The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-06-22
STORY OF The RUSSO-JAPANESE
WAR NOW PRACTICALLY AT AN END


vice Admiral Togo. with Aeet % more
than sixty warships. quietly steamed
out % the harbor of Sasebo-and the
war with Russia was on.
Japan. silent. inscrutab,e. kept the
secret. Not word Of the news nashed
over telegraph wires and on under sea
cables.
For weeks the feet had been ready TO
sail, and for days army trnnsports.
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
peace or war had wavered In the bal
ance. Japan's final demands were
presented 90 Count Lamsdor6 at 81
Petersburg January t. The principal
points were these:
F1rst--The formal recognition OF
Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria.
9econd-The recognition OF the fuli
commercial rights Of other nations In
Manchuria. as established BY their
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 Q
special interests In Manchuria- or TO
deny her right to protect them
terms that had been submitted 60 Rus
ala % far back IN August n. 1903.
and, as 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 90 put her
promises into execution Russia took no
step whatever: and finally. February
9. the Oficiai Messenger Of 81. Peters,
buiy announced that the japanese
minister had broken on negotiations
and had left the Russian capial.
Japan In Command u Zee.
The FIRST object OF Japan was to land
Aer army on the Korean coast. and TO
90 this she had TO secure her trans
oorts a course uninterrupted by the
Russian ships. The main body Of the
Russian fleet. under Admiral Starck.
was lying outside Port Arthur under
the guns OF the fortress: but 10 little
ana 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
left two OF his ships In the harbor OF
Chemuipo the most probable japanese
landing place. and had taken no steps
whatever TO stop the passase OF the
transports.
Detaching a squadron under Admiral
Togo. on the morning OF the sth.
steamed straight for Port Arthur. A
night fell. he sent forward his torpedo
fotiila. steaming ut twenty lone knots.
with instructions TO sink the enemy's
deet. They reached their objective a
little before midnight and divided into
two lines. 30 as TO envelop the wedge
shaped neet. they. without any warn.
Ing. discharged their torpedoes and
hurried back under n storm OF shot and
sheii. They were scarcely touched. but
the damage TO the Russian feet was
only imperfectiy described by the mes
sage teiegraphed next morning by Adj
nirai AiexiefY to the car.
japanese torpedoboats delivered n
sudden mine attack on the squadron
iying In the Chinese roads at Port Ar
czarevitch and the cruiser Pailada be-
ing holed."
The wounded ships crept hack Into
the harbor. where during the weeks
that followed their injuries were more
Or less perfectly repaired.
Admiral Uriu easily disposed OF the
.ruiser varfag and the gunboat Korietx.
which had been LEFT In the harbor at
Chemulpo. destined victims OF the hrst
Japanese squadron that chose to come
that way. II appears to have been the
gorietz that fired the FIRST shot OF the
war. on the evening OF February 8.
Next day both ships came out OF the
aarbor and were sunk. the main part OF
heir crews being rescued BY II. NJ.
.. Talbot and the French cruiser. Pas
cai.
The naval actions nj Port Arthur and
Ehemulpo on February 8 and gave
Japan. for several weeks. ut least. COM
mand OF the seas and an opportunity
70 transport her army across the
straits into Korea without fear OF
tmolestation.
Marching TO the YaIu-
All during the months OF February
and March transports carried troops.
artillery and supplies To the west coast
81 Korea-hrst 10 Chemulpo and then
farther up the coast TO Chinampo. and
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 Manchuria- Kurokl
Joined the army ut chemuipo In March
and the march to the Yaiu began.
Advancing over froxen roads. and In
ths face of great hardship. the FRS,
Pingyang. where scouting parties OF
the Russian and japanese forces ex-
shanged shots. From that moment thu
Japanese soldiers Of the first army
never lost touch with the Russians In
eront OF them.
Az soon as the Zee melted In The
estuary OF the Pingyang river General
kurotu moved his base from Chemuipc
to Chinampo. The greater portion oi
his artillery. Including the heavy six
inch howitxers. which rendered such
splendid service at the battle OF the
Yalu. WINS landed at Chinampo. and
the first striking force was prepared
Cor It's advance towards the Yaiu.
The Russians retired steadily befor,
Kuroki. until they crossed the Yalu al
wiju on April 7. There they halted
and took up n position on the opposit,
bank OF the river. and prepared TO con.
test the crossing.
Russia's Disasters at Sea.
While Kurokl was iaboriously NOV.
ing his army over the aiternatei,
frozen and CODED roads OF northern
Korea stormy events were taking plac,
Mt Port Arthur. where Togo was en-
icavoring daily 10 lure the Russian Zee
into battle In the open sea. away from
che heavy guns OF the land batteries
on Golden and Electric hills.
The naval events at Port Arthur haS
been uniformly disastrous for Russia
On February IL the mine transpor
Yenfaei was blown nm by Oue of A.,