The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-06-22

out % the harbor Of Sasebo-anf the
war with Russia was on
Japan. silent. inscrutabie. Kept the
secret. Not n word Of the news flashed
over telegraph wires and on under sea
cables.
For weeks the feet had been ready 10
sail. and for days army transports.
loaded with men and artillery. had been
swinging at anchor. hut of this Rus
STA knew nothing; the world knew
nothing.
All through January the question of
ance. Japan's nnai demands were
presented TO Count IAmsdorn Mt 81
Petersburg January L. The principal
points were these:
F1rst-Ths formal recognition OF
Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria-
Second-The recognition OF the full
commercial rights Of Other nations In
treaties with China
Third--The admission OF Japan's
paramount interest In Korea
In return Japan declared that she
did not wish 20 interfere with Russia's
special interests In Manchuria. or 10
deny her right 10 protect them.
Practically. these were the same
terms that had been submitted TO Rus
ella 10 far back m August n. 1903.
and. an regards Russia's relations To
Manchuria, the note hardly went be-
yond the declarations frequently and
spontaneously made OF Russia herself.
But when definitely asked 20 put her
step whatever: and finally. February
9. the Oficial Messenger Of 81. Peters
bug announced that the japanese
minister had broken on negotiations
= and had left the Russian capiai.
Japan In Command 81 Zee.
The FIRST object OF Japan was to land
her army on the Korean coast. and TO
20 this she had TO secure her trans
ports a course uninterrupted by the
Russian ships. The main body of the
Russian feet. under Admiral Starck.
was lying outside Port Arthur under
the guns OF the fortress: but 10 little
did the admiral or viceroy. who was
also at Port Arthur and In supreme
command. anticipate Immediate action
On the part OF his enemy that he had
EFF two OF his ships In the harbor OF
landing place. and had taken no steps
whatever TO stop the passage OF the
transports.
Detaching n squadron under Admiral
Uriu TO protect the transports. Admiral
Togo. on the morning OF the sth.
steamed straight for Port Arthur. Az
night fell. he sent forward his torpedo
with instructions to sink the enemy's
dect. They reached their objective a
little before midnight and divided into
two lines. 30 as 20 enveiop the wedge
shaped fleet. they. without any warn
ng. discharged their torpcdoes and
hurried back under storm of shot and
shell. They were scarcely touched. but
,niy imperfectiy described by the mes
sage telegraphed next morning by Ad-
mirai Aiexieff TO the car.
Japanese torpedoboats delivered n
sudden mine attack on the squadron
ying In the Chinese roads at Port Ar
thur. the battieships Retvizan and
cxarevitch and the cruiser Pailada be-
Ing holed.'
The wounded ships crept back into
the harbor. where during the weeks
khat followed their injuries were more
Dr. less perfectly repaired
Admiral Urtu easily disposed OF the
;ruiser variag and the gunboat Korietx.
which had been left I'm the harbor at
Chemuipo. destined victims OF the first
Japanese squadron that chose 60 come
that way. II appears to have been the
Korfetx that fired the first shot OF the
war. on the evening OF February 8.
Next dag both ships came out OF the
aarbor and were sunk. the main part OF
heir crews being rescued by II. NJ.
Aoaooa anu ahc FtcnSa Sseasct' EeS-
sai.
The naval actions nj Port Arthur and
Chemulpo on February and gave
Japan. for several weeks. ut least. COM
mand OF the seas and an opportunity
10 transport her army across the
straits into Korea without fear OF
lmoIestation.
Marching 10 the Ysiu-
All during the months OF February
a.
artillery and supplies To the west coast
u Korea-nrst to Chemulpo and then
farther up the coast TO Chinampo. and
thus avoiding the long. laborious march
along the length OF the Korean PENN
suia-
General Kuroki was In command OF
The army that landed In Korea. des-
tined to force n crossing OF the Yaiu
and 10 invade Manchurta- Kuroki
Joined the army Mt Chemalpo In March.
and the march to the Yalu began.
Advancing over froxen roads. and In
che face OF great hardship. the first
contact was made with the enemy 1t
Pingyang. where scouting parties OF
the Russian and japanese forces ex-
changed shots. From that moment the
Japanese soldiers OF the first army
never lost touch with the Russians In
front OF them.
As soon as the Eco melted In the
rsfuary OF the Pingyang river General
kuroirt moved his base from Chemulpo
To Chinampo. The greater portion OF
his artillery. including the heavy six
inch howitxers. which rendered such
splendid service at the battle of the
Yalu. wns landed At Chinampo. and
the FIRST striking force was prepared
for It's advance towards the Yaiu
The Russians retired steadily before
Kuroki. until they crossed the Yalu at
iii
and took up position on the opposite
bank OF the river. and prepared 10 con-
test the crossing.
Russia's Disasters at Sea.
While Kuroki was laboriously NOV
ting his army over the alternately
frozen and Coded roads OF northern
Korea stormy events were taking place
Mt Port Arthur. where Togo was en-
teavoring daily TO lure the Russian feet
into battle In the open sen. away from
the heavy guns OF the land batteries
on Golden and Electric hills.
The naval events Mt Port Arthur had
been uniformly disastrous for Russia.
On February IL the mine transport
Yentsei was blown up by one OF its
own mines and 100 officers and men
sent To their death.
Then on April IL came Russia's great
dlsasteT--the loss OF the battleship
Petrops 9lovsk. one OF the finest war
ships In the world.
Some weeks previously the incompe-
tent Admiral Starck had been recalled
In for tt.sr A.. %,