New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-04
PORT ARTHUR BOMBARDED MORE RUSSIAN GUNS LOST.
Eight Fireships Sunk-Torpedo
Boats Channel Still Open.

Boats Lost Channel Still Open.
Port Arthur. May 3. noon.--A japanese squad
ron appeared off Port Arthur after daybreak
to-day and engaged the forts and warships. The
fight is still going on
Thirty japanese prisoners have been captured
At l o'clock this morning five japanese tor
pedo boats were sighted and the Russian land
batteries and the gunboat Giiiak and the coast
defence vessels Gremiashchi and Otvashni
opened fire and compelled them 10 retire I'M
mediately afterward other japanese ships were
sighted on the horizon. They were headed by
6resbin which was sunk near the entrance OF
the harbor at 30 a. nj.
After an interval of twenty-five minutes two
NOR. Areships came on and were sent to the
bottom.
At 90 four more fireships approached Three
Of these blew up on the Russian mines Two of
these sank immediately and the other two fire.
s,lse were sunk 10y the batteries and warships.
THE protected cruiser Askold took part in the
firing
Fifteen minutes later three more hreships ar
rived. one of them blew up on mine. the sec
o,6 ,,ess.1 was wrecked on the shore ard the
third was sunk by the Russian shells.
MOST OF THE CREWS KILLED.
The crews Of the japanese hreships tried TO
save themselves by boats. in which they put out
TO sea. A majority of them were killed by the
Russian machine guns and rifles. Some Of tho
survivors we're picked UP.
At davbreak a number of Japanese we're seen
clinCing to the masts and tunnels Of the sunlSen
vessels. and these were rescued by the Russians
Thirteen of the wounded Japanese have since
died. The Russians supplied food and clothing
to the survivors. and the wounded were taken
to the hospital ship Mongolia
In the morning ten of the enemy's torpedo
boats remained in the ofTing, and were fired on at
long range.
At 9:3O o'clock it was signaled that there
was a Japanese fleet in the vicinity. and that
two of the enemy's launches had been run
ashore.
Large crowds watched this mornings opera
tions.
Grand Duke Boris arrived here this evening.
St Petersburg. May 3.-Vice-Admiral Togo
made another attempt early this morning to
block Port Arthur. Viceroy AlexieH reported
that the japanese sent in eight fireships, all of
which were sunk by the Russian torpedo boats
and the fire from the land batteries. leaving the
channel clear. The Russians sank two Japanese
torpedo boats. The text of the viceroy's report
follows:
I respectfully report to your highness that n
fresh attack was made by the enemy last Night
with the object of obstructing the entrance to
the port and that II was successfully repelled
At / o'clock this morning I'VE torpedo boats
were perceived near the coast from the eastern
batteries Under the fire of our warships and
the batteries they retreated southwark.
At 1:45 o'clock the first hreShip. escorted by
several torpedo boats sighted, and We
opened fire upon it from the batteries and the
warships.
searchghts revealed a number of hreshps
making for the entrance OF the harbor from the
east and southwest The coast defence vessels
Otvashni and Gremieshchi and the gunboat
Giliak repulsed each by well directed fire
Altogether eight ships were sunk by our Wig
orous cannonade by Whitehead torpedoes
launched from our torpedo boats and by the
explosion of several submarine mines: Further.
according TO the reports OF the ofhcers com
manding the batteries ana the gunboat Giliak.
two japanese torpedo boats We're destroyed
After 4 o'clock a. the batteries and
ships ceased fire, subsequently firing only at in
tervals on the enemy's torpedo boats. which
were visible on the horizon.
All the fireships carried quick firing guns. with
which they maintained a constant fire.
Up TO the present thirty men. including two
,,,ortaIIv wounded officers. who took refuge on
q launch or were rescued from the 1ireships by
us have been picked up. The inspection of the
roadsteod and the work of saving the enemy's
men We're hindered by the heavy sea running
We suffered no casualties with the exception of
a seaman belonging 10 the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Boevoi.
on the appearance of the first freship accom-
panied by the enemys torpedo boats. boarded
Ia1nch and proceeded to the Otyashni to take
irnmediate nea asures for repulsing the fireships
With me were Lieutenant General Zalinski and
Contain Eberhardt, of the naval General Staff
T5eutenant General Stoessel was on the fortifi-
cations at the same time. and General Loschin-
sky chief of the defence force of the forts. was
on boa rd the Giliak.
A dozen very attractive and Instructive articles