The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-19
.ALEXIEFPS REPORT ON
THE FIRST ENGAGEMENT
Cars Viceroy Says a Number of
Japanese Ships Suffered
Severely.
RUSSIANS FOUGHT WELL

ST PETERSBURG. Feb 1s.-A long Off
cial dispatch from Viceroy Alexieff, re-
counting the details of the fight of Feb. 8
at Port Arthur, was given out to-day. 1t
enumerates the Russian casualties and says
it is known that number of Japanese
ships suffered severely, which accounts for
their not following up the attack. The
viceroys dispatch is dated Feb. IS and
says:
After the night torpedo attack the Jap
anese fleet, consisting of sixteen warships,
appeared at 10 o'clock in the morning OF
Port Arthur. Its appearance was noted by
the coast signal stations, as well as by the
ships of our squadron, which lay In the
outer roadstead fully prepared Tor the bat
tie. Our squadron consisted OF nve battle
ships. five frst-class and second-class
cruisers anG fifteen torpedo boats under the
command of Vice Admiral Stark and Rear
Admiral Ukhtonski.
1.-The coast batteries Immediately prepared
10 receive the enemy. Our squadron weighed
anchor i'm order of battle and upon the first
shot being fired by the enemy the fleet and
batteries replied simultaneously with live
ly cannonade. The most exposed to the
eneny's fire were the ships of the squadron,
battery No. 10, on Electric cliff and battery
No. 13 on Golden hill Other coast bat
teries. principally Nos. IL and is, were also
'The following vessels took part in the
battle: In the front line were the battleship
Petropavlesk flying the flag of Vice Ad-
niral Stark and commanded by Captain
Jekowloff: the battleship SevastopOl, Cap
tain Chernychoff; the battleship Poltava,
Captain Uspkenski; the battleship Peres-
visit flying the flag of Rear Admiral Ukn-
tonski commanded by Captain Boissmann,
and the battleship Pobioca, Captain
Sarenny. There were also the frst-class
cruisers Havan, Captain Wren; Diana,
Captain Satouski, and Askold, Captain
Gramchikoff; the second-class cruisers
Boyarin, Captain Sarycheff, and Novik,
l,Iff Ice.
witch, Captain Oregvitch, and Ratvizan.
Captain Sensnovitch and the cruiser Pal
lada, Captain Kossovitch, which lay at
anchor. having been damaged in the tor
pedo attack of the night before; likewise
participated in the fight, did the trans
port Angara, Captain Suchonlin.
TORPEDO BOATS.
There were also engaged the torpedo
boats of the first and second divisions, un-
der the divisional commanders, Matusse-
witch and Duenter, as follows: Vnimantelni,
Captain Simon; Vlastini. Lieutenant Kar-
zeff; BoevOi, Captain Yelisseitff; ReZstrash-
nj. Captain Zimmerman; Besposhtchadni.
Lieutenant Lukin; Vnushitelni. Lieutenant
Povushkina; Vuintoslivi Lieutenant Reich
ter; Grozovoi, LieutenanI Scheltinga;
Razyaschtchi, Captain Simonoff; Ryoshitel-
nj. Lieutenant Kornilieff; Silny Lieutenant
kodorovitch; steregussehtchi, Lieutenant
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; StorczhVi, Captain
Serditi, Lieutenant Kusmenkaravayeff jr.
Throughout the fight the torpedo divi-
sion lay TO the right Of the squadron, dis
tance of from ten 10 fifteen cabeltari "a
Russian measure), awaiting orders.
THE land batteries were under the gen.
era direction of Maj. Gen. Baloff, COM
mander of the Kwan-Tung garrison of ar
tillery. 1t is still difficult to ascertain the
result of the battle, but according TO OBJ
servations made by our ships it may be pre-
sumed that several vessels Of the enemy 5
fleet sustained damage, which explains why
they avoided further fighting, although they
were much superior to us in strength
manders the men fought exceedingly well,
on which account. in virtue of the imperial
of the order of St George on each COM
pany of the first and second-class warships
having crews OF over 200 men, four crosses
on each company of all other ships OF the
second class one cross on each torpedo
boat one cross the signal station at
Golden hill, which operated under the
heavy fire Of the enemy; four crosses on
Battery No. 10, three on Battery No. l3.
and one cross on "A gunner, who, though
severely wounded, returned 10 his battery.
Our losses were OF the squadron. five
officers wounded, fourteen men killed and
sixty-nine men wounded OF the fortress
and garrison, one man killed. one man
severely wounded and five men slightly
wounded.
"In announcing the above to your Males
ty / am pleased 70 be able 10 add that the
naval and land forces in the far East are
lnSDllcU
meet their insolent foe breast to breast
in order TO fulfill their duty in sight OF their
adored ruler. and firm and unshakable, TO
fight for the honor and glory Of their be-
loved fatherland."
No official announcement has as yet been
made regarding the report from Toxic OF a
third Japanese torpedo attack at Port Ar
thur. There are reports here but they lack
official confirmation, that this attack was
made
Official confirmation that an attack made
on Port Arthur Feb 10 was repulsed after
heavy firing on both sides. According 10
the story. this attack was intended "A
feint to cover landing at Talien-Wan bay.
but IL failed because the Russian guns were
placed with great foresight. to command
that shore. a Russian expert says the Jap
anese evidently hoped the adjacent group Of
Eliot isles would cover this movement. as
they did the same thing during the Chino
Japanese war. landing simultaneously at
Talien-Wan and Kin-Chou. thus cutting of
Port Arthur from each g de OF the Lao
Tung peninsula.
that the Japanese should have made such
| q fool hardy attempt 10 face the Russians.
/ as they know from their spies how strongly
the peninsula is mined and DEFENDED