The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-02-19
News OF Another japanese Victory at Port Arthur Is Confirmed
Russian Naval Officers Again Were Ashore When
the Attack Was Commenced.
Eight Russian Vessels Were Sunk and Ten ~Capivrei-Grophic
Dissertation OF the First Naval Battle at Port
Arthur by an Eyewitness.
japanese Onslaught Was Unexpected and Their %promptness and
Bravery Created Great Svrprisc-One japanese Torpedo
Boat Was Sunk and Another Captured.

witch, the flagship Of Rear Admiral
Mallas, and the Retvizan, which were
lying aground across the inner har-
Dor entrance. 1t was low water.
Action was commenced by the big
guns of the land battery. The morn
ing was dull, and a light wind and a
heavy smoke rendered it difficult to
observe the details Of the action.
However, witnessed all that was pos
sible from the beacon hill opposite the
entrance of the harbor in the line Of
fire. Two shells fell near us and about
twenty others fell in the old town and
western harbor, where many steamers
flying neutral flags were anchored.
Flee to Places Of Safety.
After the commencement of the
action all the people fed toward the
hill outside of the town under protec-
ton. A little while after the first
shell a bi g~twelve-inch one exploded,
smashing the Office fronts of the
Guensburgs Yalu Concessions COM
pany and the Russo-Chinese bank.
The streets then were entirely de-
serted, but the local police kept splen-
did order. There was nc footing. The
women and children were very brave.
Regiments from camps in adjoining
barracks came pouring through the
town to take up defensive positions
In the event of the Japanese landing.
The Japanese steamed slowly past in
line Of battle to the westward and
about four miles off, each vessel be-
ginning to fire when opposite the
Russian ships, which were two miles
Off shore. The action quickly became
general. There was no maneuvering
simply heavy, fast firing on both
sides. counted ove 800 shells, a
few OF which reached their mark; the
athers did not explode. During the
action several merchant steamers
outside of the roads moved their po-
sition, but none was allowed to leave
the anchorage harbor.
Japanese 6attIeship Sunk.
The firing ceased at noon the Jap.
anese ships withdrawing southwark,
having lost one battleship. one large
cruiser was put out of action and
n small boat was chased and sunk
by the Novik, which afterward re.
ceived a shell at her water line. She
reached port, however, all right, Ad-
miral Stark signaling "Well DONE
while all the rest of the feet sheered
her arrival.
Even the three ships aground fired
during the action. Afterward the
Czarevitc got off at high water and
she was towed into a large basin,
where she is now being repaired. The
Pallada effected her own repair and
repoined the fleet. The Retvizan still
was aground when | left. The cas-.
ualties were % killed and 81 wounded.
Nearly half the casualties occurred
on the Pallada and Novik. The ap-
anese fleet sailed southwark. At
o'clock all was quiet, the wounded
were brought ashore and removed to
hospitals.
Visitors Leave Torpedoes.
After Monday nights action many
Japanese ~torpedoes were found float.
ing outside of the barbor. They were
secured and their mechanism was ex-
tracted.
During the afternoon Alexieff or.
dered all the women and children and
non-combatants to leave. The slow
special trains were crowded. They
ran as often as possible. From Dalny
the women and children Immediately
were removed by an English steamer.
After the action on Monday night Of
fetal kilograms from V~ladivostok
stated that the cruiser squadron con.
sisting OF the Gromovoi, Rossia, Rurik
and Bogatyr had shelled a town in
Yezo and then returned to Vladivo.
stok.
offered a large price for a launch
or tugboat to put to sea from Port
Arthur for Chefu, Chinwangtao or
Newchwang, but was unsuccessful.
Morris Newman.
Port Arthur Bottled Up.
Toxic, Feb. 17.--Late advices from
Admiral Togo indicate that Port Ar.
thur efectually is closed on the sea
side and that operations are immi.
nent for accomplishing q similar re.
suit on the land side.
| Your correspondent is informed that
1t Is not likely that the Japanese will