The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-25
STORIES SEEM TO
 HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED.

St. Petersburg, February 9, 212 a. m.- Reports of a Russian victory at Port Ar thur were current late yesterday evening and early in the evening, and about mid night they seemed to have been confirmed but in the absence of an official an- nouncement, the stories of the victory were most conflicting and confusing in character.
 The most circumstantial report was that the Japanese had attempted to bottle up Admiral Stark's fleet in Port Arthur by sinking two stone-laden vessels at the en- trance of the harbor, employing the tac- tics which were considered but not exc cuted by the late Admiral Sampson, U. & N. with the Merrimas at Santiago dur ing the Spanish American war.
 Fleet Was In Pursuit.
 According to this account two Japanese ships appeared off the harbor with a fleet behind them and ostensibly in pursuit. The Russians, however, suspected ruse and their ships steamed out, sank the stone-laden vessels, engaged and defeat ed the enemy and drove them off. The reports of the loss inflicted, however, are conflicting. All the stories included the feature of the vessels loaded with stone, but ac- cording to some versions the Japanese fleet was conveying transports with the purpose of effecting a landing at Pigeon bay, and after the failure of this pre- liminary maneuver the Russians played havoc with both the Japanese transports and warships, sinking four of the trans ports and two of the warships.
 Retvzan Distinguishes Herself.
 One account even gives the name of the battleship Retvizan as the vessel which particularly distinguished herself during the action by ramming and sinking one of the Japanese battleships Rumors Of this victory were spread far and wide over the city during the early part of the evening and the crowds which had gath cred in the streets in spite of the severe cold to discuss the news, were greatly excited.
 One newspaper printed an extra relat- ing the victory based on a meagre tele- gram from London, but as the night wore on without official confirmation, the crowds disappeared, except from around the newspaper offices Those who re- mained, were officers who were resolved to await official news Many rumors are given out of incredible nature. Gne say ing the emperor of Korea has made ad- vances that Korea be annexed to Russia on her first victory
 Instead of dispensing the crowds at the admiralty, newspaper and telegraph agencies, officers kept increasing and the excitement attained was almost feverish when 1t was announced that the emperor had received a telegiam and showed that Russian victory was even greater than was at first hoped.
 Messengers in Waiting.
 Newspaper messengers waited at the admiralty with fast horses ready to car ry away the news which was being pre- pared. When the sheets were finally ,,is- tributed at 2:30 this morning a rush wss made for the exits, and the assembled officers cheered wildly and excited.y The crowds showed no inclination to disperese, hoping that further news would be re- ceived showing the exact extent of the Russian victory.
 Does Not Mention Number.
 It must be observed that in his de- spatch Viceroy Alexien does not mention the number of vessels which the Japa- nese tried to sink or drive upon the Rus sion ships. and it Is not yet known whether the four vessels the captain of the Retvizan observed going down, in addition to the two destroyed were also laden with inflammables or whether they were warships.
 The greatest praise is given to the com mander of the Retvizan and the splendid work of this American-built ship laces
 ost on the roll In the Rus