Titusville Herald

              THE TITUSVILLE HERALD.
FOBTT-FIRST YEAR.
TITUSVILLE, PA, MARCH 15, 1904,
VOLUME   XL1 . NO   100.
LAST NAVAL BATTLE
A COMPLETE VICTORY
FOR JAPANESE FLEET.
Official and Private Reports of the Desperate
Close Range Fight—Thrilling Conflict
Graphically Portrayed.
TOKIO, March 13.—The official and
private reports both indicate that Admiral Togo's fourth attack on Port
Arthur en the 10th instant was the
most effective since the first assault of
a month ago. One Russian torpedo
boat destroyer was sunk and several
Russian torpedo boat destroyers seriously damaged. The fortifications and
city were subjected to a heavy bombardment lasting nearly (our hours.
The naval bombardments of the land
works have been generally ineffective,
yet the peculiar topographical conditions of Port Arthur make immunity
from serious loss from bombardment
almost Impossible. Admiral Togo's
torpedo flotilla opened the action by
boldly steaming in under the batteries
and successfully- placing a number ot
mechanical mines at the mouth of the
harbor. Following that there was a
desperate bow to bow encounter between the torpedo boat destroyers In
which the Japanese appear to have
scored a clear victory. Then followed
a long range duel between the cruisers,
ending in the retirement of the. Novik
and Bayan, the only Russians engaged.
Big Guns in Action.
The closing action was the bombardment of th'e inner harbor by the Japanese battleships. The latter took a position southwest of Port Arthur and
used only their twelve-inch guns. There
were twenty-four twelve-Inch guns in
the squadron of six battleships and
each gun was fired five rounds', making
a total of 120' huge projectiles that
were'fired at the city.- The bombardment   was "'deliberate   and   carefully
''planned. In order to aid in perfecting
the firing Admiral Togo stationed the
cruisers in a position due east of t_e
entrance of the harbor and at right
angles with the battleships. The
cruisers observed the range and the effect of the firing and signalled the results and suggestions by wireless teleg-
Wpw'.i'<lTne signals and reports great-
Kly'\Emeh the gunners in their efforts to
Snake'- every shot count.
'' v The City Fired.
Adriiiral Togo was unable to definitely leant the results of the bombardment, but later private report's indicate that much destruction was caused
in the city, where a series of fires broke
out. There also was damage to the
batteries.
Captain Shokiro Asal, commanding
the flotilla of torpedo boat destroyers
which engaged the Russian destroyers,
is the hero of the attack. He had only
three destroyers, hut attacked the six
Russian destroyers, ordering his craft
to close in with the enemy. He steamed
so close to the enemy's destroyers that
they almost touched and a most desperate conflict ensued from which the
Russians retired badly disabled.
Telling the  Emperor,
The Japanese flotilla which sunk the
mines at the month of the harbor later
engaged two Russian destroyers. This
flotilla was commanded by Commander
Tsuchiya.
Admiral Togo's object In sending
cruisers to Tallenwan Bay was tp
encompass the destruction of a signal
station mine depot at Samshantao. This
object was achieved and the buildings
were demolished.
Rear Admirals Dewa and Urlu participated in the operations under Admiral Togo. The details of his operations became known in Japan early today and the news created intense excitement. The report came last night
but it was withheld until shown to the
emperor.
Admiral Togo is permanently numbered among the heroes of the empire.
The latest reports place the Japanese
Iobs at nine killed, five seriously
wounded and seventeen slightly hurt.
The Japanese fleet was not damaged
In the fighting.
Togo's Official Report.
TOKIO, March 13.—Admiral Togo's
report of the fourth attack on Port Arthur by the Japanese fleet on March
10 reached ToklO late Saturday afternoon.   It is as follows:
""Our squadron, as prearranged, attacked the enemy at Port Arthur on
March 10. Our two torpedo flotillas
reached the mouth of the harbor at
Port Arthur at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 10th. Finding no enemy and
waiting until dawn, one flotilla engaged In sinking special mines In the
harbor entrance. Notwithstanding
the enemy's fire, our flotilla succeeded
in sinking the mines. The other flotilla met the enemy's torpedo flotilla,
consisting of six boats. In the Lao Thie
Shan channel, south of Port Arthur, at
4:30 o'clock. A hot engagement occurred at close range for thirty minutes. The enemy then took flight.
