The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-01
Vivid Account of the At
tempt TO Block Port
Arthur Harbor.
Volunteers Take Ships Into
an Inferno of LAUNDERING
Russian Guns.
Marvellous Escape of Crews
After Vessels Are Sunk
in the Channel.

LONDON. April IA correspondent
Of the Times at sea, in a wireless tele-
gram via weihsiwei, describing the
last attempt Of The japanese te bottle
up Port Arthur, says:
After the bombardment of March
q. Vice Admiral Togo waited for bet
ter weather before attempting TO bottle
up Port Arthur The officers who con
Quoted the first attempt insisted upon
their right TO complete their work. The
admiral consented and the same Off
GERS were chosen, but the crews and
sto6ers were selected from new volun-
teers.
The moon disappeared al midnight
and the sea was like glass when the
desperate enterprise was begun When
within two miles Of the goal the fren-
zied motions Of a searchlight showed
that suspicion had been awakened, and
suddenly a solitary gun announced that
the japanese had been discovered. The
Russians sprang to the guns CT the
batteries and in three minutes the jan
anese craft were inclosed in a semi
circle OF gunfishes. The sea was
churned TO a turmoil by falling shells,
but there was no hesitation. The tor
pedo-boats opened out and the trans
ports, with the men standing at the
ufeboat stations. steered directly into
the inferno. There was then only
mile to traverse and the safety fuses
were ready.
SINKS IN THE ENTRANCE.
1t was just at $3.50 in the morning
when the Chiyo Maru led. with
searchnght beating upon her. and she
was a target for hundred guns to-
ward the east side Of the entrance. The
fuses were set and the crew pushed
off just in time II was a moment of
suspense. The charge exploded, sink
ing her 100 yards from a point Of the
east side Of the entrance.
The Fukui Maru next passed on the
port side Of the chiyo Maru and drop
ped anchor Just as the officers and
crews pushed clear there was a dull
explosion She had been struck and.
sunk in the exact place which the
japanese desired by a torpedo from.
within the harbor.
so close were the defending de-
stroyers that the Yeneyama Maru was
fouled by a Russian destroyer and her
crew was scorched by the flame Of the
discharges from Russian six-pounder.
It was a horrible melee. but the
Japanese kept their presence of mind
throughout and their steadiness was
shown b. the fact that before she had
been fouled by the destroyer the
Yeneyana Naru passed to the starr
board Of the Chiyo Maru and then
between her and the Fukui Maru and
reached the center of the channel,
where she was hit by a torpedo.
which sank her on the west side of
the channel. her bow pointing toward
the shore. Not a man on the trans
port was drowned.
CHANNEL PARTLY BLOCKED.
The enterprise failed completely to
block the channel because there were
only four transports. 1t is probable.
however. that the channel has been
rendered impracticable for the large
battleships and il is certain that the
japanese viii not rest until the chan
mel has been closed.
The n1aneuver was covered by a tor
pedc division which. running in close.
endeavored TO draw the fire Of the land
batteries from the main enterprise.
This division remained in action until
al the crews were rescued and Just
before daybreak was engaging a Rus
sian destroyer which remained at the
entrance. firing torpedOes during the
night The scream Of escaping steam
proclaimed that the Russian boat had
been damaged in her vitals.
AT daybreak the Hotilla drew off
under cover Of the feet which was
waiting ten miles outside"
In closing the correspondent de-
scribes the bravery and the death Of
Commander Hirose, who had recently