Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-13
AMSTERDAM DISPATCH DE-
cLAREs GREAT NAVAL BAT.
TILE is ON.
is DENIED IN RUSSIA
St, Petersburg OFFICIALS Admit, How
ever, That Japanese Torpedo Boats
May Have Made An Attack During
the Night - Japanese Guard sais-
on Harbor - Many Land skirmishes

on Hsrbor - Many Land skirmishes
Amsterdam, April IL. - A fight is
ny in progress near Anambas Is
lands east of the Malay peninsula, ac-
cording to a telegram to newspaper
from Batavia, Island of Java. Five
Dutch warships are near the scene Of
the battle.
Not Confirmed In London.
London, Eng, April 12. - No con-
frmation of the Amsterdam report has
been received here as there is no ca
BILE connection with the Anambas Is
lands. 1t is difficult to see how Ba-
tayia could have got such news before
Singapore.
st. Petersburg Denies Story.
ST. Petersburg, April 1.-THE ad-
miralty has no information in regard
to any naval battle alleged to be in
progress off Anambas islands and
it does not credit the possibility of
general naval battle, yet the officials
concede that the Japanese may have
attempted torpedo boat attack on
the convoy during the night.
Japs Guard Saigon.
Saigon, French Cochin China, April
12.-Several Japanese ships are cruis-
ing off the east coast of Cochin China
for the purpose of preventing the Rus
SLAMS taking coal on board and are
making reconnaissances in the hope Of
locating Rojestvensky's feet.
All Russian Ships Located.
III. A ia
Press is able to confirm absolutely the
statement that the Russian battleships
passed Singapore going eastward April
ron is accounted for. This definite
news about the battleships was sent
to Singapore by wireless telegraph
from the China sea-
May Be Big Land Battle.
Toxic, April 12 Manchurian re-
ports indicate that the Russians con-
tinue concentrating their troops and
Strengthening the Changchun-Kirn
lines. General Madridoff's force con-
tinues in touch with the extreme jap
alese left.
Skirmishes are frequent and they
may possibly develop into an engage
ment. 1t is reported that the Russians
have armed the convicts on the Island
of Sakhalin promising money and free
dom to those fighting bravely.
Fight in Formosa Straits.
London, April 12.-All information
obtainable in the tense situation aris-
ing over the known proximity of the
Russian and Japanese fleets in the
China sea indicates that the coming
naval battle is to be fought in the
Straits of Formosa, off the port of Ke-
lung 1t is believed that Admiral Ro-
jestvensky's heavy battleships and
their attendant cruisers that were
missing when part of his fleet passed
Singapore April have gained the
China sea by another route and that
they have already joined the Singa.
pore division or will join it in day or
two.
The Japanese will not oppose the
passage north of the combined Rus.
sian fleet until it attempts to steam by
Kelung, but at that moment all of Ad.
miral Togo's naval force will be hurled
against it.
kelung Togo's Base.
Admiral Togo is making Kelung his
base. In doing so he appears
to be certain Rojestvensky
is going to pass between
Formosa and the mainland. In that
case two courses would be open to
Rojestvensky, one through the straits
of Formosa for the entire distance and
the other through the Strait of Pesca
dores, between the islands of Pesca
dores and the southern end of For
mosa, and leading into the Straits OF
Formosa farther north.
BY making Kelung his base Togo
will have to watch only one passage
way and thus he can better keep his
forces together.
Rojestvensky Cleans His Ships.
The battle may take place sooner
than expected. Dispatches from St
Petersburg reveal that Roiestvensky
has invented means of cleaning his
ships bottoms as he steams along
He fastens a semi-girdle of chains ir
such way that they scrape the bot
toms quite effectively, thereby increas
ing the speed of the vessels.
Will Be Court MartiaIed.
st. Petersburg, April 12. - The de
mand of Rear Admiral Prince Ouktom
sky for a court martial has beer
granted. 1t is claimed that the
prince did not carry out orders ISSUED
by Admiral Withoeft at Port Arthur
For AngIo-Japanese Alliance.
London, April 12-Joseph Chamber
lain, presiding at the annual meeting
of the Liberal Union1st club TO-DAY
strongly supported the suggestion O
an Anglo-Japanese defensive alliance