Close Range Fighting.
"Our fire greatly damaged the Russian ships, one of which was badly
crippled by a shot through the boilers,
and another was observed to be on fire.
So close were the two flotillas to each
other that our destroyers, the Asashio,
Kasumi and Akatsukl, nearly touched
the enemy's ships and our crews could
even hear the cries of agony of the
Injured men on them. We sustained
some damage and loss. The Akatsukl
had a steam pipe broken and four
stokers were killed thereby. Our loss
was seven killed and eight wounded.
Among the latter is Chief Engineer
Minamisawa of Kasumi.
Another Fierce Action.
"Our other flotilla, while leaving the
harbor entrance observed two Russian torpedo boats coming from seaward and immediately engaged them,
the battle lasting one hour. After
causing the most severe damage, one
of them effected its escape, but our
destroyer, the Sasanaml, captured the
other boat, which proved to be the
Stereguschtchi.
"Notwithstanding the land batteries
pouring a heavy fire on our flotilla, the
captured vessel was taken in tow.
Owing to the high sea the tow line
soon parted and the Sasanaml found it
necessary to take the crew from the
Russian boat and abandoned the Stereguschtchi, which finally sank at 10:30
o'clock.
Japanese Flotilla Damaged.
"The enemy's cruisers, the Novak
and the Bayan, steamed out of the en
trance of the harbor toward us, but
observing the approach of our cruiser
squadron, retired to tlie harbor. Our
flotilla suffered some damage, but no*
heavy. The Sasanaml and the Akatsukl, had two sailors killed and Sub-
Lieutenant Shima of the Akatsukl and
three sailors were wounded.
"Our main and cruiser squadron arrived off Port Arthur at 8 o'clock and
the cruisers immediately advanced
toward the harbor entrance to protect
tbe torpedo flotilla. The main squad
ron advanced near Lao Thie Shan and
opened an indirect cannonade against
the inner harbor from 10 o'clock to
1:40. According to the observations
made by one of our cruisers facing the
entrance, the bombardment was remarkably effective. During our cannonade the enemy's land batteries
fired, but none of our ships suffered
any damage. Another cruiser squadron Went, to Talien Wan and bombarded the enemy's fortress on Samshantao, damaging the buildings thereon.
Found Sunken Ship.
"The cruisers Takasago and Chlhaya
reconnoitered the west coast of the
Port Arthur peninsula, but did not And
the enemy. The Russian torpedo boat
destroyer damaged in the third attack
on Port Arthur was found to be the W.
Nushiterlnuy, whicb had been completely sunk, the masts only being visible above the water.
"Our squadron stopped lighting at 2
o'clock and returned to the rendezvous."
EVACUATION OF PORT
ARTHUR A LATE RUMOR,
Utterly   Lacking   Confirmation   From
Any Reasonable Source.
TIEN TSIN, March 18.—An unconfirmed  report has  reached  here that
Port Arthur has fallen.
LONDON, March 14.—The rumor of
the evacuation of Port Arthur is repeated this morning from different
points, but it is absolutely without confirmation.
Iu a dispatch from Tokio dated
March 13, a correspondent of tbe Daily
Telegraph says that in the latest attack on Port Arthur two Russian torpedo boat destroyers were sunk and
great damage was done to the docks,
fort*) and arsenals, including the explosion of a powder magazine.
Dalny is reported to have been almost entirely destroyed; several guns
there were dismounted and the crews
of four torpedo boats In the inside of
the harbor are said to have deserted.
Russian paper money will not be accepted by the residents of northern
Korea.
THE UNITED STATES AND
FRANCE AS PEACEMAKERS
Is Not Considered Impossible In Parisian Political Circles.
PARIS, March 14.—The informal
suggestion that France and the United
States act Jointly, as peacemakers In
the far eastern war has been made
within the last week, and, although the
officials consider that peace overtures
would be futile at present, the suggestion leads to the belief in high quarters
that France and the United States will
become the eventual peacemakers. The
suggestion came from one of the most
prominent American railroad men, who
probably has the largest railroad dealings with Russia of any American.
The Figaro this morning prints an
Interview with a person of much importance in the diplomatic world, ;Who
declares that although the recent rumors of probable mediation between
Russia and Japan are premature, the
positive denials of these rumors are
equally baseless.
