The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-13
ATTEMPT TO TORPEDO RUS
SLAMS.

St. Petersburg, July 6. 1.30 p. NJ
A few nights ago Admiral Togo at
tempted to repeat the Japanese ez-
plot with torpedo boats at Wei-Hai-
Wei during the Chino-Japanese war,
by sending torpedo boat destroyers in
| to the harbor of Port Arthur for the
purpose of sinking ships at their an
chorage, but the attempt ended in dis
astrous failure. -Four torpedo boat
destroyers succeeded in creeping into
| the harbor, which was not protect
ed by booms, but only one escaped.
Two were sunk by the shore batteries
and one was crippled. The reckless
bravery Of the japanese in going to
almost certain destruction ezcites
nothing but admiration here. The
channel at Port Arthur is so tortuous
and strewn with wrecks without that
it was evidently regarded as unneces-
sary to use boom. On account Of the
difficulty of getting into the harbor
the feat is considered in naval circles
to be fully as daring as that of the
japanese at Wei-Hai Wei, where Jap
anese torpedo boats in storm and
covered with ice were jumped over
the booms protecting that harbor and
destroyed Chinese warships. So far
as known the Japanese torpedo boat dis
| troyers did not even succeed in launch
ing torpedoes.
| The admiralty has no information
from Liao Yang of an engagement
between the Vladivostok squadron and
japanese warships off Gensan. There
| is good reason to believe that the Rus-
sian squadron is safe back in port.
The exact date of the attack is not
.ascertainable, but it is said to have
occurred Saturday. No further details
are obtainable. Though it is believed
other destroyers participated in the
attack, only four, however, succeeded
in getting in. The method whereby
this Information reached the authori
ties is not disclosed.
A dispatch received here from Vlad
ivostok this afternoon does not men
ticn the Russian squadron
Ia Tche Kaio, Wednesday. July 6.
|-(Delayed III transmission.- The
japanese swarmed over the mountain
crests early this morning and advan-
ced on Kai Chou, compelling Gen.
Chirikoff, with the centre of the Rus
sian vanguard, to fall back. A whole
brigade Of Japanese with masses of
cavalry followed and occupied the viii
lage of Nan Tay, driving out two COM
panies of Russian infantry and two
companies of Cossacks who were en-
| t1enched there. The japanese arrived
| within Eve miles of Kai Chou. It
was then nightfall.
| Gen. Samsonoff made heroic at
tempt to check the japanese, gallop-
ing oat with guns to SHELL the Japa-
nese left and inhicting great loss on
them, but fearing his retreat would
be cut off he fell back and is now
holding kai Chou. Gen. Chirifok's
force is stationed southwest Of Kio,
Chou. The plans of the Japan 50 re-
main a mystery to the Russian COM
manders.
JAPANESE LOSE GUNBoAT.
Toxic, July THE japanese gun
boat Kaimon struck mine and sunk
in Talien Wan bay on July 5.
STRUCK RUSSIAN MINE.
Washington, July The japanese
legation has received the following
cablegram from Toxic, dated today:
Admiral Togo reports that on July
5 our gunboat Kaimon, while OH a
special mission in the waters outside
of Talien Wan in dense fog, struck
a Russian mine and sank. Three
officers, including Commander Taxa
hashi and 19 petty officers and men are
missing. The rest we're saved.''
RUSSIAN VICTORY RUMORED.
St. Petersburg, July 8, 132 p. NJ
It is reported in a special dispatch
from Liao Yang under yesterdays date
that persistent rumor is current
there to the effect that naval en-,
gagement has occurred at Port Ar
thur. in which 21 japanese warships
participated. resulting in Russian