The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-21
VLADIVOSTOK WAS NOT
PROVIDED WITH GUNS
London Times Correspondent Describes
Torpedo Boat Fight of March g.

LONDON. March 21.-A correspon-
dent of the Times at New chWang ca
bles as follows:
According to information received here
the reason that the Vladivostok forts did
not reply to the bombardment from the
Japanese was because the batteries were
not provided with guns. Since the bonn
bardment parties have been working
night and day to place guns in position.
The bombardment destroyed the Line.
witch battery. The Russian losses were
slight because the batteries were deserted
The same conditions prevail as at Port
Arthur. The supply of provisions there is
running short, and the population is pan
fc stricken. The ice is considered the
only real protection. "a,
A correspondent of the Times with the
Japanese forces, by wireless telegraphy
to Wei-hai-wei, under date of March
20, sends over column of matter which
is mostly descriptive of the torpedo
| fight between the Russians and Japa-
nese on March 8. He says that Ad-
miral Togo has been comparatively
passive according to the latest adj
vices and that Port Arthur has been
given a respite, although the cruisers
and torpedo boat destroyers have kept
close blockade.
The correspondent says that Vice
Admiral .Kaminura's bombardment of
| Vladivostok was solely intended to har-
ass the Russians and to compel the
Russian cruisers to leave the harbor.
The vice admiral brought his ships
within range opposite the dead point of
| the forts on the northeast entrance
The Russians did not reply because the
| Japanese vessels took up positions be-
yond the arc of the training of the
guns.
Vice Admiral Kaminura the CORE
| spondent says, sailed south on March
| II, after searching Amur bay. Since
| Vice Admiral Makaroff's arrival at Port
| Arthur, he adds, the Russian defensive
| tactics have been more active and
| their torpedo boat destroyers more alert
and enterprising
Describing the fight between the
Russian and japanese torpedo boats
| the correspondent confirms the fierce
ness of the contest. The vessels were
so close that the Russians threw
| charges of explosives onto the bridge
of one of the Japanese torpedo boat
destroyers.. These, however, failed to
detonate. All the vessels engaged were
| more or less damaged. The Japanese
| losses were six killed and eight wound
ed. That the Russians were defeated,
| in spite of their superior numbers, is
| due to the better shooting of the Japa-
nese and the fact that the Russian
| vessels were armed with three pound
| guns, while the armament of the Japa-
nese ships was made up of six-poun-
| ders.
| In reference to the fight of three
hours which occurred later, the cor
| respondent says the Russian fought
with desperation and the Japanese
| with confidence born of their past vic
| tories. One Russian commander was
| killed early in the fight A lieutenant
then took command, only to fall, shot
| in both legs. Then the command de-
| volved on the sublieutenant, who also
| was killed after taking the wheel him.
| self. When the coxswain fell, this yes
! sci was captured by the Japanese. The
| other Russian vessels escaped.
| On the Japanese side one destroyer
| was hit on the water line; two of her
| compartments were flooded and her
| Quick-firing ammunition was wetted
| This vessel retired from the action.
| Her officers escaped narrowly from a
| twelve-poun shot, which struck the
| platform in front of the bridge, killing
one man and sweeping the bridge with
| SplinterS. The same vessel received a
three pound shot through the hull; but
| the damage was repaired within four
| days,
| A japanese lieutenant, who boarded
| the Stereguschtchi, said he had never
seen a more sickening sight. Thirty
| bodies, terribly mutilated by shell,
were lying on deck. AS the Japanese
approached, two Russian blue Jackets
rushed from the coming tower, locked
| themselves in the cabin aft and re-
fused to come out. Two stokers jumped
| overheard and were picked up. These,
| with two wounded men, were the only
1 survivors of a crew of fifty-flve. When
| the Stereguschtchi sank the men who
were locked in the cabin sank with
her.
The fight lasted nearly an hour The
| weakness of the Russian torpedo boat
destroyer armament again proved fatal
The japanese concentrated their fire
I first on the Russians twelve -poundeI