"I can assure you," this person says,
"that favored by the comparative calm
which prevails at this moment, a most
active campaign of views is going on
between European cabinets.
"The chancellories have begun to
play the part of 'international firemen'
—in other words, they are trying to
prevent the spread of a conflagration
and to protect adjoining states."
CLAIMED THAT RU88IANS
LOST SIXTY-SIX  KILLED
In the Latest Attack on Port Arthur.
Damaged Cruisers Repaired.
TIEN TSIN, March 13.—Information
from an official who was an eye witness of the bombardment of Port Arthur on Wednesday and Thursday, is
to the effect that the Russians, had
25 killed on the battleship Sebaslopol,
21 on the Retvizan and 20 in the jbwn.
The Russians claim to have sunk a
Japanese cruiser.
The Russians assert that their damaged cruisers have been repaired and
are ready for sea. The battleship
Czarevitch will be ready shortly. There
is no dock here capable of taking in
the Retvizan.
The Russians are preparing for the
defense >bf NewCMwang, finding It impossible to Istop 'the landing ot the
Japanese.
AN ACTIVE CRUI8ER.
PORT SAID, March l_-**h«*ikiis-
sian cruiser Dimitri Donskoi has
stopped several vessels at sea, including the North German Lloyd line
steamer Stuttgart, and demanded to
know their destination. 'She flred
across the bows of the British steamer
Mort Lake at a point twelve miles
north of Damietta, thirty-one miles
northwest of Port Said, and sent officers on board to inspect the ship's papers.
M. KURINO EXPLAINS
MUCH MOOTED POINT
ABOUT THE SEVERING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
JAPAN    FORCED    THE    RUPTURE
Because of Russia's Long Silence—Bitter   Japanese Feeling   Not Understood In St. Petersburg.
PARIS, March 13.—The Temps has
published an Interview with M. Kurino,
the Japanese minister to Russia, who is
quoted as saying tbat there is no doubt
the Japanese decided to sever diplomatic relations with Russia on Jan. 81,
when, in answer to repeated inquiries
Count Lamsdorff, the Russian foreign
minister, informed M. Kurino that the
czar had not yet reached a decision
with regard- to the reply of Russia to
the latest Japanese note.
In response to a question, M. Kurino
said be did not believe the report that
Baron Hayashi, tbe Japanese minister
to Great Britain, had endeavored to
force a rupture between Japan and Russia and that the only thing responsible
for this was the anxiety caused by
Russia's prolonged silence.
The news that the Russian reply had
been sent, too late to affect the situation, was published the evening ot
Feb. 4, and the instructions to M.
Kurino to break off relatione with Russia reached him on the morning of
Feb. r..     .
Discussing the events whicb led up
to the breaking out of hostilities, M.
Kurino said that Russia had not sufficiently appreciated the state of popular feeling In Japan; and, moreover,
although the peaceful disposition of the
czar and Count Lamsdorff was not
questioned, the spirit of the Russian
military authorities In the far east was
not peaceful.
M. Kurino said he believed that Viceroy Alexieff personally bad not
wished for war but that had come to
regard It as inevitable, which was a
poor way of preventing it.
During tbe six months preceding the
outbreak. M. Kurino concluded, diplomats had been forced to a second place
In the negotiations in which the military element had predominated.
THE CZAR'S CONFIDENCE
PLEASES HIS PEOPLE.
RUSSIA UNITED BY SYMPATHY AS
NEVER BEFORE.
WAR NEWS REPEATED VERBATIM,
Whether Its Portent Be Victory or Defeat—Another    Misconception    of
American   Neutrality.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 13.—The
confidence displayed by the Russian
people in the reports of tiie government on tho progress of the war In the
far east, which Is one of tbe most remarkable features in Russia of the war,
has thus far been largely due to an entire change of policy inaugurated by
the emperor some time ago, with the
abolition of the censorship on foreign
newspaper dispatches. This abolition
was followed, when the war broke out,
by the emperor's decision to make public aa fully as possible, all reports regarding the war in tUe belief that tbe
confidence ot his subjects would only
be strengthened by asqualnting tbem
with the truth in victory or defeat. It
was an appeal to the sentimental side
of the Russian character which has
been more than justified by the almost
instantaneous effect.
A United Russia.
Hitherto the government has considered it unwise to give the people Information freely at critical moments, and
tbe result was that the people, being
pessimistic, were often Inclined to
imagine things much worse than they
really were.
