New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-25
RUSSIANS DEFEND PORT.
Guns of the RetUizdn and Forts SIMS
japanese Steamers.


gram from viceroy Alexien to the Car says:
At quarter before three In ths morning %
attempted to attack the batteship Retvizan and
sink large steamers loaded with inhammabes.
The RstVizan was the first to observe the tor
pedo boats and opened a strong fire them.
She was supported by the land Batteries.
She destroyed two steamers near the entrances
toward her. One Of them went the rocks
near the lishthouse on Tiger Peninsula, and
the other sank under Golden Hill.
The RetVizan observed four steamers In a
sinking condition and eight torpedo boats de-
parting slowly to rejoin the waiting Japanese
A part Of The crews Of the Japansss vessels
Was drowned- The 9roqndee steamer 9 sill
5urnins. The enemy Is observed in the 0ffns %
Port Arthur in two lines.
The Japanese crews saved themselves IN
boats, and Il 10 possible that some Of them
picked up by the eneny's torpedo boats.
! am proceeding to examine the coasts. The
entrance of the harbor is OPEN. q sttributs the
the brilliant action and destructive fire Of the
Retvizan.
Floating mines are still visible IN the road
stead. ] have recalled the three cruisers sent
In pursuit Of the enemy, in order, in the first
place, 70 clear the roadstsad Of floating mines.
We had no losses.
viceroy Alexierr does not mention the number
OF steamers which the japanese tried to sink or
drive upon the Russian ships. and Il is not yet
known whether the four vessels the captain OF
the Retvizan observed going down. IN addition
to the two destroyed were also laden with In
nammables or whether they were warships.
The greatest praise Is given to the commanders
OF the Rstvizan. snd the splendid action OF this
American built vessel places her name foremost
on the roll OF the Russian Navy.
viceroy AIexler's dispatch was an ampIinca-
ton Of a briefer telegram received by the En-
peror earlier. but which was not given out
1t is evident that vice-Admiral Stark no
longer commands the Russian Port Arthur naval
forces. Viceroy AIexiefr mentioning temporary
commander OF the feet without giving any
name
Stories to the effect that the japanese de-
signed an attempt at landing in Pigeon Bay at
the same time that the engagement occurred are
not mentioned IN the dispatches. but It 10
sumed the reports are without foundation.
Many conflicting rumors. based on Admiral
Alexiens dispatch. were current in St. Peters
burg yesterday afternoon and evening. The
news had apparently been made known by
fragments. from each OF which story was
built
Oue OF Ine most ClTCuIlStdulidA reports vas
that the Japanese had attempted to bottle up
Admiral stark's feet in Port Arthur by sinking
two stone laden vessels at the entrance OF the
harbor. employing the tactics followed IN the
OF the Merrimac at Santiago.
According to this account. two japanese ships
appeared of the harbor with japanese fleet
behind them and ostensibly in pursuit. The
Russians. however. suspected a ruse. and their
ships steamed out. sank the stone laden YES
sells. engaged and defeated the enemy and drovs
them of. The reports of the loss inflicted how
ever. were conflicting.
RUMOR OF wARSHIPS' DESTRUCTION.
All the stories included the feature Of the YES
sells loaded with stones but according to some
versions the japanese fleet was conveying trans
ports with the purpose of enecting landing at
Pigeon Bay. and. after the failure OF this pre-
liminary maneuvre. the Russians played havoc
with both the japanese warships and the trans
ports. sinking four of the former and two Of the
latter.
One account gave the name Of the battleship
Retvizan the vessel which particularly dis
tlnguished herself in the action by ramming and
sinking one OF the Japanese battIeships
Rumors OF this victory were spread far and wids
over the city in the early part OF the evening.
and the crowds which had gathered in the
streets in spite Of the cold. to discuss the
news were greatly excited. One newspaper
printed an extra relating the victory based on
a meagre telegram from London. but the
night wore on without official confirmation the
crowds disappeared. except from around the
newspaper Offices. where they waited for the
oncial announcement.
The news Of victory was accompanied By two
stories. one that after the first decisive Russian
victory the Emperor would offer peace. and thu
other that Japan had deposed the Emperor OF
Corea and formally annexed that country These
reports given simply as examples OF ths
stories which hoated about in the excited
crowds
Instead Of diminishing the crowds at the Adj,
miralty and newspaper and telegraph agency
a<aces kept increasing. and the sxcltsznsnt &c,