The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-02-25
VICTORY
TRIVIAL
Russian Success Was without
Results.
JAPANESE LOST LITTLE
They Attempted TO Block the
Entrance 10 the Russian
Harbor.
JAPANESE LOST LITTLE

LONDON. Feb. GA dispatch from
ST. Petersburg says that the Japanese
attempted to send four steamers filled
with explosives among the Russian
fleet in Port Arthur harbor. These fire
ships did no damage and were them
selves destroyed, two being sunk and
two going ashore. Two Japanese boats
escorting the fire ships were destroyed
by Russian guns
Ap official dispatch from st. Peters
burg says a -telegram from Niceroy
Alexeetf to the czar has just been re-
ceiyed, as follows:
AT a quarter before in the morn
ing numerous Japanese torpedo boats
attempted TO attack the battleship Ret
vlzan and sink large steamers loaded
with inhammables. The RetyiZan was
the first TO observe the torpedo boats
.and, Notwithstanding that she is stin
stranded, opened a strong fire on them.
She was supported by the land batter
les.
"She destroyed two steamers near the
entrance of the harbor. They were
coming directly toward her. one Of
them went on the rocks near the light
house ON Tiger peninsula, and the 9th
er sank under Golden hill. The Retvi-
zan observed four steamers in a sink
ing condition and eight torpedo boats
departing slowly to rejoln the waiting
| japanese warships. a portion of the
crews of the Japanese vessels was
| drowned. The grounded steamer is still
burning. The enemy Is observed in the
offing of Port Arthur in two lines
The japanese crews saved them
selves in boats and it is possible that
| some OF them We're picked up by the
| enemy's torpedo boats.
Il am proceeding TO examine the
coasts. The entrance of the harbor is
open. l attribute the complete de-
rangement Of the enemy's plan to the
brilliant action and destructive fire of
the Retvisan. Floating mines are still
visible in the roadstead. | have re-
called the three cruisers sent in pursuit
of the enemy and will at once clear the
roadstead of floating mines. We had
no losses"
The Russian embassy has received a
later dispatch TO the effect that the
Japanese squadron during the night
| tried to block the entrance of Port Ar
| thur harbor at the same time attack
| ing the Russian warships there with
torpedo boats and trying to set them on
| fire. The Russian battleship Retvizan,
| supported by the coast batteries re-
| PEELED this attack, forced the Japanese
to retire and succeeded in sinking four
| Of their vessels.
| Another and the most circumstantial
report is that the japanese attempted
to bottle up admiral Starks feet in
| Port Arthur by sinking two stone lad
en- vessels at the entrance of the har-
Dor, employing the tactics which were
considered, but not executed, by the
late Admiral Sampson, u. S. N, with
the Merrimac at Santiago during the
Spanish-American war. According to
this account, two japanese ships ap-
peared off the harbor, with Japanese
fleet behind them ostensibly in pur-
suit. The Russians. however, suspect
ed ruse, and their ships steamed out,
sank the stone laden vessels, engaged
and defeated the enemy and drove
them of, The reports OF the loss in
fiicted are conflicting.
All the stories include the feature OF
the vessels loaded with stones; but, ac-
cording to some versions, the japanese
feet was conveying transports with
the purpose Of effecting landing at
Pigeon bay, and after the failure Of
this preliminary maneuver the Russians
played havoc with both the japanese
warshlps and the transports, sinking
four Of the former and two OF the lat
ter. 1t is reported that the battleship
RetviEan particularly distinguished
herself during the action by ramming
and sinking one of the japanese battle
ships
The greatest praise is given to the
commander of the Retvizan, and the
splendid action OF this American built
vessel places her name foremost on
the roll of the Russian navy.
The Korean minister at st. Peters
burg has subscribed 500 for the Rus
sian fleet.