Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-11
ATTEMPT TED AN ESCAPE
Tokyo Reports a Bold Dash of
Russian Ships.
PORT ARTHUR HARBOR
OUTER PORTS PARTICIPATED IN
THE ENGAGEMENT.
Squadron Was Driven to Open Sea by
Heavy shelling-Jap Cruiser
Reported Sunk.

LONDON. August ia dlSpatcn 10 d
news agency from Tokyo announces deh-
ntely that Admiral Togo has frustrated the
attempt of the Port Arthur squadron to es-
cape, and adds that the Port Arthur forts
participated with the warships in the en-
gagement, indicating, if true, that the fight
ing occurred close to the port.
Driven to Sea by Land Batteries.
TOKYO. August IL, IL a.m.-Evidently
driven to sea by the fire of the japanese
land batteries the Russian fleet emerged
from Port Arthur yesterday morning. Ad-
miral Togo Immediately closed in and open
ed severe engagement, which lasted until
night fall. Afterward the Japanese de-
stroyers and torpedo fotillas delivered a
series of attacks. The japanese fleet with
drew during the night A guard snip, sta-
toned off the harbor, reported that she saw
at dawn today the battle ships Retvizan
and Pobieda steaming toward the harpor
of Port Arthur. Admiral Togo has not yet
reported the results of yesterdays engage
ment 1t is thought here that the Russians
attempted to escape seaward from base
which is no longer tenable, but that they
again refused to attempt to force Adm'rai
Iuso's line. Details are expected hourly.
Japs Shelling the Town.
CHEFOO August II, II 10 a.m.-The Rus
sian fleet emerged from Port Arthur at
am. Wednesday morning. 1t is stated that
only the smaller Japanese vessels engaged
and pursued it. The pursuit lasted two
hours and half. The hospital ship Mon
golia carrying women and children, is said
to have accompanied the fleet.
The refugees from Port Arthur state that
during the last five days japanese shells
from VOLTS hill have been dropping into
the town. causing much damage. Several
civilians have been hurt. one shell hit an
oil storehouse under Golden Hill Five hun
dred sailors vanly attempted TO eXtin-
gush the fire ii caused.
Russian Captains Story.
Capt. Rostchavoski of the Russian tor
pedo destroyer Ritsitelini, which emerged
from Port Arthur with the fleet Wednesday
morning, and which arrived here early this
morning. states that his engines broke
down when he was midway between Che
foo and Port Arthur. He proceeded at
speed of twelve knots to this port He
says he saw no Japanese vessels.
He confirms previous statements that the
large Russian war ships had left Port Ar
thur but refused to say directly that the
fleet had gone on an extended cruise, leaV-
ing the inference, in the course of long
interview, that the warships expect to JOIN
the Vladvostok squadron, which, he said,
had been recruited by the purchase of ships
from the Argentine Republic.
Captain Rostchavoski said further that
the Russian torpedo boats, gunboats and
small craft generally remained at Port Ar
thur. Some came out TO perform tIe]f
usual duties in the vicinity, but they did
not follow the big ships.
Captain Rostchavosk stated that the re-
cent firing heard at Chefoo evidently came
from Port Arthur, where the Japanese con-
tinued to attack daily with scarcely less
energy than they manifested during the
we're three days fighting the latter part of
July.
from the north shore of Louisa bay to
point Immediately east of Taiche bay,
about seven miles east of Port Arthur The
japanese are, he alleged, wasting lives with
reckless courage. Their position are fire.
quently lost retaken, then lost and retaken
again.
Kasagi Reported Sunk.
1t is reported that the Japanese protected
cruiser kasagi was sunk off Round Island
in the recent engagement
The Russian ships before leaving Port
Arthur took on board heavy stores ma
chinery and materials for ship repairing.
The torpedo boat destroyer Ryeshi;eln
has been dismantled by the removal of the
breeches of her guns.
The only Round Island to be found on
maps and charts available is situated off
the southwest coast of Korea. The island
forms one of very great many larger
and smaller islands off that part of the
Korean coast. 1t is described as being
took place not far from Mokpho, a we'll
known port on the southwest coast of
Korea.
Sighted Sixteen Warships.
CHEFOO, August 11.-An official source
here reports the sighting of sixteen Rus
sian warships last night in the vicinity of
Chefoo.
1t Is alleged that the Russian hospital
ship Mongolia, carrying women and chill
dren. which left Port Arthur with the
squadron, will go to Shanghai
The Russian battle ship Retvizan was hit
seventeen times during the recent lombard
ment Of Port Arthur, but was only slight
ly damaged
The Japanese feet has been directing its
fire against the dock yards at Port Arthur.
One hundred shells dropped a spot from
which powder magazine had recently been
removed.
The Japanese are reported to be lacking
In sufficient large guns. The present sup
ply is mostly from the fleet
Captain Shestakovsky of the Russian tor
pedo boat destroyer, which arrived here
this morning, reports that Japanese
cruiser and gunboat were injured or sunk
during the past week He is not positive,
however, that they sank.