Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-09
JAPS TAKE ISLAND
TogO's Victorious Ships Land Force Of
Troops on sakhalin
RUSSIAN MILITARY CIRCLES STARTLED
Move Not Expected, Although Defeat Of
ROjestvensky Made it Possible.
IMPORTANT CARD IN DIPLOMATIC GAME
Possession of Island Lends New Strength to
Demands Of EnvoyS,
oYAMA IS DRIVING ENEMY NoRTHWARD
Report from the Field says skir-
mishes Are of Daily Occurrence
and Islanders Are GEM
orally Successful.
aPoRTANT CARD IN DIPLOMATIC GAME
Possession of Island Lends New Strength to
Demands Of EnvOyS,
)YAMA is DRIVING ENEMY NoRTHWARD

ST. PETERSBURG, July s-A dispatch
dated July from General Lapunon, COM
manding the Russian troops on the island
of Sakhalin, says;
At o clock in the morning July Z a Jap
anese squadron approached the village OF
Chipivan, about seven miles southwest OF
Karsakorsk and opened fire on the shore.
Another dispatch of the same date says:
At 3 p. m. Japanese torpedo boats ap-
preached Karsakorsk and the Russian bat
teries opened fire on them and compelled
the boats to retire. During the lombard
ment four Of the Inhabitants of Karsakorsk
anticipated and the commandant had or
dered the withdrawal of the defenders
northward.
1850 p. ma landing of Japanese troops
on the island Of Sakhalin was officially
reported tonight and startled military cir
cles in ST. Petersburg. though It had been
realized since the defeat of Admiral Rojest-
vensky that the japanese were able to take
possession of the island as soon as they
| thought ht. The strength of the landing
| force cannot be ascertained, but the garri-
son of the island is too weak to offer an
effective defense.
Since the Japanese seem unwilling to
risk a grand battle with General Linevitch
pending the peace meeting at Washington.
the landing of troops on Sakhalin is con-
sidered to express Japan's decision regard
| ing the formal conclusion Of general
armstice, namely, that in the interval be-
| fore the meeting 1t is necessary to occupy
the island whose possession is an impor-
tant card in Japan's diplomatic contest at
| Washington.
| The Japanese fleet covering the landing OF
troops on the island of Sakhalin consisted
| of two battleships, seven cruisers three
| gunboats thirty-six torpedo boats and ten
transports loaded with troops. The Japa-
/ nese landed at the village of Meree, be-
| tween Shepivan and Korsakovsk. The
commander Of the Russian detachment OF
! troops at Korsakovsk ordered the coast
| defense guns to be blown up and all the
| government buildings burned before retir-
! ing.
Discussion at st. Petersburg.
The landing Of the Japanese on Sakhalir
| island and it's probable effect on peace
/ negotiations is the absorbing topic of con
! versation in ell circles. the surrender oi
the Kniaz Potemkine having taken a sec
ondary place. This move is generally rec
ognized as an indication that Japan In
! tends TO demand the cession OF, the islands
as one of the conditions of peace, but this
is no longer an insuperable obstacle in the
way OF a termination of the war.
No further news was received from SAX
halin last night.
Operations against the Russian left Al
Beiche and Logushan, reported by Gen
eral Iinevitch. are apparently in the ma
ture of reconnaissance in force and tier,
are no indications of a general engagement
developing in Manchuria yet
The rumor that General Kouropatkin II
about to retire is revived. General Batja
non, commander Of the Third Manchuriar
army, it is reported, will be his successor.
Drive Russians NOrthward.
TOXIC, July s.-This official dispatch haJ
been received fromI the Japanese arm!
headquarters in Manchuria:
Occasional collisions take place between
scouts on both sides of the railroad alonl
the Fenghwa, Kaiyuen and Kwangpini
roads. The enemy is being gradual!
driven northward.