messenger yesterday morning contained
the following supreme manifest"
BY the grace of God we, Nicholas
H.. emperor and autocrat of all the Rus
sias, etc, make known to all our loyal
subjects that without advising US OF
the fact that the breach of peace rela-
lions would in itself mean an opening
of warlike operations, the japanese gov
eminent gave orders to its torpedo boats
to suddenly attack our squadron stand
ing in the outer harbor of the fortress
of Port Arthur. Upon receiving reports
HUH TIC NlCSIOs III the east dDOut
this, we Immediately commanded him to
| answer the Japanese challenge with
armed force.
Russians Attack.
Tientsin, Feb. 12.-Five Russian
| cruisers from Vladivostok bombardeI
the japanese city of Hakodate No de-
tails are known here, only the bare
statement of the battle being received
Three japanese torpedo boats were
sunk in Sunday nights engagement, it
is reported here. China is organizing
| a force of 300, 900 Boxers, which is to
be poured into Manchuria to harass
the Russians in the rear.
Neutrality PrOclamatiOns.
Washington, Feb. 12.-President
Roosevelt signed the proclamation de-
claring the neutrality of this govern
ment in the Russo-Japanese war yes
| terday afternoon.
London, Feb. liking Edward, &C
a council held at Buckingham palace
yesterday afternoon. signed a procIa-
nation declaring Great Britain's neu-
ha haf"