Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-27
RUSSIANS RENEW FIRE.
Brief Engagement at Port Arthur
Jap Ships Kept OFF.

.
Brief Engagement at Port Arthur
Jap Ships Kept of.
A cabfegram from ST. Petersburg last
night says 4 dispatch received here from
Port Arthur. dated February 49, says:
..At O'Clock this morning several Japa-
nese torpedo boats were sighted from here
with their. sails set. for the purpose of dis
guising their character. The battle ship
Retvizan and the shore batteries opened
fire on them and continued firing until day
break without any visible result. After
daybreak a Japanese squadron, apparently
conveying transports, was sighted. At
His this squadron came nearer. and an
enga cement which lasted forty minutes en-
sued. There was no damage. Few shells
fell in Port Arthur. 1t is expected here
that the Japanese will attempt a landing
soon.
Electrical Internal Machines.
"An inspection of the Japanese hreships
sent into this harbor February "a shows
they were loaded with coal and kerosene.
and that electrical Internal machines had
been placed in the midst of this cargo"
A Russian correspondent of the Associ-
ated Press telegraphs from Port Arthur.
under date of February 20. as follows:
Last night about 10 o'clock Japanese
torpedo boats again unsuceessfully. at
tempted to approach Port Arthur. Firing
was heard at sea after midnight and 1T Is
presumed that Russian torpedo boats or
torpedo boat destroyers had attacked the
Japanese. No details of the result are at
hand.
Charges Jap Fund in This City.
Continuing. the correspondent says the
Novi Kri has published criticism of the
United States for proposing the neutraliza-
ton of China, and says that news received
from Tokyo is to the effect that fund has
been raised in Washington to enable the
japanese to continue the war.
The paper adds that the Shanghai Mer-
curry, which is published with American
money, is endeavoring openly to induce
China to side with Japan and expel the
Russians from Manchuria.
A copy of a telegram from the viceroy
of the far east, Admiral General Adjutant
Alexieff. to the emperor has just been given
out. 1t is dated February 25. The plaza
whence it is sent is not stated, but is sup
posed to be Mukden.- The message is as
follows:
Report From Alexieff
"a squadron of the enemy's vessels. num-
bering sixteen, approached the fortress at
about II O'Clock this morning and opened
a bombardment on the cruisers Askold,
Bayan and Novik, which were in the outer
harbor. and also on the fortress. The fir
ing continued for half an hour Then our
cruisers went into the harbOr. The enemy
fired for several minutes on one of our bat
teries, and then began to leave. They stop
ped within sight of the fort, but out of
range of fire.
AT this time four of enemy's cruisers de-
tached themselves from the squadron and
proceeded to Pigeon bay, where they
quickly opened fire on our torpedo boats
that were cruising there. They directed
also strong cannOnade against the shore.
The commandment consequently sent troops
to Pigeon bay. The firing there lasted for
thirty minutes, but no landing was made.
The Japanese cruisers then departed. Suit
able measures have been taken to oppose
a possible effort on the part of the enemy
to creep up by sea. Our losses this day
were one man wounded at the battery
Il respectfully report the above to your
imperial majesty
(signeO "ALEXIEFF.'
japanese Torpedo Boat Sunk.
The following telegram from Viceroy
Alexieff to the car is published here. 1t
is dated February 49, and says:
'On February "A seventeen of the enc
my's warships, with twelve torpedo boats
and steamers, were cruising outside Port
Arthur, but keeping out of range On the
same day the Russian cruisers Bayan
Askold and Novik left the roadstead Two
Japanese cruisers advanced toward the No
vik. which returned to Port Arthur, ac-
companted by our torpedo boats from Pig
con bay. The enemy's cruisers were left
far behind. In the evening our cruisers re-
turned to the roadstead
"On the night of February % our tor
pedo boats proceeded seward. The same
night the Japanese torpedo boats again
appeared in the roadstead and the bat
tie ship RetviZan and the fort batteries
opened fire on them. Battery No. Is re-
ports having sunk one of the enemy's tor
pedo boats
AT o'clock in the morning squadron
of fourteen vessels was sighted in the
distance.
Maps of Port Arthur and Port Adams
and chart of the Yellow sea were dis
covered aboard the enemy's vessels which
We're sunk IN the night attack of Febru-
airy "A. Conducting wires and electric
batteries were found on the vessel which
caught fire. The wires were cut by port
miners Inc lire has been eXtinguished"
Report of Maj Gen. Plug.
dispatch sent from ST Petersburg to
London news agency says the official
report of Maj. Gen. Plug. chief of staff
of Ficeroy Alexieff. on the details of the
attack on Port Arthur during the morn
ing of February % was as follows:
The enemy's squadron of sixteen war.
shlps approached from the DaIny side
toward the harbor of Port Arthur about
IL CLOCK this morning, and at once
opened ire upon our three cruisers stand
ing outside in the roadstead, namely. the
Askold. Bayan and Novik, and also
against the land forts The bomhard
ment lasted half an hour. AT it's conclu.
sion our cruisers retired into the harber."