The Associated Press is assured by
a high authority that all official telegrams always have been given out accurately, insofar as their sense was
concerned, and in most cases textually,
although occasionally words have been
changed where the original words were
subject to misconstruction. For instance, in one case the words, "The
enemy were at pur heels," were altered
to read "the enemy were behind us"
lest the Original language should give
the ignorant the impression that the
Russians were flying before the Japanese.
"More American Meddling."
Even tbe habitual critics of, the government have been astonished at tbe
manner in which the authorities arc
taking the people, into their confidence
in the. war, ,and this policy of fair dealing wouldiseem lo bo uniting the nation
as. never before.
• The Novo Vremya makes the subject
of an -editorial article entitled "More
American Meddling," in which it is
contended 'that as New Chwang is
within Manchuria, and is only six miles
distant from the railroad to Port
Arthur, Russia has a perfect right to
take defensive measures there and that
unless the Unite. States- is seeking a
cause of quarrel It would not Insist upon supporting the protest of the commander. Fortunately' a denial of this
story has reached here tonight in time
to head off what might have proved a
fresh cause for irritation.
' Prince Mashchersky, writing in the
Gras Hdanin, a weekly newspaper of
St. Petersburg, predicts tbat General
Bobrikoff, governor general of Finland, is to be appointed minister of
war.
TWO FULL ARMY CORPS
LEAVING RUSSIA NOW.
Will  Return to Moscow and Kharkofi
When War Ends.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 13.—The
Fifteenth army corps at Moscow and
the Tenth army corps at Kharkoff will
start for the far east in a few days.
After the war has ended the two corps
will return to their stations, but the
other troops that are already In the
Orient will remain permanently in tbe
Asiatic provinces.
CONFUSION  IN CHINA.
PEKIN. March 13.—Private Chinese
reports that are being received here
state that the whole ef Manchuria Is
tn a state of utter confusion, owing to
the Russians having seized all food
supplies and other commissary necessities. Tbe natives are streaming
south toward the ports and suffering
great hardships. Tbe late military
governor of Kirin has committed suicide owing to his inability to relieve
the people's distress or stop the Russian depredations.
A WAR LIE NAILED.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 18.—The
circulation here of an untrue report to
the effect that the Washington.cabinet
had decided to support the protest of
tbe commander of tbe United States
gunboat Helena, now at New Chwang,
against the action of the Russian authorities in sinking Chinese Junks in
the channel of the Liao river, and that
Washington would notify Russia that
the neutrality.of New Chwang must be
respected, has created something of a
Putty.
CAR  BARN  MURDERERS
POUND GUILTY AT LA8T.
Van Dine, Nledermeyer and Man- Must
Hang—Roeski's Chances.
CHICAGO, March IS.—Hanging for
all was the verdict of the Jury in the
flrst murder case against the so-called
"car barn bandits"—Harvey VanDine,
Peter Nledermeyer and Gustav Marx.
The death penalty was attached to the
verdict They attracted notoriety by
a desperate all day battle that started
in a dugout near Liverpool, ind., where
the trio had taken refuge after a series
of remarkable crimes, including the
murder of two employes of the Ckic'ago
street railway at one of the company's
barns in this city. The motive in each
instance was robbery. Emil Roeski,
who was with tbe bandits in the dugout, and who participated in many of
their crimes, is to be tried separately,
not having been implicated directly to
the particular murder for which his associates were flrst arraigned.
MULTI-MURDERER MARX
DECLARES HE HELPED ROB THE
NORTHWESTERN EXPRESS,
IN   ILLINOIS   FOUR   YEARS   AGO
Admits the Murder of Five Men and
Describes His Bloody Career
Unhesitatingly,
CHICAGO, March 18.—Gustav Marx,
one of the three car barn bandits now
under sentence of death, declared In a
confession made today that he was one
of the three men who held up the
Chicago and Northwestern express
train at Tower W., near DeKalb, four
years ago. The crime, which has passed
into history as one of the most desperate ever committed In or about Chicago,
has never been fastened upon anyone
of the suspects arrested and the identity of the bandits has remained a mystery to the public until now.
Marx says both his confederates in
the crime are dead and -refused to give
their names. One of them, he declares,
died with his hoots on. The railway
authorities admitted a loss of $102,000
by the robbery. Marx says the robbers
secured only SS.OOO, the rest of the
money having been destroyed by tha
explosion of dynamite used to crack
the safe.
