Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-16
Today's Telegraphic News
Another Engagement Imminent

cnPllQ 11TlV
49, 49, nnrsned By the japanese. A Sc
we're naval engas ement is expected. The
vesseIs of the Japanese fleet kept further
awov from Port Arthur than usual last
NIGHT. as the commanders feared tor
pedo attack by the Russians in the dark
ness. The Russians, noticing this,
thought they could escape. 1t is thought
that the battle will drift to the vicinity
of Chefoo.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 16.-Oficial re-
ports have just been received here from
Port Arthur giving the number of cas-
ualties there between August s and 10,
when the japanese troops made another
desperate effort to capture the port. The
report shows that seven officers and 24S
men were killed, IS officers and ], 559
men were wounded and one officer and
SO men are missing.
Tsin Tau, KiO Chow Bay, Aug. TO-
The officers of the Russian battleship
Czarewitch insist that they saw a Japa-
nese battleship sink during the battle of
Wednesday last. This report has been
current ever since the day of the battle.
1t has been denied by the japanese Off
Gals, and Admiral Togo in his official
reports makes no mention Of any such
occurrence. But the report continues to
circulate and will not down despite the
japanese denials.
The Russian battleship Czarewi.ch and
the three Russian torpedo boats which
took refuge here and which yesterday
hauled down their flags today dismantled.
This means that the vessels will partici-
pate no further in the war. When the
Russian flags were ordered hauled down
by the German authorities at Using it
was anticipated that the ships would be
compelled to dismantle, especially the
Czarewitch, which isso seriously damaged
that it is doubtful if she could be repaired
sufficiently to be of particular value to
the Russian cause. Then, too, the Jap
anese have vessels towering near the en-
trance to the bay and it is believed the
departure of the Russian warships would
merely mean their capture by the Japa-
nese vessels.
London, Aug. l6.-Goaded on by
despair the battered and shell torn REM
nants of the Russian Port Arthur feet
which returned to the Port after the ter
rife sea fight Of last Wednesday, under
cover of darkness early today made a
desperate attempt to pass the japanese
squadron lying outside the harbor and
reach safety and liberty. The japanese
had been lying far off shore, according
to the dispatch reporting the sortie, and
the Russians imagined they had slight
chance of thus escaping the vigilant eye
of Admiral Togo. Led by the Diana, the
one cruiser of the feet which is in sea-
worthy condition, the Russian warships
crept out with lights extinguished. When
outside the channel the Diana made a
dash to pass the japanese vessels, but
her location was discovered by means OF
searchlights and Togo's vessels started
in pursuit. The sweeping searchlights
also disclosed the lame ducks of the Rus
sian squadron making for the open, and
the japanese opened terrific fire on
them.
Nothing further had been heard of the
sortie, but there seems but little chance
of the partially disabled squadron escap-
ing. In all circles it is thought that
the japanese ships, practically unscathed
by Wednesdays fight, and with their
men in fighting trim, will be able to
either sink or capture the Russian ships
which, as has been said, are in no con-
dition to withstand heavy fire. A
glance at the condition of the ships
which returned to Port Arthur affords
good basis for this belief. That the
sortie resulted from the desperate con-
dition of affairs at Port Arthur there
can be little doubt The fall of that
stronghold appears inevitable, and
it is believed the end will come within
day or two. In some quarters it is
even stated that the fall is but matter
of hours. The japanese have taken all
the outer defenses, and, according to
semi-official reports this morning, now
command the inner works, which they
are Smelling from the heights about the
main fortresses. In former attacks the
Russian land forces we're aided by the
ships in the harbor, but now this aid is
gone, and, worn out and discouraged,
they are left to fight it out alone.
Chefoo, Aug 16.-Word has reached
here that the Russian squadron which
made sortie from Port Arthur this
morning has returned to the Port.
London, Aug. 16.-The Chefoo CORE
spondent of the Reuter- Telegram Com
pany wires that the Port Arthur feet
which made a sortie this morning did
not encounter the japanese warships
st. Petersburg, Aug. 16.-The family
of one of the officers of the Russian
cruiser Diana today received telegram
from him announcing the arrival OF the
Diana at VIadivostok,
London, Aug. 16.-Advices from
Toxic today give additional details of
Admiral Kamimura's fight with the Rus
sian Vladivostok squadron, which result
ed in the loss of the Russian ship Rurik.
The details are taken from fuller Off
cial report sent to the Mikado by the
japanese Admiral. The Rurik, it APP
pears, was finally sunk by two protected
cruisers under command of Rear Ad-
miral Uric, the Annapolis Naval
Academy graduate.
London, Aug 16.-A dispatch re-
ceived from Lao Yang states that the
japanese under General Kuroki are
again advancing on the Russian out