The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-31
THE HARBOR ISSTILL CLEAR


at once proceeded in a steam launcn
to inspect the enemys sunken steam
ers. The enemy's torpedo boats re-
appeared at o'clock this morning.
| They were sighted south Of Port Ar
thur, and the batteries re-opened on
them. Toward 6 o'clock the enemy
squadron appeared on the horizon. and
ours steamed out to meet it. At 6:30
the batteries opened fire. The ships
batteries soon ceased. the japanese
drawing of to the southeast. evidently
declining an engagement. Al III
o'clock they disappeared below the
horizon
A further telegram to the Emperor
from Vice Admiral Makaroff says:
Il respectfully report that the enc
my having withdrawn | returned 10
the harbor with the feet.
The torpedo boat destroyer Stllni,
which stranded on the reef in conse-
quence Of damage caused to her en-
gines by one Of the enemy's shells.
was foated during the course OF the
night and entered the harbor. thanks
to the energies of her crew. Her COM
mander. Lieut. Krinizki. who was
slightly wounded in the arm, did not
quit his post.
'On the fireships were Internal ma
chimes, the wires connecting with
which were cut by Lieut.. kedron and
Ensign Pilsoudsky Of the irregulars
whom | dispatched on the tack. They
boarded one OF the steamers as soon
as it stopped, cut the electric wire and
eytinguished the fire which would
have lit up the entrance of the harbor
to the enemy in the roa1Stead.
In the morning q floating mine was
found bearing an internal machine.
but the latter was successfully remoV-
ed.
The inspection made showed that
the steamers utilized as fire ships
were not old. They were each Of about
1000 tons and they were armed with
light calibre guns"
The japanese practically repeated
the tactics of February "a. by sending
in four fire ships, preceded by tor
pedo boat fotilla, with the exception
that the fire ships this time were arm
ed with Hotchkiss guns for the pur-
pose of keeping off the Russian tor
pedo beat destroyers.
The enemy's attempt was discover
ed by means of the shore searchiightS
and a heavy fire was opened from the
batteries and from two fgunboats
which were guarding the entrance to
the habor. The Russian torpedo boat
destroyer Stilni was outside on scout
ing duty, and to the dash and nerve
Of her commander, Lieut.. Krinizkl,
is chiefly due the complete defeat Of
the plans of the Japanese. He at
once made straight for the oncoming
ships under a hail of fire from the
Hotchkiss guns. and torpedoed the
! leading ship, which sheered OF, fol-
lowed by the others. three Of them
| being piled up on the shore under
Golden Hill and one under the light
house. Stilni then engaged the entire
six torpedoa boats of the enemy, COM
I ing out from a terrific fight. with sew.
en- killed and her commander and
twelve Of her complement wounded,
but on the Japanese side only one
boats crew were saved. In addition,
according to unofficial reports, 1t Is
believed that the Japanese lost two
torpedo boats.
The Japanese cruisers which sup
ported the attack exchanged shots
with the batteries and then drew on,
after which Vice Admiral Makaroff
took a steam launch and examined
the fire ships. An hour later the Jap
anese torpedo flotilla, followed by
! Vice Admiral Togos feet. sailed out
to engage the enemy. but after the
ships and batteries had fred few
long-distance shots. Vice Admiral To
go decided to decline the issue, and
! disappeared TO the southwark.
The conviction continues to grow
here that the Japanese may have con-
| cluded that it would be inadvisable
10 make a direct frontal attack on
Manchuria from Korea against the
whole Russian army, and that 1t VIII
be necessary to land fianking column
in the Gulf Of Lao Tung to divide
the attention of the Russians, and II
possible to seize the railroad and cut
off Port Arthur. The ground above
New Chwang is perfectly familiar
to tho Japanese. who occupied II TOT
a wear during the Chino-Japanese war