Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-28
MAKE ANOTHER EFFORT
JAPs GET REFUSED IN ATTEMPT
TO BOTTLE UP PORT ARTHUR.
Heroic Single-Handed Fight of Russian
Torpedo Boat Silni-Land1ng OF
Jap Forces Expected.

cablegram from st. Petersburg last
night says: Under cover of darkness this
morning Vice Admiral Togo made another
desperate attempt to bottle up the Rus
sian fleet in Port Arthur, but he failed
again, and when, after daylight, Vice Ad-
miral Makaroff steamed out to give battle
the japanese commander refused the chal-
lenge and sailed away.
The Japanese practically repeated the
tactics of February "a by sending in four
fireships, preceded by a torpedo boat flo
tilla, with the exception that the fire.
ships this time were armed with Hotch-
kiss guns for the purpose of keeping off
the Russian torpedo boat destroyers.
Discovered by Searchlights.
The enemys attempt was discovered by
means of the shore searchlights, and a
heavy fire was opened from the batteries
and from two gunboats which were
guarding the entrance to the harbor. The
Russian torpedo boat destroyer SLIM was
outside on scouting duty, and to the dash
and nerve of her commander, Lieut.. Krin-
Tiki, Is chiefly due the complete defeat of
the plans of the Japanese.
He at once made straight for the on
coming ships under a hail of fire from the
Hotchkiss guns and torpedoed the lead
Ing ship, which sheered off, followed by
on the shore under Golden Hill and one
under the lighthouse. The SLIM then en-
gagged the entire six torpedo boats of the
enemy, coming out from a terrific fight
with seven killed and her commander
and twelve of her complement wounded
but on the Japanese side only one boats
crew was saved. In addition, according to
unofficial reports. it is believed that the
Japanese lost two torpedo boats.
Japs Declined the Issue.
The japanese cruisers, which supported
the attack, exchanged shots with the bat
teries and then drew off after which Vice
Admiral Makaroff took steam launch and
examined the fire ships An hour later the
Japanese torpedo fotlla followed by Vice
Admiral Togo's fleet came up from a south
erly direction. Just at daybreak Vice Ad-
miral Makaroff, with his fleet sailed out
TO engage the enemy. but after the ships
and batteries had fired a few long-distance
shots Vice Admiral Togo decided to decline
the issue, and disappeared to the south
ward.
Japs Likely Preparing to Land
In high official circles this new effort to
bottle up the Russian fleet is looked upon
as meaning cnly one thing namely. that
the Japanese, as stated by the Associated
Press on March "a. are preparing for a
heavy landing of troops In the Gulf Of
Liaotung, either at Niuchwang or on the
west coast of the Manchurian neutral zone
to enect which in safety the immobility of
Vice Admiral Makaroffs fleet is absolutely
essential while the transports are being
conveyed around the southern end of tbs
peninsula. If the attempt had succeeded II
would have required several DAYS at least
70 dow up the steamers and clear AWAY
the wreckage, during which time the lana
nese would be assured of non-interferenca
In the carrying out Of their purpose The
failure of the japanese this morning NAV
seriously la their Dlans
the Lao river is going out and when the
river Is free from ice it's mouth can be east
ly mined.
Frontal Attack Probably Abandoned.
The conviction continues to grow here
that the japanese have concluded that it
would be inadvisable to make direct from
tai attack on Manchuria from Korea
against the whole Russian army, and that
1t will be necessary to land fanking col
umn in the gulf of Liao-tung to divide the
attention of the Russians, and If possible
to seize the railroad and cut off Port Ar
thur. The ground above Niuchwang is per-
fectly familiar to the japanese who occu
pied II for year during the Chino-Jana
nese war
Some experts even go so far as IN nv
press the belief that Vice Admiral Togo
was covering the movement OF transports
into the Gulf of Lao-tung this morning
and that therefore he was compelled to eX-
ercise great caution and to decline me
Russian offer Of an engagement Another
view of the Japanese admirals purpose
which is less entertained. is that he believes
that bombardments from Pigeon bay would
be disastrous to the Russian fleet IL IL were
compelled TO remain in the harbor he hav-
ing ascertained from observation that the
Russian ships always pass out during the
high angle bombardments, and that a big
shell dropped on battle ship could easily