The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-12-22
NyII'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
Japanese Admiral Tells of the Tor
pedo Attack on the Bat
tleship Sevastopol.
ATTACKS WERE WITHOUT CONFUSION,
One Boat Sunk By Fire from the Russians
aud Several Onicers and Men Killed and
Injured - Admiral Compliments the
Skill and BRAVERY Of Those Who Com
posed the Crews Of Attacking Fleet.

Toxic, Dec. 19.-Vice Admiral Togo's
report upon the torpedo operations
against the Russian turret ship Sevas-
topal was received to-day. 1t says:
ION the night of December IA our
torpedo fiotillas made a gallant and
brave series of attacks against the
Russian turret ship Sevastopol The
fiotillas arrived outside the entrance to
Port Arthur about midnight on that
date. The leading fiotilla, under Com
mander Unchida, and special torpedo
boat, partly for attack and partly to
reconnoiter. approached the Sevastopol
at one o'clock. and under the search
! lights and fire of the enemy's ships
and shore batteries they attacked her
A shell struck Commander Mitamura's
torpedo boat and four shots hit Com
mander Nakamuta's boat, wounding
three sailors. Subsequently our flo
tillas attacked. acting Independently.
Flotilla A, Commander Kasama. adj
vanced first for the purpose of destroy
ing the defenses protecting the Sevas-
topol and also to draw and divert the
fire under the enemy's seachlights.
Flotilla b, Commander Jinguji, flotilla
c. Commander Otaki; flotilla d, Com
mander Seki, and flotilla E, Command
err Kawase, approached successfully
and bravely continued the attacks from
two until four O'Clock in the morning,
Commander 0taki's ilotilla approached
the closest and delivered the most Wig
orous attack. While retreating one
torpedo boat received several shots
simultaneously, her commander, Lieut..
Nakahori, and five others being killed
The boat lost her freedom of motion
and Lieut.. Nakahara's boat went to
the rescue and despite the heavy fire,
endeavored to save her. While towing
the boat the enemy's shells severed
the hawser. Lieut.. Nakahara's boat
was also hit and one man killed. Sub
sequently several shells hit and al
most disabled Lieut.. Nakaharas boat,
forcing him to abandon his comrade
ship, which was sinking. Lieut.. Maxi
ahara, however, steamed back. res
cued the crew and abandoned the tor
pedo boat to her fate. Commander
Kawase's boat, belonging to the same
fiotilla. was struck by a shell, killing
one of the crew and wounding Lieut.
Takahashi and two sailors. Lieut.
Shono's boat was hit and one of the
crew killed and FIVE wounded. The
boat was temporarily disabled but his
comrade ships, with Lieuts. Wataeabe
and Mort commanding, protected and
rescued her. All the other boats brave
ly facing the enemys fire succeeded in
delivering attacks without suffering
any damage.
1.-THE result of their attacks is not
definitely known, although 1t is evil
dent that numerous torpedoes took eff
feet. The watch tower, reporting on
the following morning. said that the
Sevastopol had lowered as the bows
considerably. facing toward south
southeast. Her condition Is such that
Fshe does not change her position in the
current. She Is anchored close in
shore. in shallow water.
at Is source OF satisfaction that
our torpedo attacks were delivered
without the least confusion. Each
boat rendered material assistance to
its comrades. The skillful maneuver-
Ing and bravery of the officers and
men inspires me with deep feeling
of satisfaction and confidence"