Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-04-18
RIVAL FLEETS
MAY HAVE MET
INDICATIONS THAT BATTLE MAY
HAVE BEEN FOUGHT.
A HOSPITAL SHIP ARRIVES
Rumors of Engagement Pronounced
by Japanese officials to Be With
out Foundation-Russi
Reach Kirin.


by japanese officials to Be With
out NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Reach Kirin.
Manila, April Is. = Rear Admiral
Train, in command of the American
fleet in Asiatic waters, received tele-
gram at three o'clock Friday afternoon
from Saigon, the capital and principal
port of French Cochin-China, reporting
the arrival there of the Russian hos
pital ship Orel, at eight o'clock on the
morning of April IL. The Orel had
many wounded men on board.
Whether or not the wounded Russian
sailors on the Orel received their injuries
in a fight with section of Admiral To-
COS fleet is not known. A serious ex-
plosion or other accident may have oc-
CURED on board one of Rojestvensky's
warships. A dispatch was received
Thursday from Saigon announcing the
arrival of the hospital ship, but no men
ton was made of wounded men on
board.
Says There Was No Fight.
Toxic, April Is. - The naval depart
ment pronounces the reports of naval
engagement recently off Saigon to be
unfounded.
May Be Only Sick Sailors.
st. Petersburg, April Is. = The adj
miralty's adyices from Saigon do not
mention any wounded men being on
board the Russian hospital ship Orel
which arrived there Thursday. She
probably has sick sailors on board. 1t
Is understood that the Orel will leave
Saigon at once and rejoin Admiral Ro-
jestvensky's squadron, which, it is said,
may be standing off somewhere up the
coast awaiting the hospital ship.
The admiralty has not received any
dispatches recently from Vice-Ad-
miral Rojestvensky. The officials
say that all talk of the emer-
gence of any of the informed
Russian war vessels to join Rojestven-
sky's squadron is pure nonsense Much
satisfaction and admiration are ex-
pressed in naval circles at the bold, di-
rect manner in which Rojestvensky is
carrying out the objects of his voyage.
Believe Fight Has Taken Place.
London, April Is. - Has a naval bat
tie between the Russian and Japanese
fleets been fought or is one still in prog
ress? That the ships of Togo and Ro-
jestvensky have met is borne out by q
dispatch from Saigon, the capital and
principal port of French Cochin China,
announcing the arrival there of the Rus
sian hospital ship Orel, with large
number Of wounded on board, on the
morning of April 10. Early in the week
dispatch from Batavia announced thai
a fight had taken place, but no con-
flrmatory news had been received. Ro
jestvensky, when last reported, was
sailing north and was east of Saigon
within easy sailing distance of that port,
the only friendly one until Vladivostok
can be reached. From many different
sources have come reports of mysteri-
GUS vessels, believed to be japanese.
seen in the China sea.
Battle Thought Minor Affair.
Putting all these facts together naval
experts incline to the belief that a fight,
place. 1t was pointed out in Toxic
dispatch, apparently emanating from
the admiralty Office, that Togo planned
to open the battle by sending out his
fast cruisers TO make the first attack, re-
serving his heavy battleships for the
final blow. These cruisers are supposed
to be under the command of Admiral
Uriu and in vague dispatch were said
to have met the enemy two days ago.
The decisive battle, however. is ex-
pected to be fought off Formosa and the
recent engagement is believed by many
to be merely harassing movement
from the Japanese cruisers detachment.
intended to weaken the enemy as much
as possible before the final movement.
That japan is evidently counting on
Formosa as the place of final trial ie
seen in the announcement declaring
Mako harbor, on the Pescadores islands,
in state Of siege, beginning Friday.
The Pescadores are in the straits west
of Formosa and through which the Rus
sian feet will probably have to pass.
Russians Reach Kirin.
Toxic, April 15.-It is reported that
the main force of the Russians, which
retired in the direction of Hsingking
has reached Kirin. The rear guard
which is estimated at 10000 men, con.
tinues in the vicinity of Harlung Cheng
closely in touch with the japanese
vanguard. The main force, which re-
tired from Kaiyuan, over the Kirin
road, is reported at Kirin with a real
guard of 5000 men, at Itsuchow, Hak.
lusu and at Sulipao. keeping in touch
with the Japanese forces. Chang
chen is evidently the rallyng point TO,
the Chuantu and Fakumen forces. All,
though force, estimated at 1900
men, has been detailed to occupy Fen.
chua. and 1000 to hold Pamien cherg
the latter force seems assigned te
check and retarl the japanese ad.
vance.
Plunges to Els Death.
Chicago, April 15.-After kissing hi.
wife and two children Eronl. S1or,. 81