Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-05-27
HEAVY LOSS OF JAPANESE
The Story of SOrtie From Port Arthur lone thous-
and JapS FALL


reports from Toxic and St. Peters
burg, though somewhat conflicting, II
would appear that the Japanese have
lost FIVE or six warships in the past 10
days. They are becoming almost as
unlucky as the Russians i'll naval
losses, but claim they have not yet
destroyed any of their ships by their
own mines, although it is not clear
whether a Russian or a Japanese mine
is responsible for their latest dis
aster.
An official report from Vice Admi-
raj Togo states that the cruisers IA
saga and Yoshino collided during a
Jog off Port Arthur on May IS. The
Yoshino sank, only 90 of her crew
being saved.
The battleship Hatsuse while cruls-
ing off Port Arthur, covering the
landing of the soldiers, struck mine
10 knots southeast of the harbor en-
trance. She signalled for help and
instantly struck another mine. She
sank in half an hour. Three hundred
of her crew were saved by torpedo
boats.
Japanese officers are reported to
have informed correspondents that
two Russian destroyerS have escaped
from Port Arthur and are still at
large. They stated that the Russians
are using Chinese junks to place
mines in the path of the Japanese
fleet patrollng the Peninsula coast.
In consequence of this promscous
mining the Japanese fleet is moving
to greater distance off the coast, and
all other navigation in these waters
is suspended. There are indications
that the Japanese destroyers have laid
MANY mines outside of Port Arthur,
hoping to catch the Russian destroy
'ers i'll their attempt to return to Port
Arthur. Many of these mines have
been improperly anchored and are
adrift. They are reported to be all
over the gulf. One Chinese junk
picked up IS.
Although not confirmed by the Ad-
mralty at St. Petersburg, dispatches
from Chefoo repeat story told by
Russians arriving from Dalny that
during a bombardment of Port Ar
thur last Monday the Japanese bat
tleships Shikishma and Fuiji struck
mines, and the former sank and the
latter was disabled.
Although the names differ from
those contained in Admiral Iogos
report, they may refer to the same
vessels.
The Russians at Chefoo seem to
have obtained their information from
the commanding officer at Dalny, who
showed them, they assert, telegram
from Port Arthur that the lombard
ment commenced at o'clock Monday
afternoon. and that two hours later
the Shikishima struck the mine and
was soon at the bottom. During the
confusion that followed, according to
the story told, the Asami also struck
on a mine and was taken in tow, but
was settling SO fast that it was found
necessary to abandon her.
Later arrivals at Chefoo reported
to the Russian Consul that the bat
tleshp Shikishma sank in two min
utcs after contact with the subma-
rine mine, and that there was no time
to save the crew. The accident hap
pened, it is said, within sight of Port
Arthur. -
The battleship Full, which struck
the mine on the port bow, had heavy
list, and was also down by the bow,
but was righted and went off in tow
of the other cruisers. 1t is thought
impossible, however, that she could
reach port. -.
Recently the Japanese cruiser Mi
yaka sank in Kerr Bay by striking
a mine.
The Russian admiralty still claims
that the channel at Port Arthur was
never blocked by the Japanese. fire
ships. and that there is free passage
even for the heavy Russian ships.