The San Francisco call., 1904-03-21
Not a Vessel Escapes Damage in
Combat of Torpedo Graft.

LONDON, March 21.-A correspon-
dent of the Times with the Japanese
forces sends by. wireless telegraphy, via
Weihaiwef. under date of March 20, a
graphic story of the sszva1 battle at
Port Arthur on March g. He says that
Admiral Togo has been comparatively
passive, according to the last advices.
and that Port Arthur has been given
a respite, although the cruisers and the
torpedo-boa destroyers have kept up
a close blockade.
The correspondent says that Vice Ad-
miral Kamimura's bombardment OF
Vladivostok was solely intended to
harass the Russians and compel the
Russian cruisers to leave the harbor.
The vice admiral brought his ships
within opposite range Of the dead point
of the forts on the northwest entrance.
The Russians did not reply because the
Japanese vessels took up position be-
yond the arc Of the training Of their
guns. Vice Admiral Kamimura, the
correspondent says, sailed south on
March IL after searching Amur Bay.
Since Vice Admiral MakarOfS ar
rival at Port Arthur, he adds, the Rus
sian defensive tactics have been more
active, and their torpedo-boa destroy
ers more alert and enterprising.
EVERY VESSEL DAMAGED.
Describing the fight between the
Russian and Japanese torpedo boats,
the correspondent confirms the report
of the fierceness OF the contest. The
vessels were so close that the Russians
threw charges of explosives on the
bridge Of one of the Japanese boats.
These, however, failed to detonate. All
of the vessels engaged were more or
less damaged. The Japanese losses
were six killed and eight wounded.
That the Russians were defeated in
spite of their superior numbers is due
to the better shooting of the Japanese
and the fact that the Russian vessels
were armed with three-pound guns.
while the armament of the Japanese
ships was made I'D OF six-pOunders-
In reference to the fight of three
hours which occurred later, the corre-
spondent says the Russians fought with
desperation and the Japanese with con-
fidence born of their past victories.
One Russian commander was killed
early in the fight. A lieutenant then
took command, only to fall, shot In
both legs. Then the command de-
volved upon the sub-lientenant, who
also was shot and killed after taking
the wheel himself When the cock
swain fell this vessel was captured by
the Japanese. The other Russian ves-
sells escaped.
RETIRES FROM ACTION.
On the japanese side one destroyer
was hit on the water line, two Of her
compartments were flooded and her
quick-fring ammunition was wetted.
This vessel retired from the action. Her
officers escaped narrowly from a
twelve-pound shot, which struck the
platform in front of the bridge, killing
one man and sweeping the bridge with
splinters. The same vessel received a
three-pound shot through the hull, but
the damage was repaired within four
days.
A Japanese lieutenant who boarded
the Stereguschtche said he had never
seen a more sickening sight. Thirty
bodies. terribly mutilated by a shell,
were lying on the deck. As the Japa-
nese approached two Russian bluejack-
cts rushed from the coming tower
/ locked themselves in the cabin aft and
refused to come out. Two stokers
jumped overheard and were picked up.
These, with two wounded men. were
I the only survivors of a crew of fifty
five.
When the Stereguschtche sank the
men who were locked in the cabin sank
with her.
RUSSIAN ARMAMENT WEAK.
The fight lasted nearly an hour. The
weakness of the Russian torpedo-boat
destroyer armament again proved fatal.
( The japanese concentrated their first
fire on the Russian twelve-pounder and
put 1t out of action early in the fight,
| leaving her with only three-pounders
against their twelve-pounders and six