The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1904-04-06
The Tale as Told.
Graphic Story of the Port Arthur
Battle,

London, April IA correspou-
dent of the Times at sea in a wire
less telegram via Welhalwei describ-
ing the last attempt of the Japanese
to bottle up Port Arthur, says.
AFTER the bonn mbardment Of March
%, Vice Admiral Towo waited until
better weather before re-attemptlng
to bottle up Port Arthur. The OH.
GERS who conducted the first attempt
insisted upon their right to complete
their work. The admiral consented
and the same officers were chosen.
but the crews and strokers were Sc
lected from new volunteers.
"The moon disappeared at mid
night and the sea was like glass when
the desperate enterprise was begun.
When within two miles of the goal,
the frenzied motions Of search
light showed that suspicion had been
awakened, and suddenly solitary
gun announced that the japanese
had been discovered. The Russians
sprapg to the guns of the batteries
and in three minutes the Japanese
c, aft were enclosed in q semi circle
of gun flashes. The sea was cburn-
ed to turmoil by falling shells, but
there was no hesitation. The tor
pedo boats opened out and the trans
ports, with men standing at the life
boat stations, steered directly into
the inferno. There then only mile
to traverse and the safety fuses were
ready.
s'It was just $50 in the morning
when the Chiyo Maru led-with q
searchlight beating upon her, and
she target for hundred guns
towards the east side of the entrance.
The fuses were set and the crew
pushed eff just in time. 1t was q
moment of suspense. The charge
exploded sinking her 100 yards from
q point on the east side of the en-
trance.
"The Fukui Maru next passed on
the port side of the Chiyo Maru and
dropped anchor. Just as the officers
and crews pushed clear there was a
dull explosion. She had been struck
and sunk in the exact place which
the japanese desired by a torpedo
from within the harbor.
$50 close were the defending
destroyers that the Yene-yama
Maru was fouled by a Russian
destroyer and her crew was scorched
by the flames of the discharge from
q Russian 6-pounder.
ssIt was horrible melee, but the
Japanese kept their presence OF mind
throughout and the steadiness was
shown by the fact that before she
had been fouled by the destroyer,
the Yeneyama Maru passed to star
board of the Chiyo Maru and then
between her and the Fukui Maru,
and reached the centre of the chan
nel, where she was hit by torpedo.
which sank her on the west side OF
the channel, her bow pointing
toward the shore. Not a man OF
the transports crews was drowned.
"The enterprise failed completely
to block the channel because there
were only four transports: 1t is
probable, however, that the channel
has been rendered impracticable fol
the large bsttleships, and it is certain
that the Japanese will not rest until
the channel has been closed.
1.-The manuevre was covered by 8
torpedo division, which, running IL
close, endeavored to draw the fire oi
the land batteries from the mair
enterprise. This division remained
in action until all the crews were
rescued and just before daybreaE
was engaging a Russian destroyer
which remained at the entrance line
firing torpedoes during the night
The scream of escaping steam, pro
claimed that the Russian had beer
damaged in her vltals.
u