The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-02
IN KOREAN STRAITS.
The Japanese Claim a Great Victory,
Putting, the Russian Loss at Twelve
or More Ships. but as Usual
Says Nothing About Their
Own Loss In Battle.

Japanese naval forces for the Suprem-
acy OF the oriental seas, on which
hangs the outcome of the far eastern
struggle, has begun, ii it has not ter
minated decisively. All the dispatches
received by the Associated Press point
to a Japanese victory, though 1t Is not
yet known whether the full force OF
Vice Admiral Rujestvensky's fighting
ships took part in the contest which
according to the dispatches, took place
In the comparatively narrow waters
Of the Straits of Korea.
The first information came in dis
patch from the American consul at
Nagasaki to the state department at
Washington telling that th. Japanese
had sunk one Russian battleship, four
other warships and a repair ship in
the Korean straits, and this was fol.
lowed by dispatch received by the
state department., the date OF which
was not given, that the Japanese
government had nade the announce
ment that its fleet had engagadd the
Russians in the Straits OF Kjrea Satur.
day and bad held them"
The state department. also received
information that the two vessels re.
ported to have been sunk we're the
sister batt'eShips Orl and Borodino
and that three OF the other ships
we're cruis rs. From TsinGtau, the
G. erman port on the Snautung PENN.
sula, came u report thata running ma
val engagement took place near the
island OF Oxi in the sea OF Japan, 200
miles northeast Of tine Straits Of Ko
rea, and that the whole Russian let
did not participate, the slow veSscls
having been sent around Japan. TIE
Japs loss was one cruiser and ten
torpedo GOATS. Russian sources give
no news OF the battle, while the Japa-
nese government, following It's GUS
tom, is silent as to either the battle
or It's outcome.
IT I,1seR ANS oF$5IH o AITL
The ST. Petersburg telegraph agency
publishes the following from Shang
hal, under date of May 80:
From all quarters kilograms are
arriving here announcing that naval
battle Is In progress between the T.,
straits and the Japanese coast. No
details are given but the tone OF tele-
grams from Chefoo is favorable to the
Russians. The kilograms say that
the Vladivostok squadron participated
In the engagement.
An English firm In Shanghai has
received a telegram from Toxic to the
effect that the Japanese have been
victorious but nobody here believes it.
There is the greatest excitement
In Shanghai. All the warships in the
harbor have cleared for action.
The cable to Woosung has been
interrupted since yesterday, but the
cause is not known.
Numerous merchantmen have
postponed their departure pending the
receipt OF further news"
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
A dispatch was received at the state
department Sunday saying that the
Japanese government had made the
announcement that its fleet had en-.
gagged the Russians in the straits Of
Korea Saturday and had held them.
The belief in naval circles In Wash
ington is that the Japanese resorted
to a free use uf their torpedo boats In
their attacks on the vessels OF Vice
Admiral Rojcstvensky's fleet. The
Japanese have large number of tor
pedo boats in their fleet and they de
monstrated their effectiveness in the
operations around Port Arthur Naval
tflcials here express the opinion that
1t was unlikely that such serious
losses as those reported could have
, been Inflicted by ordinary fire.
/ From information which has been
received in Washington Sunday it is
3 believed that two OF The Russian ships
. reported to have been sunk in the
/ Korean straits by the Japanese ar.
e The Orel and her sister ship, the Boro
] dino. They are battleships OF 13, OO(
1 tons. Three other vessels reported
: sunk are believed io have been cruis
: ers, the remaining one being repair
s ship,
THE NEWS AT CIIEFOO.
A dispatch from Chsiooo says pri
\ vate kilograms from Korea to thl
f. japanese consul here state that a bat
q tie was progressing Sunday Afternoon
r at or near the Korean straits between
!. the main portion OF the Russian
a squadron and the japanese fleet unde
/ command Of A @miral Togo.
kilograms almost identical with th
1 oc1'o iith'S cSSii loi tillll dill
:. n0uncc that large portion of th
q Russian fleet was sighted approaching
|. The Korean straits Saturday headed
r. fer the channel between Tsu Islam
a and the japanese coast.
n According t. the best infOrmatio
" received recently the main portio
|. Of Admiral Togo's fleet has been a.
, most constantly at Masampho bay.
q Adviccs from q reliable quarter re
ceived here are to the effect tina
three Russian battloships, three al
mOred cruisers and several collier
rs were of Shanghai Friday. 1t is bf
e. lieved that Vice Admiral R9jastver
y sky sent sufficient ships to tine city {
t, Shanghai in order to induce the bt
c, lief that his main n4et was ther,
a. while the major portion Of 1t pushe
RS on toward the Korean straits
is Several Russian cUlliers were q
v Shanghai at 8 o'clock Saturday nigh
Q. Private kilograms received here fro
~ Shanghai say that as fast as the ca
N goes OF the colllers are consumed th
le We sells arr dismissed by Vice Admir-
Rojestvensky and return to Europe.