Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-18

liers off the coast of Cochin China.
A number of Russian warships are
anchored in Kamranh bay, where they
are re-victualling. The steamer Fri
dan, which was purchased by a local
French firm, sailed yesterday evening
with full cargo of provisions for the
squadron.
Health Good on Ships.
The health Of the Russians Is re-
markably good. Only eight deaths
from disease have occurred since their
departure from Europe, out Of an ef-
fective total of $4,000 men.
No Wounded on oreI.
One Russian officer suffering from
beri-beri is in a hospital here. The
other sick men who were brought here
by the Russian hospital ship Orel in
clude Prince Cantacuzene, but the re-
ports that the Orel had wounded men
on board are unfounded, as there had
been no fighting up to the time Of her
arrival.
Reported North Of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, April 17.-The German
for Singapore. She reported that she
was stopped for two, hours by three
Russian cruisers April IA thirty miles
north Of Cape Padaran. The Brunhill
counted altogether thirty-three ves-
sells steaming north-northeast at ten
knots. The report Is current here that
a portion Of the Russian squadron has
reached q bay in Chinese waters north
ward of Hong Kong.
Confirmed from Hong Kong.
London, April IA Hong Kong
Russian squadron was seen Sunday
Kamranh bay. Turan bay is between
latitude516 and latitude II north.
Due to Leave April ID.
Toxic, April IL. It is calculated
here that the Russian squadron arrived
at Kamranh Bay at noon April IL and
therefore had been occupying the port
forty-eight hours when seen at noon
April IA.
More Torpedo Boats.
sebastopol,, April II. - Several tor
pedo boats which Lewis Nixon Of New
York has been setting up here have
been completed and will proceed to
4 sVIadivostok.
Battle Reported at Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, April 17.-The steamer
Telemachus reported yesterday that
she heard firing $50 miles north of the
Natuna Islands at 1920 o'clock on the
afternoon of April 12. There is no
confirmation.
Is Fleet Divided?
London, April 17.-Excitement over
the Russian and Japanese fleets is
now at almost the highest pitch public
feeling has assumed since the war in
the orient began Dispatches from
various ports, although not announc-
ing where the squadron Of either bel
ligerent Is, give information from
which 1t is figured that they must be
almost in touch now and that the bat
tie is only a question of hours.
Some naval and military experts.
taking their cue from a cablegram
from Toxic to the effect that Japan
has shut shipping out of a certain
zone around the Pescadores islands.
believe that fighting may be In pro-
gress already.
It appears as il Admiral Rojestven-
sky had divided mis- fleet, that he left
part of it, probably the most vulnera-
bic and least useful vessels in battle
off Saigon and that these steamed into
some bay off Cochin China to await
further orders from the Russian com
mander. Meanwhile he probably
steamed On with his most powerful
ships. Under no other hypothesis can
the dispatches Of the last few days be
harmonized.
Shows Russian Fleet is Split.
1t was reported Sunday morning that
Rojestvensky's ships had been sighted
in latitude IL degrees north 1t is now
reported that eighteen of his vessels
were in Kamranh Bay, Cochin China,
in latitude 10 degrees, last Friday. If
his fleet was separated, as these re-
ports seem to indicate, the foremost
part of the squadron must be nearing
the Straits of Formosa. in case it pro.
ceeded steadily. 1t is known that Ad-
miral Togo is prepared to meet Ro-
jestvensky in the Straits of Formosa.
Hence the belief that a battle is i'm
minent, if not in progress.
According to the Daily Malls Singa.
pore correspondent, the North Ger
man Lloyd steamer Prinz HeiA sch saw