Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-16
SIEGE Guns ROAR
Japanese Bring Port Arthur Ar
tiIlery to Bear on kuropat-
kin's Position.
RESUME ACTIVITY AT MUKDEN
Toso's Fleet Strengthened by Port
Arthur SaIVage-Talk of
Official Changes.

MuEden. Feb. Delayed THE
Japanese fired Tuesday and are fir
ing today on PoutiloT hill with eight
inch guns carrying 25O-pound projec-
tiles indicating they are the siege
guns used at Port Arthur and the first
to be mounted in position before the
Russian lines below Mukden. \ new
problem therefore confronts the Rus
sian center and the general situation
appears to have been rendered more
uncertain and complicated by the bat
tie of Sandepas and the arrival of open
weather indicating an early spring.
Set Fire tn Village.
Toxic. Feb. 1G.-Manchurian Japa-
nese headquarters reports:
I'm the direction of the Shakhe
river our artillery the 14th bOmbarded
Chiensummupaotzu and set fire to that
village.
During the night section of the
onemy's infantry attacked Waitao
mountain, and at dawn a battalion at
tackled the mountain. but the Russians
entirely defeated them.
Another Sally.
in the direction of Chatham in the |
morning of Feb. 10, 500 of the enemy's |
cavalry advanced into Sentative from |
Shengtsaimen, three miles northwest |
of Chatham. Another force of cavalry |
advanced south along the right bank !
of the Hun river Feb. II and passed |
the night in the neighborhood of |
Chenchiawatzus outposts in the vicin-
it of Kavangvstzu
Driven Back.
a portion of our detachment was
to dislodge the enemy, and
his force began to retreat north. Our |
detachment, quickly pursuing him to-
wards Heiyukou, inflicted some dam
age. The enemy's artillery, taking up
a position in the neighborhood of Wan
covered his retreat. The
anemy's strength was about ten squad
rons of cavalry and artillery"
Rumors of Changes.
St. Petersburg. Feb. 16.-Many rum
Ors are current of ministerial and 9th
er changes including that War Minis
ter Sakharoff may be sent TO relieve
kuroDatkin, also that NJ. Bouligan.
OF the interior, is not in sym
pathy with the situation and may re
tire in favor of Gen. Trepoff, governor
general of ST. Petersburg. Almost
anything is likely TO happen but moth
ing definite can be asecrtained.
Fifty More Jap WarshIps.
Victoria. b. C.. Feb. lG.-The steam
ship fremont which arrived yesterday
rom Japanese ports brought news that
30 vessels will be added to the Japa-
aese naval strength as result of sal
wage operations now being conducted
At Port Arthur.
Large salvage crews are working to
recover the vessels, some of which Will
be repaired at the Port Arthur docks,
which 200 workmen are putting in
repair to receive the sunken vessels as
soon as they are raised.
Another Sea Battle Reported
Toxic. Feb. 1G.-Rumors are ahoat
here that there has been battle at
sea with the Russians in which the lat
Ter met disaster. Report from Togo.
Who has gone TO the Indian ocean to
meet the Baltic fleet Is shortly expect
cd. The new torpedo boat destroyers.
Ariake and Fubuki constructed in Jap
an has been placed in commission.
Denmark Gives an Escort.
Copenhagen. Feb 1.-two Danish
torpedo boats, are awaiting at Gjedesby
10 escort the Russian third Pacific
through Danish waters.
Insurance ON Captured Steamers.
London. Feb. 1G.-Insurance on Brit
sh steamers Apollo and Scotsman.
which have been captured by the Japa-
lese amounts to $3.50 900. The aggre-
sate insurance on II steamers bound