The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-05-12
PORT ARTHUR
Is CORK ID
ADMIRAL TOCO'S REPORT
JAPS SHOWED DESPERATE COU.
RAGE IN FINAL ATTEMPT.
Desperate Valor of the Japanese Sail
ors Shown by the Last Corking Elk
petition Against Port Arthur,
Which was Completely Successful.

Toxic Vice-Admirai Togo's Off
cial recital of the latest engagement
off Port Arthur, which was received
here Sunday, shows that the Japanese
have blocked the entrance to the har-
Dor.
On Tuesday morning after the
blockading fotilla had been scatter
ed by gale and the commander of
the fiotilla had signalled In vain that
the attempt be abandoned, pending
the moderation of the storm, the
crews of the separate ships, in no
wise daunted by the condition of the
weather which isolated them from
their companions, proceeded to the
work on their own desperate initia-
tive. They forced their way in the
face of the Russian fire, which was
more deadly than ever before as re-
suit of the improved Russian de-
lenses, over the field of mines. Many
of these exploded, yet Ave of the Jap
anese blockading ships were ,iammed
into the inner channel and now pre-
vent egress from the harbor to all
craft excepting small boats. This at
tack exceeded all its predecessors in
desperation and the courage display
ed by the volunteer crews is equal to
that shown in any event in the war
history of the world.
The blockading fotilla consisted of
eight stone laden merchantmen. The
blockading vessels and their escort
left the main squadron for Port Ar
thur on Monday evening They en-
countered southeasteriy gale and by
IL O'Clock at night the seas were
mountainous and it was found impos-
sible to keep the steamers together.
The vessels Of the expedition, were
swept apart by the tempestuous seas
and proceeded separately to the south
of the harbor. Upon arriving there
the Mikawa Maru, one of the mer-
chantmen, saw that the enemy was
firing upon the fourteenth torpedo
boat flotilla.
The men on board Of the Mikawa
Maru thought the other steamers had
reached the harbor mouth and they
steamed boldly in She was followed
closely by another OF the merchant
men.
The Russians had fires burning at
the mouth of the harbor and they used
also many powerful searchlights on
the invading japanese vessels. They
pouring an incessant fire into the
channel
Lieut.. Sosa, who was in command Of
the Mikawa Maru, unhesitatinely
forced his ship into the channel.
rammed his way through the booms
and rushed the center of the inner
entrance. Here he anchored his yes
sci and then blew her up She sank
immediately. Another steamer, sup
posed to be the Sakura Maru. then
came to anchor near a projecting rock
at the mouth of the harbor and sank.
Following the Sakura Maru came the
Totmira, Tchido Maru and Otaru Ma
ru, the Sagami Maru and Aikoku Ma
ru and the Asagawo Maru
These six steamers advanced to the
mouth of the harbor The Russian
fire now became highly effective, while
a number of sunken mines which were
struck by the steamers began to ex-
piode. These explosions caused heavy
casualties among the Japanese on
board the blockading vessels.
This Totmira coilided with a boom.
This turned her stem to the eastward
and she sank athwart the passage.
blocking nearly one half the entrance
of the harbor
When the Yedo Maru reached the
mouth of the passage and was lower
ing her anchor, her captain, Comman-
der Takayangi, was shot through the
stomach and killed. Sub-Lieut. Ma
gaia succeeded to the command. He
anchored the Yedo Maru and sank
her.
Two other stone laden steamers, be-
lieved to be the Otaru Maru and the
Sagami Maru, then entered the mouth
of the harbor and sank.
The Aikoku Maru then struck a
mine five cable lengths from the
mouth of the passage which exploded
and caused her to sink. The lieuten-
ant of this vessel, Uchida, Chief En-
gineer Aoki and eight men are miss
Ing. A steamer, thought to be Asa
gawo Maru, which appeared to have
her rudder broken, blew herself up at
the foot of Golden Hill and sank
there.
Vice Admiral Togo in his report
Paris. The French government has
decided TO reject both in substance
and form the note Of protest against
President Loubet's visit to the OUR