In a sort of footnote lo" this confes:
slon, Marx admits the lulling of five
men in his career "of crime.
"Eight years ago Neidermeyer and I
went to Janesville, Wis., to rob a train
and hid our dynamite alongside the
track. A trackwalker or railway detective—I have never learned which—
came upon us and asked us what we
were doing there. I shot him and we
threw his body into the Rock river.
Another man whom I killed, I had done
criminal work with in Michigan. I
met him at Camp Goldfleld, Colorado,
when Neidermeyer and I were there
last fall. He knew too much about me
and I killed him and left bis body lying in the suburbs -of the camp. Both
these crimes can be verified by the police."
WA0ONMAKER8  MAY STRIKE.
ROCHESTER, N. Y.. March 13.—
Wagonmakers employed in the thirty-
one carriage factories in this city, and
who are members of the Carriage and
Wagonmakers' union, announce that
they will go on strike tomorrow. About
700 men are employed in the different
carriage factories to the city, and it is
expected that about half of these will
go out. Last week the men made a
demand for a bine hour day and a 10
per cent, advance in wages. The differences also involve the recognition
of the union and the use of the union
label.
THE HOUSE MANAGERS
TAKE WORTHY ACTION.
AN OPPORTUNITY AFFORDED FOR
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
BY MEMBERS WRONGLY ACCUSED
The Senate Will Consider Fortification
Bill and Then Return to General
Wood's Nomination.
WASHINGTON, March 18.—An extended period of personal explanation
undoubtedly will occur during the con?
si deration of the postoffice appropriation bill, which will be called up Monday by Chairman Overstreet. Monday
rightfully belongs to the District of
Columbia, but there are few local matters on the calendar, and Mr. Babcock
will abdicate in favor of tbe .postoffice
bill.
Tbe necessity which many members
of the house feel to have the congressional record contain some statements
in explanation of their alleged misconduct with the postoffice department in
regard to clerk hire, allowance and rent
of postoffice quarters has led the managers of the house to adopt a most liberal policy with reference to general
debate on the postoffice bill. When
these statements are all out of the way,
the bill will be disposed of and not before. The bill making appropriation*!
tor the support of the military academy
will follow the postoffice bill, and «s
there are no special orders for claims
or pensions to interfere, it may be that!
both of these supply measures will be
disposed of this week.
. In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, March 13.—The sen-*
ate tomorrow will continue consideration of the fortification bill and when)
that measure shall be disposed of wllb
return to the nomination of General'
Leonard Wood. The committee on:
military affairs has recommended an'
amendment to the fortification bill,
authorizing the purchase of a torpedo
boat of the "protector" type for experimenting purposes at a cost at
§250,000.
Senator Foraker wili make the closing speech in support, of General
Wood's confirmation. The District of
Columbia and Indian bills probably will
be reported during the week and will be
promptly taken up for action. If opportunity permits the bill providing
for an additional department building
in Washington, as a home for the departments or state, justice and commerce aud labor, .wili be considered and
Senator Hcy'buru has given notice that
on Wednesday he will call up tbe pure
food bill.
CONDENSED TELEGRAMS.
It is reported at Nagasaki that a
Korean, has been arrested on a charge
of furnishing Information of the Japanese to the Russians at Vladivostok.
The breechlocks and other parts of
the Russian gunboat Mandjur have
neen removed to the Chinese arsenal at
Shanghai..
The employes of the Canonsburg,
(Pa.,) Steel and Iron'company have
been offered the 'alternative of a 20
per cent, reduction or quitting •work.
Tlie strike at the American Window
Glass company's plant at Jeannerette
has been called off, pending a conference. The men asked an advance of M
cents per day.
When certain negotiations have been
concluded between England and China,
laborers from the latter country wilt be
permitted to enter the Transvaal.
James B. O'Hara, associate editor of
Street Railway Journal, died at - hia
home in Rochester Sunday. He was
a widely known Journalist.
Mary A. E. Daly, wife of Dan Daly,
died of heart disease at her home in
Revere, Mass., Sunday evening.
A Record    l
Of Nearly Forty  Years   Successful Business
Experience is Back of the ....
Second National Bank,
Titusville. Penn'a.
CAPITAL  $   300,000 00
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