The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-01
DESPERATE WORK DONE.

LONDON. April IA correspondent
of the Times, at sea, in wireless tel
egram via Wei-hai-wei, describing the
latest attempt of the Japanese to bot
tie up Port Arthur, says:
After the bOmbardment Of March
%, Vice Admiral Togo waited until
better weather before reattempting to
bottle up Port Arthur. The officers
who conducted the first attempt in
sisted on their right to complete their
work. The admiral consented and the
same officers were chosen, but the
crews and stokers were selected from
new volunteers.
The moon disappeared at midnight
and the sea was like glass when the
desperate enterprise was begun. When
within two miles of the goal the fren-
Zied motions of a searchlight showed
that suspicion had been awakened,
and suddenly a solitary gun announc-
ed that the Japanese had been dis
covered. The Russians Sprang to the
guns of the batteries and in three
minutes the Japanese craft were in
closed in a semi-circle of gun flashes
The sea was churned to a turmoil by
falling shells, but there was no hesita-
ton. The torpedo boats opened out
and the transports, with men standing
at the lifeboat stations, steered direct
ly into the inferno. There was then
only a mile to traverse and the safety
fuses we're ready.
TARGET FOR A HUNDRED GUNS.
1T was just $3.50 in the morning
when the steamer Chiyo, with a search
light beating on her and she a target
for a hundred guns, led toward the
east side of the entrance. The fuses
were set and the crew pushed off just
in time. 1t was a moment of suspense.
The charge exploded, sinking her one
hundred yards from the east side of
the entrance Golden HID.
'"The FukUi next passed on the port
side of the Chiyo and dropped anchor
Just as the officers and crew pushed
clear there was a dull explosion. She
had been struck and sunk in the exact
place which the Japanese desired, by
a torpedo from within the harbor.
so close were the defending de-
strOyers that the Yeneyama was fouled
by a Russian destroyer and her crew
was scorched by the flame Of the dis
charge from a Russian six-ponuder.
ut was a horrible melee, but the
japanese kept their presence of mind
throughout, and their steadiness was
shown by the fact that before she had
been fouled by the destroyer the Yene-
yaTna passed to starboard of the Chiyo
and then between her and the Fukui
and reached the center of the channel.
where she was hit by torpedo, which
sank her on the west side of the chan
mel, her bow pointing toward the shore.
Not man Of the transports crews
was drowned
ONLY PARTIAL SUCCESS.
1.-THE enterprise failed to block the
channel because there were only four
transports. 1t is probable, however,
that the channel has been rendered
impracticable for the large battleships
and it is certain that the Japanese will
not rest until the channel has been
closed.
The maneuver was covered by a
torpedo division which, running in
close, endeavored to draw the fire of
the land batteries from the main en-
terprise. This division remained in ac-
ton until all the crews were rescued.
and just before daybreak was engaging
a Russian destroyer, which remained
at the entrance line firing torpedoes
during the night. The scream of escap-
ing steam proclaimed that the Russian
boat had been damaged in her vitaIs.
"At daybreak the f1otilla drew off
under cover Of the fleet, which was
waiting ten miles outside"
In conclusion the correspondent de-
scribes the bravery and death Of Com
mander Hirose, who had recently been
promoted for sinking the Tokohu fur
thest up the entrance to Port Arthur
on Feb. "a, and Of whom he says the
japanese are justly proud.
NOW IT'S SEPTEMBER.
PARIS, April IA st. Petersburg
correspondent of the Echo de Paris
says that the wife Of one Of Gen.
Kuropatkin's orderly officers has re-
ceived a telegram from her husband
saying that the general staff does not
believe that there will be any great
battle before September.
The Russian troops in Manchuria,