The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-17
JAP VESSEL
 STRIKES MINE The MiyakO is Sent to
 Bottom. SIX MEN ARE KILLED
Was Clearing Kerr Bay When
 Disaster Occurred.
Loss of Torpedo Boat No. is Under Similar Circumstances Last Thurs day Seems Not to Have Made
 the Japs Careful.

Washington, May 16.--The Japanese legation has received the following ca- blegram from Tokio:
 Admiral Kataoka reports that on May IA our torpedo boat fiotilIa con- tinued sea-sweeping operations under cover of the fleet The enemy con- structed temporary batteries on the promontory at Kerr Bay, Talienwan Mounting six field guns, beside a has, lily constructed fort, and with one company of soldiers subbornly resist ed our attack, our torpedo fotilla de- lying the enemy's fire carried out the operations and destroyed five mines laid by the enemy. Unfortunately one or the mines exploded and sunk our cruiser Miyako. In this accident six men were killed beside the two who were wounded during the fight"
 Weat Quickly to Bottom.
 The Miyako was lost while assisting in the operations of clearing the Rus sian mines from Kerr Bay. northeast of Talienwan Bay on which Fort DaIny is situated. Admiral Kataoka. command CT of the third squadron, returned there Sunday with a detachment of his squadron. protecting two f1otillas of torpedo boats which had been detailed to complete sweeping the habor and the removal of mines Five mines were discovered and exploded and the work was being suspended for the day when the Miyako struck an undiscov- cred mine which exploded with tre- mendous force under the stern on the port side and inflicted immense dam age to the hull. The Miyako sank in twenty-two minutes. Three sailors were killed and twenty-two men were wounded. The rest of the crew were rescued.
 News of the loss of the Miyako has been sorrowfully received in Tokio. The dangerous work m which the Mi- yako was engaged is generally appre- ciated. but 1t was thought that the loss of torpedo boat No. AS. under similar circumstances. Thursday. would serve as warming to those engaged in ,khs work to exercise the greatest care.
 SheIled Russian Fort.
 Admiral Kataoka reports the Rus sians withdrew from Robinson Point northeast of Kerr Bay, which adJoins Talienwan Bay May 12, but they erect ed a temporary fort on a height north east of Taku mountain. where they mounted six guns ala constructed pro- tecting trenches. The vessels of Ad- miral Kataoka's squadron shelled the Russians throughout Sunday, but the latter stubbornly retained their posi- tion. The Japanese flotillas. while sweeping the bay, were exposed to the Russian fire all day, but continued their work uninjuTed.
 When the Japanese torpedo boat No. AS was destroyed May 12 in Kerr Bay, while removing Russian mines, seven men were killed and seven were wounded. The No. AS was the first warship lost by Japan during the war with Russia.
 The Miyako was one of the war ships which toGk part in the operations at Kerr Bay, Talienwan Bay and Block ney the day No. AS was destroyed. The Miyako was a steel cruiser of 1.S00 tons displacement and 6,130 indicated horse power, completed in 1901. and having an estimated speed of twenty knots. She was 314 3-4 feet long, had thirty six feet beam and drew 13 1-4 feet of water. Her armament consisted of twenty-four Finch quick firing guns and ten Finch guns and four torpedo tubes,