The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-07-02
NAVAL FlGHT OF JUNE aa.
omciaI Russian Report--At Least Two
Japanese Boats Sunk.

s
st. Petersburg. July Emperor
Nicholas has received the following dis
patch from viceroy Aiexieff, dated
June 80:
"A report received to-day from the
acting commander of the Port Arthur
squadron (Rear Admiral WithofD
states that on the night Of June %
eight torpedo boats were dispatched to
guard the road stead seven miles out
to sea.
1.-THE torpedo boats repulsed the ene-
my's torpedo boats which had APP
tproached During this action Com
mander Ellisseien, Lieutenant Srnirnoff
and two blue Jackets were wounded. All
the torpedo boats returned towards
morning.
TAT S o'clock the NovflS, Diana, Ask
old, sevastopol, Poltaya, Czarevitch.
Pobieda, Peresviet, Bayan and Pallada
steamed out into the road stead in line
head and anchored. Two floating jap
anese mines having been perceived in
the roadstead, the squadron remained
lat anchor.
Meanwhile several small boats which
had been searching for mines discover
ed and exploded ten on the eastern side
lof the roadstead. An examination
showed that the mines were probably
laid during the night by two of the en-
|emys torpedo boats which had APP
preached Port Arthur.
AT 3 p. m. the squadron, preceded by
a flotilla of mine dredgers. torpedo
boats and the Novik, steamed ir line
ahead towards the open sea, having
emerged from the roads without mis-
hap The squadron shaped its course
southwards and the dredgers were sent
back to Port Arthur, escorted by armed
picket boats Two Japanese scouts,
with detachment of torpedo boats,
were keeping our squadron in sight all
the while.
Twenty miles from shore a Japanese
squadron was sighted steaming in di-
visions in line ahead, which on draw
ing closer was found to be composed Of
lone second-class and four first-class
|battleships, four hrmored first-class
cruisers, seven second-class cruisers,
five third-class cruisers, one scout boat,
one steamer and thirty torpedo boats in
two divisions.
AS ahey approached the Japanese
were seen to be preparing to place a
division Of cruisers and torpedo boats
between the shore and our squadron in
order that during the night they might
force, by persistent torpedo attacks,
some of our ships to break the forma-
tion, and In the morning engage US with
all their ships.
Taking into consideration the fact
that the enemy's entire force was great
" superior to ours, and in view also Of
the large number Of japanese torpedo
boats. decided to return to Port Ar
thur in order to act according to cir
cumstances, considering that this plan
Of action laid us open to less risk OF
loss.
AT b. m. our squadron started on
its return to Port Arthur, proceeding
which the enemy did not attempt to
prevent, nor did he attempt to APP
proach.
AT 10 o'clock the squadron reached
the roadstead, where it cast anchor. At
the same time our rearmost warships
successfully repulsed two japanese tor
pedo attacks.
Notwithstanding the bright moon
Light, the enemy continued to make tor
|pedo attacks in the roadstead until day
break, but the attacks were always sue
cessfully repulsed.
t'In the morning there were found
|along the coast near our warships
twelve Whitehead torpedoes, which had
been launched by the enemy at long
range, the torpedo boats not being al
lowed to approach nearer than twelve
cable lengths.
'The torpedo boats attacked in
groups and at least two Of them were
sunk.
In the morning the bodies of Jap
anese officer and two sailers were wash
ed upon the beach.
THE successful repulse Of the torpedo
boat attacks, in which several batteries
took part, was facilitated by the
Isearlhlights On shore. v,