Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-28

aneSe Heet, the russian fleet refused
battle and steamed back to an anchor
age outside the harbor where. during
the night the Japanese destroyers and
torpedo boats made eight desperate at
tacks upon it. The Russian vessels re-
entered the harbor on Friday since
which time it has failed to reappear.
In his report Admiral Togo says:
THE exit of the Russian fleet from
Port Arthur harbor began early Thurs
day. The battleship Peresviet, Polta-
Va and Sevastopol, the armored cruisers
Bayan. the protected cruisers Pallada,
Diana. Askold and Novik came first. a
steamer leading them, clearing mines.
"A warning flashed by wireless
telegraph by the Japanese patrol
brought up Admiral Togo's fleet at full
speed to n series of pre-arranged sta
lions.
Three flotillas of Japanese destroy
ers and torpedo boats steamed close to
the harbor entrance and watched the
Russian vessels. At II o'clock the Rus
sian battleships Czarevitch, Retvizan
and Pobieda joined the other Russian
ships outside the harbor. Several
steamers and boats were engaged in
clearing and exploding mines in order
to make a passage seward.
Capt. Asai, commanding the Jap
anese torpedo flotilla attacked the YES
sells engaged in clearing out the mines
and hampered the work. At O'clock
seven Russian destroyers appeared and
the Japanese vigorously attacked Them
One of the Russian destrOyers which
was hit and set on fire, retreated to the
harbor burning. The Novik attacked
the Japanese torpedo boats who sour
ried away.
''The vessels engaged in clearing the
harbor finally made n passage and the
Novik led the Russian fleet seward.
"In the meantime Admiral Togo con-
cealed the position of his ships and a
o'clock sent the third squadron out
into the vision of the Russian with the
object of Turing them seward. The
Russian feet stood southeastward and
then southwark. During this time. Adj
niral Togo had concealed his first
squadron south of Gugan rock. AS the
Russians approached Admiral Togo as
scmbled his feet and prepared to at
tack. At 6.15 p. NJ. the Russians were
in plain sight eight miles northwest of
Gugan rock. The CZarevitch led and
the nine others followed in q single
line. Tho Novik and seven deStrOyers
were placed at the right of the line.
Admiral Togo waited with battle flag
| flying from all tops. The japanese fleet
| formation represented the first letter
of the japanese alphabet inverted.
cat 80 p. NJ. the Russians headed
| for the japanese and Admiral Togo
veered slightly to the right in order to
| bring pressure against the head of the
Russian formation. At s p. NJ, the
Russians changed their course and
headed northward. Admiral Togo fol-
lowed in long single line, ordering the
| dcstroyers and torpedo boats to pre-
pare for an attack after shutdown.
AT S22 P. NJ. the small flotilla swung
around the rear of the Japanese fleet
and headed towards the. Russians at
| full speed.
| AT $50, the 18th hotila delivered the
| first attack on the Russian fleet now In
the rear of a point five miles outside
| the entrance to Port Arthur. ImmeGi-
| ately afterwards the 5th notilla deliv-
cred a second attack. The Russian
fleet was confused and it was impOSsi-
| bic for it to retreat quickly into the
| harbor on account of the narrownesS
of the channel and possibly the low
| tide.
| AT 1890 p. NJ, the Russian fleet an
| chOrcd III Il single line extending from
the foot of Wantsuoing fort to the base
| of Chentaorhan. During the night the
| torpedo flotillas kept on constant at
tacks on the Russian fleet going in
eight times.
| THE most effective attack was that
Of the 10th notilla which at 11.30 p. NJ,
| caught the Russians rounding Shen-
| Shcn. The first class torpedo boat Shi-
rataka, Commander Wakabayashi, sent
two torpedoes into n battleship Of the
| Pcresviet class. She was seen to sink
| in volume of smoke and fire. Other
| effects of the attack We're not observed
on account of the heavy firing which
| cast volumes of water over the flotilla
ard the heavy cannOnading which rent
| the air. The scarchlights from the
| ships and the forts also blinded the
| Japanese.
| "At dawn, Friday, reconnaissance
| of the entrance was made by the 4th
| and 5th 1lOtillas whose report confirmed
that of the patrol ships as to the Rus
| sian loss"
Admiral Togo says the moonlight
and the narrow line of the enemy pre-
vented his fleet from iniiicting greater
damage.
The Japanese loss was unexpectedly
small. The destroyer Shirakump was
struck in the cabin and three of her
crew We're killed and three wounded.
The first class torpedo boat Chidori
was struck in the engine room. Torpedo
boats Nos. GA. sc and So We're damaged;
the others engaged were uninjured.
In concluding this report, Admiral
Togo says:
THE effect of the attack and the
small loss must be attributed to the IL
lustrious virtues of His Majesty"
| INTENSE EXCITEMENT