Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-12
RUSSIAN VIEW.
Account of Conflict Feb. 9 at PORT
Arthur.

St Petersburg. March lib T. NJ
Copies of the Novikrai OF Port Arthur,
which have just arrived here. contain the
first Russian detailed description of the
naval battle at Port Arthur, Feb. g. Ii
says:
THE Russian squadron. which was pre-
Dared to resist attack when the japanese
were sighted by the scouts. was compoS-
ed of the battleship PetropavOsk. flag
ship; Peresviet. Poltava. Sevastopol. Pc
bieda, aTmOred cruiser Bayyan, protected
cruisers Diana. Askold, Boyarin ard No
vik and the transport Angara. Tie bat
tleShips RetviZan and Czdrevitch. which
had been tornedoed on the previous night,
were too badly injured to participate
AT s o'clock in the morning, four Jap
anese cruisers rounded the Liaotshin
promontory and then headed southeast,
with the intention of drawing the Rus
slams in pursuit. The fast Boyarin was
sent out to recOnnotre. She returned at
1925 A. NJ, and signalled the approach of
n large Japanese fleet which was sight
ed at LOT A. NJ. 1t was composed of l.
vessels, six battleships ard six cruisers.
They were steaming in line abreast.
-Four of the cruisers took up posi-
ton behind the heavier ships: The Jap
anese opened fire at four miles and the
Russians Immediately replied The latter.
which had deposed in line, alternated in
their fire the Asko1d and Boyarin adj
vancing abreast of Liaotin Rock and the
Novik moving down the coast toward
l.iaotshin while the Bayan advanced and
led the rest of the fleet between the
heavier vessels of Russia's enemy and
the coast. The land batteries followed
the fleet into action, Viceroy AleXieff and
his staff observing the engagement from
Golden Hill.
The enemy steamed to within 10 cables
length tabout 5000 YARDS at the end of
half an hour: in three-quarters of an
hour approached to within 10 cables
length 5000 yards), and then. heading
about toward the south. the fleet soon
disappeared in the mist which yelled the
horizon.
THE enemy's fire was directed chiefly
against the Golden Hill and Electric
Searchlight station batteries. upon which
the Japanese rained a perfect storm Of
shells. Many shells fell in the west basin,
a. few even reaching Quail Hill.
Only the Novik. Askold and Diana sus-
tanned injuries.
column of steam and smoke pourned out
of one of the japanese vessels and it is
believed she sank
The NOvikrai says it was learned later
that six of the enemy's ships were dam
aged and that $50 men were killed or
wounded. The Russian losses as given
by the Novikrai correspond with the Off
cial reports.
The Russian protected cruiser Pailada
although torpedoed and ashore, partici-
boats awaited the order to attack, each
of the squadron. but the enemy did not
approach within the distance desired.
The account concludes:
Although the enemy's squadron was
composed of the best ships in the Japan
csc fleet. all having excellent armor, while
most of our We're without armor. our
ships did not hesitate to approach the
enemy at full speed, the pace being so
pid that the enemy could not get their
range. The Novik particularly distin-
guished herself several times. attacking
the Micasa, the japanese flagship