Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-20
REPORT Of last NAVAL F|GHT
EYE WITNESS GIVES A VIVID Ac.
COUNT JAP-RUsso BATTLE.
One Of Cars Torpedo Boats Got Sur
rounded by Emperor's Men and Was
sunk-Big Russian Fighters to Res
cue-Japs Retire for Endorsements
-Battleship Struck Mine and Sunk

cue-Japs Retire for Endorsements
-sattleship Struck Mine and Sunk
Liaoyang, April 2O.-The Associated
Press correspondent, believing that
the Japanese would repeat the attempt
to block the entrance to Port Arthur
with fireships on Easter eve. went
from Liaoyang to Port Arthur a week
ago yesterday. This is his story OF
the recent battle:
"For four nights watched with the
sentries on Golden Hill. Three nights
passed quietly. Tuesday night, April
IL, Vice Admiral Makaron took to sea
with his entire squadron, including IA
torpedo boats. The next night. April
13, in the teeth OF gale. eight tor
pedo boats were sent out to recon-
noiter. From Golden Hill, on which l
was standing, through the blackness
the searchlights of the fortiication
flashed over the inky waters of the
roadsted and far out to the hazy hOri-
zon.
"At II o'clock heard firing at sea
and counted seven shots, but could
see nothing. At daybreak l made out
through the light haze to the south
ward, about five miles from shore. six
torpedo boats strung in line, all firing.
In the lead and outstripping the others
was a boat heading at full speed d.
rectly for the entrance of the harbor.
hn loo in, inn in,
steam and tagging. She had evident
ly been hit. 1t was difficult to dis
tinguish our boats, but finally, through
my glasses, l saw that the leader and
the laggard were Russians and that
the four others were japanese. The
fash of the guns and the splash Of the
prOjectiles as they struck the water
showed the intensity Of the conflict.
"The torpedo boat from which steam
was escaping was firing viciously, the
four center craft, together. concentrat-
ing their fire on her, but the crippled
boat poured out her fire and was sue
cessfully keeping off her assailants.
The signals then mashed the news to
the men of the batteries that the ves-
sci was the Strashni.
"The unequal combat was observed
with breathless interest, but the net
drew close around the doomed boat.
The four Japanese vessels formed a
semi-circle and poured in deadly fire.
The steam grew denser. covering her
like white pail. Still she fought
desperately. Running straight for the
adversary barring her way to safety.
she passed the Japanese astern and
fired at them.
Bayan to the Rescue.
"At this stage Vice Admiral Maka-
rolf, who had been observing the pro-
gress of the conflict through tele-
scope, signaled to the cruiser Bayan,
lying in the inner harbor. to weigh
anchor and go to the rescue.
"The Japanese boats clung to their
enemies like hounds in a chase. They
had become separated, but again re-
sumed their formation. Small Jets of
flame and smoke were squirting from
the light rapid firers, followed by
denser clouds as torpedoes were dis
charged against the Strashni.
ut was the end. The stricken boat
loosed a final round, but it was as II
a volley had been fired over her own
grave, for she disappeared beneath
the waves, only little cloud of steam
marking the place where she went
down.
Big Fight by the eayan.
xuif
complished, the Japanese torpedo
boats turned and made of at full
speed. followed by the Bayan. To their
support came six of the enemy's cruis-
ers. Still the Bayan went on, seeming
ly inviting certain destruction. She
soon ported her helm, to bring broad
side to bear upon the foe, which was
advancing in line Of battle. She open
ed some of them and turned quickly
and stood on into the hail Of the
enemy's broadsides. The Japanese
steamed away at a slight angle, en-.
abling all their guns to bear, and pro-
jectiles rained around the Bayan, rails
ing columns of water as they burst.
but none Of them struck home.
ITO the eastward suddenly appeared
five more of our torpedo boats. return
ing to the harbor under forced draught.
Two of the Japanese cruisers were de-
tached to cut them off. but the Bayan,
noticing the movement. checked it by
turning a hot fire upon them. The
movement was effective. The Japanese
cruisers slowed down and the torpedo
boats slipped through into the harbor.
eattIeships Go Out.
Meanwhile, in accordance with Vice
Admiral Makaroff's orders. the battle
ships and cruisers in the inner harbor
slipped anchor. Majestically the Pc
tropavlovsk, flying the admiral's flag,
steamed through the entrance. On her
| appearance the formidable army Of
Japanese cruisers turned and fed The
admiral signaled the Bayan to return.
Then stream of flags fluttered out,
Brave Bayan.'
| "By this time the entire Russian
squadron was in the outer harbor. The
flags announcing the admlral's appro-
baton Of the Bayan were hauled down
and replaced by another signal. I'm
mediately the torpedo boats dashed
ahead and the cruisers began to spread
out.