Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-11
ARE KEPT ON THE QUI WYE.
Dropping Of Shells Into the Harbor
Haphazard May be Fun but il
Is Dangerous.
STORY OF BATTLE FEBRUARY 9.
Russian Side Of It Shows That til
Enemys SqL Iron Suffered More
Severely Than Admitted.

st. Petersburg, March LEES p. ny
Up TO this hour no further news is
obtainable Of the bombarlment of
Port Arthur. which was progressing,
according TO the latest adylces, at 8
o'clock yesterday morning. Whatever
later information, II any, the emperor
may not have known, Military and
naval circles are mystifed at the pur-
pose Of the appearance OF Japanese
torpedo boats during the previous night,
as 1t was not accompanied by serious
attempt upon the Russian ships. The
bombardment Of the fleet from a posi-
ton of the Lao Tshin promontory,
which Is five TO six miles from Golden
Hill, at the entrance Of the harbor Is
believed TO indicate that the japanese
were afraid to risk frontal attack UNI
der the guns Of the land batteries, 1t Is
considered doubtful whether any Of the
Russian batteries command the location
from which the Japanese were firing.
into the harbor and town even I'm fun Is
accompanied by danger and this hap
hazard work Is eXplicable perhaps only
on the theory that II was meant as a
diversion 20 cover more serious opera
tions elsewhere. Stlll some Of the ex-
peits here declare their belief that ths
only object Of the Japanese was to keep
the garrison ana fleet worried.
RUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF BATTLE.
st. Petersburg, March li.--Q50 p. m.
Copies OF the Novikrai (of Port Ar
thur. which have just arrived here
contain the first detailed Russian des-
cription Of the naval battle at Port
Arthur on Feb. 3. 1t says;
THE Russian squadron which was
prepared TO resist attack when the
japanese We're sighted by the scouts
was composed Of the battleship Petro-
paloysk. flagship, the battleship Perez
Wet, the battleship poltaya, the battles
ship Sevastopol, the battleshp Pobie-
da, the armored cruiser Bayan, the pro-
tected cruiser Diana, the protected
cruiser Novik and the transport AN
CARA. The battleship Retisan and bat
tleship C2arevitch, which had been tor
pedoed on the previous night, were too
badly damaged to participate,
AT 5 o'clock in the morning four
Japanese cruisers rounded the Lao
Tshin promontory and then headed
southeast, with the intention OF draw
ing the RusSAsns In pursuit. The fast
Boyarin waS'sent out TO recOnnolter.
She returned at 1880 a. m. and sig
nailed the approach Of large Japanese
fleet which was sighted at 1907, twas
Of II vessels. six battleships
ana six cruisers, They were steamlng
In line abreast Four OF the cruisers
took up a position behind the heavier
ships. The japanese opened fire at
four miles and the Russians lmmediate-
~ repied. The latter. which had been
in line. altered their position.
the Askold and Boyarln advancing
abreast OF Lao Tin rock and the Novik
moving down the coast towards Lao
Tishin while the Bayan advanced and
led the rest of the feet between the
heavier vessels of Russla's enemy and
the coast. The land batteries followed
IN effect into action, Viceroy Alexeft
and his staff observing the engagement
from Golden hill.
"'rhe enemy steamed 10 within "a
cable lengths about 5000 yards), at thu
end Of half IN hour, I'm three quarters
Of an hour approached TO within %
cable lengths 5000 yards), and then
heading about toward the south the
feet soon disappeared IN the mist which
yelled the horizon,
"The oHemy's fire was directed chief
y against the Golden lIIll and electric
station batteries upon
which the japanese rained a perfect
storm of shells, Many shells fell in
he west basin, a few even reaching
DUAL hill.
"Only the Noyik, Askold and Diana
injuries.
Toward the end Of the engagement
column Of steam and smoke poured
,ut OF one OF the Japanese vessels ana
{ Is believed she sank"
The Noyikrai says II was learned la
en- that six Of the enemy's ships wers
ana that 100 men We're killed
,r wounded. The Russian losses az
ylyen by the NOyikrai correspond
With the official reports
The Russian protected cruiser palh.
la, although torpedoed and ashore mar.
icipated IN the action. The Russian
Glpodo boats waited the order to at.
ack east OF the squadron. but the end
my did not approach within the dis
ance desired.
The account concludes
Although the enemy's squadron was
az tha haat chine "A t1a lana
ese navy. all having excellent arma-
ncnt while most Of ours We're with.
MT armament our ships did not hest.
ate to approach the enemy at full
peed, the play being so rapid that the
nemy could not get their range Tina
,Ovik particularly distinguished her.
~ .na.l.nI ALnLnn ulInnElnn ia. AL.