The Red Cloud chief., 1904-08-19
RUSSIAIS HIT HARD
Her Port Arthur Fleet Literally
Shot to Pieces.
CRUISER BURIK DESTROYED
The vIadivostok Squadron whipped to a
Finish by Ja panc In the
Strait OF Korea.

It is officially reported at Toxic that
the Russians will not be able to repair
the Ave battleships reported by Ad-
miral Togo to have been damaged in
the recent sea fighting at Port Arthur.
The Japanese land batteries now COM
handing tho entrance to the harbor
could render this work impossible.
Before the Russian fleet emerged
from Port Arthur the Japanese bat
teries could reach the warships there
with shells and the docks we're ex-
posed to a fire, the severity OF which
was increasing constantly. 1t is doubt
ed II the ships will be able to 60 to sea
without undergoing repairs and II is
reported that the Russians themselves
will destroy them before Port Arthur
falls.
A dispatch from Wei Hal Wei says
the Russian torpedo boat destroyer
Burnt was beached on the south Of
the Shan Tung %promotory and blown
up. Three OF her officers and sixty
men. who walked from the scene OF the
accident. have arrived at Wei Hal Wei.
Launches containing sixty Russian
sailors entered Wei Hal Wei. The
sailors belong TO two torpedo boat de-
gone ashore In the vicinity Of Wei Hal
Wei.
A dispatch to the Associated press
from Tsingchou confirms the previous
reports Of the serious damage inflicted
upon the Czarevitch and says that for
this reason the battleship Is unable to
leave port.
Admiral Togo reports that five Rus
sian battleships appear to have been
heavily damaged In the engagement.
The Pobieda lost two masts and one
OF her heavy guns was disabled. The
flagship Retvizan. which was hit sew
eral times at a distance Of $500 yards,
seems to have sustained the greatest
injury. The damage inflicted on the
Russian cruisers was comparatively
slight. The Bayan has not appeared
since the engagement. The damage
sustained by the japanese vessels has
been temporarily repaired.
Vice Admiral Kamimura encountered
the Russian Vladivostok squadron
north Of Tsu island, in the strait OF
Korea, and attacked the enemy at
and resulted in a complete Japanese
victory. The Russian cruiser Rurik was
sunk and the cruisers Rossia and
Gromoboi fed TO the %northward after
having sustained serious damage.
Vice Admiral Kamimura cables the
navy department that the injuries in
HIcted upon his vessels were slight
The fate Of the crew of the Rurik is
not known.
The strength OF the fleet under Vice
Admiral Kamimura is not known, but
II is presumed that he had the Adsuma
Idmuo. Iwate, T%akashiho and other
light cruisers.
One OF the most important features
Of Captain Matousevitch's dispatch
aside from its grim account Of the bat.
tie, Is the detailed statement of the
makeup Of Rear Admiral Togo's feet
which consisted Of six battleships
eleven cruisers of various classes ant
approximately thirty torpedo boats
According to this statement there were
In line Of battle some ships %previousl,
reported destroyed. This gives an in
dication Of Japanese naval force which
Admiral Togo has hitherto concealed
Twelve Japanese regiments have gone
forward In the direction of Port Ar
thur. II Is stated on trustworthy AL
thority that the mikado has ordered
that Port Arthur must be taken at an!
cost. eve II II necessitates the sus
pension of operations in Manchuria
and 1t is quite possible that the mali
japanese force will proceed to Por
Arthur within q few DAYS.