The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-10-18
HISTORY OF THE WAR
Chief Events of RussO-Jap-
anese Conflict Briefly
Outlined.

A1bSGlAll1SS bClNNCh NAN ASS
Eia, which were terminated by the sign
ing of the peace treaty at Portsmouth
the other day, broke out Feb. 8, 1904,
says the Chicago News.
For several months prior to that date
a sharp diplomatic correspondence had
been carried on by the two powers.
Japan demanded the evacuation of
Manchuria in accordance with treaty
stipulations, but Russia deferred ac-
ton on one pretext or another until
the patience of the Japanese govern
ment was exhausted.
Negotiations were abruptly broken
of. and Baron Rosen, muscovite am
bassadOr to Tokyo, was given his pass
pert. Japan had been quietly prepar-
ing for war ever since 1895, when
Russia with the aid of France and
Germany, stepped in and prevent
ed the acquisition from the Chi
nese of the Liautong peninsula
and Port Arthur. In the early part OF
February, 1904, troops began to as
semble at the southwestern seap0rts
of japan, and the fleet under Admiral
Togo left Sasebo for base near the
Korean and Manchurian coasts.
On the night of Feb. 8, before war
had been actually declared, Japanese
torpedo boats attacked the Russian
feet at anchor in the harbor at Port
Arthur and badly damaged some of
their best ships. 1t was said that
many OF the Russian officers were ab-
sent from their posts attending fes-
tivities in the city. On the following
night a second attack was made, and
more damage inflicted, the battleship
POltava suffering the most. At Che
mulpo, Korea, the Russian cruisers
,Variag and Korietz were attacked and
sunk on Feb. 8. The next day Russia
formally declared war, and on Feb. IL
Japan did the same. Troops were i'm
-mediately landed by the japanese at
Chemulpo They marched overland to
VIII, on the Yalu river, where they
arrived at the end of April, without
meeting any resistance.
In the meantime events of impor-
lance took place Oh the sea. Mines
had been planted by both sides in the
vicinity Of Port Arthur, and the trans
pert Yenesei, the cruiser BOyarin, the
torpedo boat Skorri and the battleship
Petropavlovsk, all Russian vessels,
were almost Immediately blown dp.
The most serious loss was that Of
the PetropavloySk, which went down
April IS, with Admiral Makaroff and
625 officers and men, including the fla
NOUS painter Vereschagin. The Jap
anese made attempts Feb. "a, March
rs and May to block the entrance to
Port Arthur and in so doing sacri-
feed many merchant ships, several
torpedo boats and number of lives.
They succeeded in obstructing the
chanel but not in closing it.
The first important battle of the war
was fought on the Manchurian side of
the Yalu river near Antung May /.
General Kuroki attacked and routed
q Russian force of about 210OO men
under Generals Zassoulitch and Kash-
AdlluShF anu lllGu IIuINuGO Oh W 4 CHS
huancheng. which lie captured with
out a battle While he was doing this
other japanese armies were landed on
the LiautOng peninsula at PitseWo
Takushan and Kinchow, with Generals
Nogi. Oku, Nodzu and Kawamura in
command May 21-2G the troops under
General Oku captured the village of
Kinchow and the strongly fortified
Nanshan hill after a severe struggle.
Then strong force was sent south
to invest Port Arthur, while the other
armies turned toward the northeast
Dalny was occupied May 80 by the
Japanese. and from that time on it was
made the chief base of supplies for all
the columns In the field Newchwang
was evacuated by the Russians July
%. June IA the battle of Vafangow
or TeIissu was fought, the Russians be-
ing defeated
1t was in June that Russian fleet
made a raid out of VladivostOk, sunk
a number of japanese transports and
captured several merchantmen of va
rious nationalities Toward the end
Of the month Generals KurOki and Oku
defeated the Russians at Molten and
other passes southeast Of Liaoyang and
drove them toward that city General
Kuropatkin had by this time assumed
command of the Russian forces in the
field
The bombardment of Port Arthur
from the land side began June u and
with brief intermissions was continued
until the fall Of the fortress, Jan. 1.
1905 General Nogi conducted the
operations against the stronghold,
while General Stoessel had command
Of the defenders. Fighting Of the
Gercest description occurred from time
to time when the Japanese attacked
some outwork which they deemed it
necessary to capture, and thousands Of