The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-02

: squadron. The ,iatterc fired ,;on ,lth'
cruiser. whereupon another Russian
warship weighed anchor and, cruises
around.
The japanese fleet came within thret
miles Of the Russians and battle be
gan. The japanese free at the ships
and forts which replied. Some of thu
Japanese shells struck the Russian
ships. but only damaged them slightly
The Russian fire fell short.
The Columbia left while the battle
was proceeding. but later ste saw the
Japanese ships leave.
st. Petersburg" Russia.4The 'Offcia
Messenger publishes a telegram from
Admiral Alexieff, Russian Viceroy OF
the Far East, to- the Car. ..,a. .....
He reports that Japanese torpedo
boats made sudden attack on the
Russian squadron at Port Arthur.
The battleships Retvizan and Tsare
witch and the cruiser Pallada were
damaged. An inspection is being made
to ascertain the amount and character
Of the damage.
The attack was made in the outer
roads Of Port Arthur, where the Rus
sian feet has been lying.
The Japanese made the attack at 1.45
in the morning. The boats discharged
three torpedoes, damaging the three
ships above mentioned, and escaped
unharmed.
The Viceroy's report follows:
II most respectfully inform your
Majesty that. about midnight on Feb
ruary 8. nine Japanese torpedo boats
made a sudden attack by means of
mines upon the Russian squadron in
the outer roads of the fortress of Port
Arthur, in which the Retvizan, Tsare.
witch and Pallada were damaged.
"An inspection is being made to as
certain the character Of the damage
Details are following for your
Majesty" .,...... -
The second engagement between the
fleets was described in telegram from
Admiral Alexieff's chief Of staff:
's4By order of the Viceroy I beg to re
port that this day, about II O'Clock In
the morning, a japanese squadron. con
sisting of about fifteen battIeships and
cruisers. approached Port Arthur and
opened fire.
s'The enemy was received with a can
nonade from the shore batteries and
the guns Of our squadron which also
participated in the engagement.
'"At about midday the japanese
squadron ceased its fire and left, pro
ceeding south.
"Our losses in the, feet were two
officers wounded, nine men killed and
forty-one men wounded. On the shore
batteries one man was killed and three
were wounded. The battleship Poltava
and the cruiser Novik each had hole
knocked in her side below the water
line. The forts were slightly dam
aged"
For the first time popular interest
In the crisis was displayed after thu
publication of Admiral Alexieff' 8 dis
patch. which was copied from the Or
fetal Gazette and issued on specia
fy-sheets by the newspapers. The
news was read silently, with full recog
nition Of its purport, but there was NJ
noisy demonstration. Indeed, the at
titude of the public in its self-restrain
recalled that displayed in London dur
ing the dark days Of the Boer War.
Washington. D. C.-Secretary Ha!
has addressed a note to the Power!
that participated in the suppression o.
the Chinese rebellion suggesting tina
they unite in insisting that the integ
rity of the Chinese Empire shall b,
maintained and that the field Of hostil
tiles shall be localized.
Mr.. Hay proposes military operation
shall be confined to the territory nortl
of SHAM -Hai.Kuan which is on tn
west shore. of the Gulf Of Pe-Chi-L
and at the point where the great wal
begins, and at all that portion of tn
peninsula Of which Port arthur is tn
southern point cnd Of. the Gulf Of Pe
Chilli north of Ta-Lien-Wan. which /
some miles north Of Port Arthur.
The purpose Of this limitation Is sal!
to be to guarantee the territory sout
of Manchuria against occupation b.
the belligerents and to remove all ap
prehension as to the safety Of Pekin.