Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-11
Russian Torpedo Fleet
SaIlies Out of
Harbor.
FIGHT AT PORT ARTHUR
Change of Tactics Marks
Arrival of New
Commander.

ST. Petersburg, March II, 7:1O a. M
The Russian torpedo boat fiotilla
left Port Arthur at daylight this
morning and attacked the Japanese
fleet One japanese torpedo boat was
sunk and one Russian torpedo boat
destroyer. the Bezposhtihadni, was
sunk. The fate OF the latter's crew
is not known.
Tactics Changed.
Admiral Makaroff inaugurated his
assumption of command of the Rus
sian fleet at Port Arthur by com
pIete change in tactics. As soon as
he appeared he ordered the removal
of the battleship Retvizan, which was
stranded at the mouth of the harbor
and barred the channel at certain
stages of the tide, making the egress
of battleships impossible. This morn
ing he directed the sortie of the tor
pedo boat flotilla, supported by part
of the Russian squadron. against the
japanese squadron. The details are
not yet known, except the encounter
resulted in the loss of one japanese
torpedo boat and one Russian torpedo
boat destroyer.
VIII Back Sawyer.
Washington. March IL The cab
met today discussed press reports
that Capt. Sawyer, of the United
States gunboat Helena. now in dock
at Nui Chwang. had protested against
The sinking by the Russians of iunks
h,, of al ha
Dor This government has received
no official advices on the subject, but
il is said the discussion by the mem
bers of the cabinet indicated such an
attitude, if taken by Sawyer, would
he sustained.
Russians Burn villages.
Tien Tsin. March IA Chinese
refugee from Hsu Yen insists he has
seen the Russians retrcating from the
Yalu river and destroying villages en-
route.
scouts Come Together
Toxic. March II. - Russian and
japanese mounted scouts met north of
Ping Yang Wednesday. After a brief
enga cement the Russians retreated. No
casualties are reported on either side.
Reports to the Car.
ST. Petersburg. March 1.-THE car
has received the following message
from Viceroy AleXieff, dated Mukden,
March 10: The commandant of the
fortress at Port Arthur reports that
about 1 o'clock this morning the out
lines OF vessels. apparently torpedo
boats. were seen at sea within the
area swept by our searchlights. Our
batteries opened fire upon these YES
sells. Our torpedo boats put out to sea
at 2;40 a. IN, and at about 4 o'clock
met the enemy west OF the Lao Tishin
lighthouse. After firing several shots
the enemy retired 10 the south in the
direction OF Shandun- Our torpedo
boats returned to the harbor at 6
O'Clock.
Japanese Fleet Appears.
Later torpedo boats were again
sent TO sea TO reconnOiter. They re-
turned in half an hour. having learned
that an enemy's squadron WAS ap-
preaching. At s o'clock the japanese
opened fire upon our cruisers and the
fortress The enemy had fourteen
ships, and tired the entire time from
behind Liao Tishin."
Report Of Admiral Kamimura-
Toxic. March 1.-THE report OF Vice
Admiral KaInimura, in command of
the NladivOstok naval expedition, has
reached the department here The
report throws little additional light
upon the movement. and il does not
seem TO he known yet whether the
Russian fleet is in VladIvostok har-
Dor or elsewhere. Admiral Kamimura