The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-03-08


Half way up the hill we rested thinking
ourselves out of range, but Our move
ments were Immediately accelerated
when shell whizzed past us and burst
among some native (Chinese) houses,
completely demolishing them and send
ing a shower of stones amongst lis.
We did not stand on the order of
Our going you may be sure, but we
charged the rest OF that hill and found
shelter in hole on the other side. The
firing ceased at HE'S and we returned
to town. With the exception OF the
broken windows mentioned before no
damage was evident One unexploded
she'll was embedded in the ground about
twenty yards from the hole caused by
the other one
After this affair, all foreigners were
ordered to leave the town, but this edct
was afterwards withdrawn and those
having business received permission to
remain. There will be only about ten
English and Americans left after the
general exodus.
For two days no vessels were al
lowed to leave and the Fuping was
fired upon by the guardship when she
was passing out. and two Cinnamon
were reported killed. A Chinese girl
lost leg by the same shot This affair
was much deDlored by all the Russians
with whom / came in contact. and was
probably the result of misunderstood
signal"
THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT.
The detachment that went to Dalny
returned as there were no Russian war
ships there. Those which went to Port
Arthur found the enemy, as expected.
They fired torpedoes and hit four Rus
sian warships. The latter shelled us
heavily but failed to hit us.
Our squadron kept close watch
through the night. The Chitose was
sent out the next morning for the pur-
pose of accommodating. Near Port
Arthur, she met the steamship Foo
chow, carrying the Japanese residents
from Port Arthur to Cheefoo The
Chitose aScertained that at least two
Russian warships seemed to be settling
down. and reported to the Commander
in-Chef to that effect. He at once de-
cided to execute a general attack and
concentrated the whole squadron. Off
Port Arthur the Takasaga captured the
steamer Manchuria. The order of
attack was issued at II a. m. Luncheon
having already been served. Vice Ad-
mral Togo and his staff officers had just
poured out champagne when it was re-
ported that the enemv's ships were in
sight. We drank the health of the En-
peror and then gave three shouts of
Ban1ai. The next moment, we were on
the bridge. and found the enemy at
distance Of 10000 meters.
THE BATTLE.
Golden Hill was observed at noon.
Only five or six Russian warships were
sending forth smoke. As to the others,
which were all on an uneven keel, re-
tracing was impossible, but nothing
seemed less to their taste than to fight
even under the protection of the forts.
The Mikasa fired the first shot. and
the other vessels followed. Some of
the enemy's shot hit us, but caused
very small damage. Almost all our
shots told and the "Sllmose" powder
was so effective, that where our pro-
jectiles hit, they scattered destruction.
The Asahi. Izumo and Azuma, were not
was stationed far in the rear. Each
ship fired for 10 minutes on an average
and | was wounded in five minutes.
Firing was not renewed All the
Princes of the Blood on board were safe.
Prince Kacho on board the Mikasa di-
rected the I2-in. gun in person and hit
the enemy's ship. Prince Yamashina
on the Yakumo also fought bravely.
The squadron celebrated the "Kigen-
setsu' elsewhere.-Japan Mail.
THE THIRD ATTACK.
An additional report as to the third
Japanese attack upon Port Arthur, as
published by the Japanese press today,
gives nothing particularly new, but it
may be mentioned that at the time of
this attack the hotilla of Russia de-
stroyers accidentally fought among them
selves and three of them are probably
damaged.
BEFORE THE BATTLE.
PORT ARTHUR, JAN 26.-Since
the war has seemed to have become in
evitable. the Russians here who were
formerly constantly boasting of their
strength and ability to crush Japan
without an effort, and talking OF war as
If Russia would have walk over, have
all of sudden become quite different
men, More especially the Russian mer-
chants-especially most bellicose-are
now busily preparin" to leave for home
at breakneck speed. Since about week
ago Russian troops have beeQ arriving
from Tientsin. and Shanhaikwan. The
9th, 10th and nth Infantry regiments
left Port Arthur on the 23rd. some by
steamer, others by train, 1t is believed
here that thev are destined for Korea.
In the Soldatskaya here, the main
road OF Port Arthur. there is large
open space. From the early morning of
the a3rd many Russian military officers
have been rushing around, all very busy
inspecting the muster of impressed
horses
The fact soon became known every
where and the Chinese coolies and gen.
eral residents began 10 quake with fear
and apparent imminence OF trouble.
many OF them starting to leave Port
Arthur at once. so that the Russians
will soon suffer from scarcity of Chi
nese labor
Several more guns have lately been (
sent up TO the fort on Hwanchin hill.
All the shons in the town are holding