The Tomahawk., 1904-03-03
JAPS ONCE MORE
MEET With Defeat
MAKE ANOTHER ATTACK ON
PORT ARTHUR, BUT
ARE REPULSED.
DETAILS OF BATTLE
NOT YET RECEIVED
Attempt to Block Entrance to Harbor
Is Foiled and Four Of Mikado's
Ships Sunk in the Attempt-Czar
Sends Congratulations.

0SAAAS ~VAA6A 6AeSSN~S~S~SAASs
st. Petersburg, Feb. 25.-Maj. Gen.
Plug (the chief of staff of Viceroy Alex
Jeff telegraphs as follows under Thurs
days date:
"The enemy again attacked Port Ar
thur from one to three M, and was
everywhere repulsed. Details follow"
No Torpedo Boats Injured.
London, Feb 25-The British for
eign Office has received an official dis
patch saying that not one of the jap
anese torpedo boats was injured in the
attack on Port Arthur of Wednesday,
February "a.
Story of Battle.
Port Arthur, Feb. 25.-At about one
O'clock Wednesday morning the Jap
anese made a desperate attempt to
block the entrance of the inner harbCr
and dock. With this object in view,
four merchant steamers, accompanied
by torpedo boats, were sent from two
sides toward the entrance of the chan
mel. The movement was perceived by
the Retvizan, which was lying in the
channel, and which opened fire imme-
diately. At the same time the guns
of the forts on Tiger peninsula, Golden
Hill and Electric Cliff were turned
upon the enemy, and a furious cannon
ade ensued, lasting until five in the
morning. Then the firing slackened
and became desultory. The Japanese
had failed to effect their purpose. AL
four steamers were sunk. They are
lying in the following POSITIONS:
One behind Golden Hill.
One near the Retvizan.
Two between the entrance of the
channel and the o-Thie-Shan PENN
sula.
Two of the vessels are still burning.
The cruisers Bayan and Novik pur-
sued the Japanese torpedo f1otilla. 1t
is said that one of the torpedo boats
was sunk.
At about nine in the morning, Feb
ruary "a, Japanese squadron of con-
siderable size approached Port Arthur,
and the Bayan and Novik were ordered
to face the Japanese ships, which, how
ever, did not open fire, and afterwards
steamed away in the direction of Port
Dalny.
Coup Was Planned.
St. Petersburg, Feb 25.-No further
details were available Thursday morn
ing of the unsuccessful attempt of the
japanese to bottle up the Russian fleet
at Port Arthur by sinking big merchant
men at the mouth of the harbOr. Phe
brief details contained in the official dis
patches indicate that the coup was
planned, according to the usual Japan
ese tactics, to take place during the
night, that it was desperately pushed,
and backed by eight torpedo boats, which
continued fighting until daylight, but
that it failed completely. Great praiseis
given to the Russian battleship Ret
vizan, which lay outside the harbor en-
trance, for her gallant work in beating
off the enemy. Her part in the action
shows that the reports of the injuries
which she is said to have sustained in
the attack of February were grossly
exaggerated. The official dispatches do
not make clear the exact number of ships
sent in for the purpose Of blocking the
throat of the harbor, or whether the four
vessels destroyed were beached by the
fire from the shore batteries, or by the
fire of the Retvizan, consequently, all
the unknown additional details are ex-
pected from Viceroy Alexieff in the
course of the day. AS he is at Mukden,
the report of the commander at Port
Arthur first goes to him, and thence is
forwarded to the czar. The report that
after daylight floating torpedoes were
seen in the roadstead causes great anx-
ety.
According to the latest advices the
Japanese fleet Wednesday was still WIS.,
ible on the horizon.
The news of the Japanese repulse was
received here with great rejoicing, and
was looked upon as partially wiping out
the score against the enemy.
The official bulletins were given out too
late for editorial comment, but the news
of the initial success of the Russian
army was prominently displayed. Not
one of the newspapers here has yet re-
ceived special dispatches giving news
of the Japanese repulse.
Gear Sends Congratulations.
The czar has telegraphed warm con-
gratuations to Viceroy Alexieff and the
entire Russian squadron at. Port Arthur
on the able manner in which they re-
pulsed the latest attack of the Japanese.
Details Of Japan's Attack.
London. Feb. 25.-From careful
comparison of the score of versions Of
the japanese attack on Port Arthur
last Tuesday that have reached here
the following facts seem to be we'll es-
tablished:
F'irst-Admiral Togo sought to re-
peat Lieut.. Hobson's feat at Santiago
of blocking the entrance to Port Ar
thur.
Second-He sent in four old mer-
e. O,,(