The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-12-23
REPORT FROM PORT ARTHUR.
TOGrS ACCOUNT OF RECENT Ma
VAL OPERATIONS.
Total Casualties Of the Jananc~e in
the Attacks of "wednesday and
Thursday Were Is Killed and II
Wounded-Torpedo Attacks Against
;hc Sevastopol-Japs Occupy a For:


Washington, December ;9.-The Japa-
nese legation today received kilograms
from the foreign office at Toxic giving
Admiral Togo's report on naval opera
tons at Port Arthur. They show total
casualties OF Is killed and IL wounded
in the attacks OF wednesday and
THURSDAY. reports a Russia destroyer
aground and that at least six Russian
cestroyers remain. Admiral Togo re-
PORTING IN the 18th a y the Russian
ships in the inner harbor arc no longer
fit for action. Regarding the Sevasto-
pol, Admiral Togo says although there
is reason to believe she was incapacita-
ted for navigation yet positive evidence
Is still unobtainable.
A FORT OCCUPIED BY JAPANESE.
Toxic, December 19.-Eyen!ns. The
Japanesc fired an immense mine under
portions of the north fort of East Kek-
wan mountain at , o'clock yesterday
Sunday afternoon. The infantry inn
mediately afterward charged and occu-
pied the fort with a heavy force.
1t is reported that the japanese have
siezed a strong position about a thou
and yards southeast of 203 Metre/Hill,
preparatory TO assaulting the new town
n pushing between Liaoti mountain
and the Russian headquarters at Port
Arthur.
The fighting against Sungshu noun
tain continues.
OPERATING AGAINST THE SEVAS-
TOPOL.
Toxic. December 19.-l1 a. m. Vice
= s..-:-al ToEo's report upon the torpe-
[, operations against the Russian turret
snip Sevastopol was received today. II
says:
o the night Of December 14th our
torpedo fiotillas made a gallant and
brave series of attacks against the Rus
sian turret-ship Sevastopol.
r THE flotillas arrived outside the en-
rance of Port Arthur about midnight
on that date. The leading fiotilla I'M
der Commander Unchida and a special
torpedo boat, partly for attack and
partly to r%econnoiter, approached the
Sevastopol at 1 o'clock and under the
searchlights and fire of the enemy's
ships and shore batteries they attack
ed her.
"A shell struck Commander Mita-
mura's boat, w%ounding three sailors.
Subsequently our iotillas attacked, act
ing Independently.
while retreating one torpedo boa
received several shots simultaneously,
her commander, Lieutenant Nakahori,
and five others being killed. The boat
lest her freedom of motion and Lieuten-
ant Nakahara's boat went to the rescue
and despite the heavy fire. e~ndeavored
to save her. While towing the boat the
enemy's shells severed the hawser.
Lieutenant Nakahara's boa vas also
hit as one man killed. Subsequently
several shells hit and almost disabled
Lieut. Nakahara's boat forcing him to
abandon his comraGe ship which was
sinking. Lieutenant Nakahara, however,
steamed back, rescued the crew and
abandoned the torpedo boa 70 her fate.
Commander Kawae's boat belonging
to the same fotilla, was struck by q
shell, killing one of the crew and
wounding Lieutenant Takahashi and
two sailors.
Lieutenant Shonos' boat was hit and
one of the crew killed n five wound
ed. The boat was temporarily disabled
but his comrades ship, with IieuteDants
Watacabe and Mort commanding, pro-
tected and rescued her. All the other
boats bravely facing the enemy's fire
succeeded in delivering attacks without
suffering any damage. The result Of
their attacks is not definitely known.
although it is evident that numerous
torpedoes took effect
The watch tower reporting on the
following morning said that the Sevas-
topol had lowered at the bows consid-
erably, facing toward south-southeast.
Her conditions is such that h does not
change her position in the current. She
is anchored close in shore in shallow
water"
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