Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-03-21
Situation In the East.

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Situation In the East.
Japanese official and private reports
indicate that Vice. Admiral Togo's
fourth attack on Port Arthur was the
most effective since the first assault
of month ago. One Russian torpedo
boat destroyer was sunk and several
Russian torpedo boat destroyers
seriously damaged. The closing
action was the bombardment Of the
inner harbor by the Japanese battle
ships. The latter took a position
southwest of Port Arthur and used
only the 12-inch guns. There were
"a Pinch guns in the squadron of
six battleships and each gun was fred
five rounds, making total of 100
huge projectiIes that we're fred at the
city. The bombardment was,deliber-
ate and carefully planned. In order
to aid in perfecting the firing, Vice
Admiral Togo stationed the cruisers
in position due east of the entrance
to the harbor and at right angle to
the battleships. The cruisers OBJ
served the range and effect of the
firing and signalled the results and
suggestions by wireless telegraphy.
These observations and reports
greatly aided the gunners in their
efforts to make every shot count.
Capt. Skokiro Asai, commanding the
fotilla of torpedo boat destroyers
which ngaged the Russian destroyers,
is the hero of the attack. He had
only three destroyers, but attacked
the six Russian destroyers, ordering
his craft to close in with the enemy.
He steamed so close to the enemy's
destroyers that they almost touched
and a most desperate conflict ensued
from which the Russians retired
badly disabled. The latest reports
place the Japanes 9 loss at nine killed,
five seriously wounded and II slightly
hurt. The Japanese feet was not
damaged in the fighting. Civilian
| reports are that Port Arthur suffered
much more severely than the Rus
slams admit. Some of the forts wei 9
badly damaged, guns dismounted, etc.
A number of buildings were destroyed
including the bank. A part of the
town was deserted. 1t was rumore d
that the Russians had evacuated Port
Arthur, but this is officially denied.
Admiral Makaroff, the new command
er, evidently intends to make the
Russian squadron as effective and
dangerous as possible. The roads in
Korea are improving and an early ad-
vance of the Japanese army toward
the Yalu is probable. 1t is also ex-
pected that as soon as the ice leaves
the harbors about the Liaotung PENN
sula heavy Japanese forces will be
thrown on one or more points west of
the Yalu's mouth to encompass Port
Arthur and threaten the Russian
right. The first Japanese war loan
of $50, OO0,O was over-subscribed
nearly five times in Japan, indicating
a pecuniary ability to stand a severe
strain. Marquis Ito, Japan's leading
statesman, has gone to Korea to act
as the "advisor" Of the Korean en-
peror. Gen. Kouropatkin, the Rus
sian hero who is to take command of
the land operations, is on his way to
the East. He left st. Petersburg Sat-
urday and Moscow Sunday. In both
cities he received tremendous ova-
tions. He expects to reach Mukden
March 26, travelling over the Siberian
railroad. The Russian plans for as
sembling their army seem to prog
ress nicely, and troops are going for
ward at the rate of 5000 day, Such
small skirmishes as have taken place
thus far on land are mere brushes be-
:. tween scouting parties. While enter
ing Port Arthur Wednesday the Rus
sian torpedo boat destroyer Skorri
struck upon an unplaced mine aud
was blownup. Four of the crew were