The Lamar register., 1905-01-11

stage in 1904. The ionS-threatened con-
fIct between Russia and Japan for mas
terry in the far east broke out early IN
the year and still in progress as tho
twelve month closed Diplomatic reia-
tions were severed Feb. and two DAYS
later the Japanese attacked and partly
disabled the Russian warships at Port
Arthur. A day after that they torpedoed
two cruisers at Chemuipo. Korea. land
ed troops and began the first OF series
of maneuvers destined before the year
was over to give them command over
the Llaotung peninsula and the most
important part of Manchuria-
Battle OF Yaiu.
The first great battle OF the war was
fought May l on the banks of the Yalu
river. near Antung and WlJu. The Jap
ancse were In superior force and drove
the Russians in the direction OF Feng-
huangcheng. Later in the same month
they attacked and captured Kinchow.
The spectacular and bloody battle Of
Nanshan hill followed. in which victory
again was on the side OF Japan. though
II was dearly bought. Dalny had been
captured on the 18th OF May. SO that
when Nanshan carried the invest
ment of Port Arthur from the land side
was complete
In the North.
In the meantime the other Japanese
armies steadily marched toward the
north. driving the enemy before them.
The battle of Vafangow was fought and
won June II. week later Gen. Kuroki
and Gen. Oku occupied the important
mountain passes to the east and south
OF IiaoyanG. July 20 the Russians eyac-
uated Newchwang and Aug. abandoned
faicheng. At Liaoyang. however. Gen.
kuropntkin. commander lin chief of the
czarss army in Manchuria made a stand.
From Aug. 26 to Sept. the opposing
forces were in daily combat and of the
100000 men engaged about $4,000 were
killed or wounded. The Russians were
outhankcd by Kurokl and compelled TO
retire In the direction OF Mukden. Field
Marshall oyama. who had been placed In
supreme command OF tho mikado's ar
niles, followed as far the Sha river
and here from Oct /: to Oct IS was
fought one of the bloodiest battles in
history. Gen. Kuropatkin took the Of
fensive for the first time. hut the Japan
csc held their ground. The contest end
ed without a decisive Victory for either
side The armies Were exhausted and
could do no more The combined losses
In killed and wounded amounted to the
enormous total OF about 10000 men, OF
whom $4,000 belonged to the Russian
army Before operations could be re-
sur1ed winter set In and the year ended
with the armies stiII facing each other
on the banks OF the Sha river.
Russian Disasters at Sea.
While the RussiIns Were meeting these
reYorses on land their reverses on the
sea were equally great. Many of thei-
ships had been disabled or damaged nj
In Port Arthur and vladIvostok were
not In the best OF condition to meet the ,
modern Japanese battleships and cruis-
ers under Admlrnis Togo and KamI-
rnura- One OF their best ships. the Pc
tropnylcsk. struck mine outside of
Port Arthur April IL and went down
with Admiral Makaron and more than
500 officers and men. Aug. 10 Admiral
without with the remainder of the Rus
sian fleet attempted 10 escape from Port
Arthur. but was met n few miles out at
sea by Togo's squadron and defeated in
a battle lasting several hours. His ships
were dispersed. some OF them seekine;
refuge in the adjacent ports OF the Chi
nese coast and others rctreating to Port
Arthur. lie himself was killed and his
flagship. the Czarewitch. compelled to
fee Ia n disabled condition to Tsunr-
chau. where 1t was dismantlcd- Aug. IL
Admiral Karnimura met the VIadivostok
fleet in the strait OF Korea. sunk the
cruiser Rurik and compelled the Eossla
and Gromovoi TO return to the home port
In a badly damaged condition. The
cruiser NoVik Was destroyed by the
japanese cruisers Chitosc and Tsushirna
on the island OF SakhaiIn Aug. 81. As
already stated the remnant of Whit
thofts feet that took refuge in Port
Arthur was destroyed later in the year
when the japanese had gained positions
on the land side OF the fort from which
they Were able to successfully direct a
fierce homhardment.
The Japanese navy also met with loss
IS in the course Of tho year. but in COM
parison with those Of their opponents
they were not severe. The battleshIp
Hatsusc was sunk by mine NAV Is
and about the same time the cruiser
Yoshino was sunk In collision with an
other cruiser. The hattloship Yashima
also reported lost. but under cir
cumstances which have not yet been
made public.
Port Arthur Surrendered.
Gen. Stoessel. unable longer to hold
Port Arthur with his decimated forces
surrendered to Gen. Nogi Jan. .
War between Great Britain and Rus
sia was very narrowly nvertcd in Octo
her. The car had ordered the Baltic
sea feet TO proceed to the east under
tho command OF Admiral Rojestvensky,
The Russian fleet was passing through
the North sea when one night 1t en-
counter1d number OF truwiers of fish
ing vessels. Mistaking them for Japan
csc torpedo boats the warships fired on
them. sinking one and killing two men
They then went on without waiting to
sec what the result Of their action had
been. The act aroused great Indignation
In England and threats OF war were
openly made. After some negotiation
the matter was referred to Gn interna-
tlonal court OF inquiry. which met at
the foreign office in Paris only about
a week ago, The United States is rep
resented In this court by Admiral C. IL.
Davis
Arbitration Makes Progress.
Though war wagcd throughout the
year the cause Of peace was advanced
ternational arbitration treaties. The
first of these agreements was that be-
tween Great Britain and France. signed
Oct IA. 1903. All the others are based
upon the same model and are couched