Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-02-29
OFFICIAL war REPORT
DETAILS Of ATTEMPT TO
BLOCKADE PORT ARTHUR
STONE BOATS DISABLED BY RUS
SIAN shElls-RusSiAN CAV.
AIRY AND JAPANESE
INFANTRY.

The following dispatches were re-
ceived on Saturday and Sunday by Con.
sui General Saito from Minister Taxa.
hira, at Washington:
To Saito, Honolulu.
Sinking Of Boats.
On the Goth inst. Admiral Kami.
mura rendered the following report.
According to the report made by the
commander Of the fotilla OF torpedo
boats which were dispatched to save
the lives in the old vessels sent to
block the mouth Of Port Arthur, the
'Hokomaru, at the foot Of the light
house on the left hand side Of the en-
trance to Port Arthur, and the 'Bushu-
haru, at Its outside, respectively sank
themselves; the 'Tenshinaru' and the
Buyonaru. at the east OF Mt. Lao-te-
Shan, and the 'Jinsennaru' also sank
themselves. The officers and crews of
above vessels were all saved by the
torpedo boats. Our rpedo-destroyers
and torpedo boats were all safe. In
the night OF the cath inst. our torpedo
destroyers surveyed and attacked Port
Arthur, Tailen and Pigeon bay. In
the morning OF the 25th inst. our main
fleet engaged in a long range bonn
bardment on the enemys fleet and
forts, and at about noon we saw the
sNnxinE sASEn1I'. nd t,,s
treating to the inner port. Not being
satisfied with the blockade. our fleet
cannonaded the port ard observed
heavy fame and smoke rising up in IL.
After fifteen minutes engagement
our fleet withdrew. Meanwhile our
cruisers attacked and destroyed a Rus
sian torpedo-destroyer In the vicinity
of Mt. Lao-te-Sban. No damage to
our fleet resulted and no one on board
killed nor wounded in this engagement
AS to the movement Of Admiral Togo's
fleet the details will be reported by him
afterwards.
"TAKAHIRA."
Further Details.
Washington, Feb. 2s, 1904.
To Saito, Honolulu.
The official report OF the commander
OF the japanese fleet off Port Arthur
regarding the sinking Of the stone ves-
sells is as follows:
The five ships sent to block the
of Port Arthur channel advanced
toward the southern side Of Mt. Lao
te-Shan on the left hand side Of the
entrance, on the morning Of the oath
instant. The leading ship, the Ten
shin maru. took its course to the left
hand side and was subjected to heavy
shell fire by the enemy. She was
grounded at point about three miles
to the southeast of Lao-te-Shan. The
succeeding vessels changed their
course to the northeast. but were dis
covered by the enemy's searchlights
and these were also heavily shelled.
A shell penetrated the engine room OF
the Bushu maru, disabling her. She
stranded near the Tenshin maru
The Buyu maru was also damaged
by the enemy's shells and sank before
she reached the entrance. The Hokoku
maru and the Jinsin maru, notwith-
standing the enemy's heavy fire, ar
rived at the entrance to Port Arthur
The Hokoku maru steamed near the
Russian cruiser Retvisan, and
the Jinsin maru went to the east Of
the Hokoku maru, and were both blown
Up by their own crews.
AS the ships sank the crews shouted
In victory over the success of the ex-
petition. The crews took to their boats
and endeavored to return to our tor.
pedo boats, but were discovered by the
searchlights of the enemy and were
shelled. They could not continue on
their desired course and were compelled
to take a roundabout route. They were
unsuccessful in reaching the torpedo
boats that night. From midnight on,
the sea was extremely rough and the
crews experienced severe weather
They succeeded. however,
in reaching the fleet about 8 p. m.
TAKAHIRA.
Russians Retreat.
Washington, Feb. 2S, 1904.
Reed. 2:l5 p. m.
To Saito. Honolulu.
On the 2Sth instant at Q o'clock a. m,
the Russian cavalry approached to
within 700 metres Of the japanese in
fantry to the north Of Ping Yang. The
Japanese infantry engaged with the
cavalry and caused the Russians to re-
treat. TAKAHIRA,