New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
TOGO WITHDRAWS SHIPS.
japanese Fleet No Longer Needed
at Port 4rthar.

| Toxic Dec 24-AdniraG Togo announces the
| withdrawal of the majority of his fleet from
Port Arthur Telegraphing under date of De
ceunber p, he says
| After 203-Metre Hill was occupied. as the re-
| s,,lt of a gallant and desperate attack by the
| besieging army the bornbardment OF the enemy 5
| squadron by siege and other heavy guns became
effective In consequence. the battIeships FOL
| taya and RstviZan were sunk. and subsequently
/ the battleships Pobieda and Peresviet, the pro
| tected cruiser Pallada and the armored cruiser
! Bayan sunk. The battleship SevastopoI
| escaped the land commandment. left the harbor
December and anchored near Chentao Noun
! tain She attacked there continuously by
our torpedo boats and heavily damaged. The
main strength Of the enemy is completely
! crushed. Only weak gunboat, the Otvashnl,
and several torpedo boat destroyers remain
afioat. Under the circumstances our combined
| fleet has been removed as unnecessary from
the blockade of Port Arthur, which had been
maintained since May /. have arranged for a
closer watch for ships attempting TO run the
blockade and to watch the remnant OF the
enemy's squadron.
During the blockade we suffered from the
enemy's mines, both laid and floating on the
high seas, and from dense fogs. The Mtyako
Unprotected cruser), Yoshno protected CRUISER.
Hatsuse (battleshipl. Kaimon (gunboat). Heiyen
coast defence vess.D and Saiyen (cruiser) were
sunk and many gallant and loyal officers and
men were killed. but we succeeded in maintain
ing the blockade. When the enemy emerged
from the harbcr our fleet successfully engaged
him and finally, with the valuable support Of
the besieging arc.y succeeded in crushing nearly
so heavily damaged the Vladivostoi squadron
that 1t has since been unable to leave port.
All this success is gratefully attributed to the
brilliant virtue of our Emperor. During the
bockads all the ships under my command
splendlafT accomplished the work and duty
signed TO them. Especially to be noted are some
Of those who We're engaged in the difficult and
risky task of blockading, who tirelessy
complished the work of laying mines in the
presence of the enemy; others who, Drawing all
dangers, engaged in the work OF clearing
mines away, and others still who were posted to
watch the enemy and guard against the enemy's
ships. Their combined work strongly contrib
uted TO the accomplishment OF the blockade.
deem 1t my duty especially 10 mention my recog-
milton of the valuable service rendered by the
officers and men
An imperial ,rescript addressed to Admiral
Togo says:
We hear with great satisfaction that our tor
pedo fiotas engaged in the work required OF
them at Port Arthur have CALAMITY and
cessfully accomplished the duties required OF
them and in doing had to brave the dangers
Of storms and shells by day and night. Despite
all the difficulties confronting them they have
succeeded in performing their duties without the
least confusion. rendering one another mutual
assistance. We especially note their brave and
loyal performance Of the duties required of then,
and express our appreciation OF their gallant be-
haviOr.
The advanced Japanese batteries at Port Ar
thur have succeeded in reaching the Russian
battleship Sevastopol. One hit is reported. It
is expected that the ship Will be destroyed.