Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-03-31
FIGHTING ON
LAND AND SEA.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
PORT ARTHUR HAR6OR.

Japanese Try Again To Bottle Up
Cars Ships BY Sinking Vessels In
Observation-Disclosures Were Watch
ful and Frustrated the Plan.--t1oi
Torpedo Boat Fight.--One Russian
Boat Lost--First Clash on Land
Between Cossaoks and Japanese
Latter Hold Their Ground and Re-
pei Attack.
The japanese made a second desperate
attempt early Sunday morning to close the
entrance TO Port Arthur harbor and pen
up the Russian squadron within. As be-
fore, four vessels, preceded by torpedo
boats, made for the opening, but the Rus
SLAMS were alert and succeeded in prevent
| ing them from reaching the channel be-
fore they were sunk. Il is supposed the
japanese are particularly anxious 10 shut
up The Russian squadron so that they VIII
feel free to move transports in the vicinity,
which they would hardly dare 70 do II
Russian vessels could slip out and attack
them. heavy movement with New
Chwang as the objective Is supposed 70 be
imminent II is now believed that the
japanese will deliver their main blow
there. instead OF at the Yalu.
An Official despatch from Port Arthur
TO the Gar says:
"At o'clock Sunday morning second
attempt was made by the enemy 70 block
the entrance OF the port. The Russian
searchhgnts discovered four large mer-
chant steamers making for the entrance,
supported by six torpedo boats. A heavy
fire was opened on them from the Dat-
teries and from the cruisers Bobr and
OtVazny and the torpedo boat sylny,
commanded by Lieut.. Krinitsky. This
~ ltu Ms from their
course by blowing of the prov OF the
first one, The enemy's torpedo boats
were then boldly attacked IN force, In
the fierce fight which followed CHIEF
Engineer Swyereh Of the Zwereff and SIX
marines were killed, and the commander
and twelve marines wounded, but the
Japanese plan was frustrated and the
entrance OF the harbor is still free.
Admiral Makaroh reports as follows
from Port Arthur:
~ beg most humbly to report that at
2 O'Clock Sunday morning the enemy
made a second attempt TO block the
entrance TO the inner roadstead. For
this purpose they despatched four large
merchant steamers conveyed by six tor
pedo boats to the entrance. The enemy's
ships were promptly discovered by the
sesrchlights and were bombarded by the
batteries and the guardships Bobr and
Otvazny.
''Feafing that the enemy might break
through, Lieut.. krinitsky, commanding
the guard torpedo boat Sylny, attacked
the enemy and destroyed the bow ot the
foremost Japanese steamer with torpedo.
The steamer turned to the right, followed
by two OF the other steamers, with the
result that all three stranded to the right
OF the entrance. The fourth went 70 the
left Of the enemys ships and likewise
toward the side Of the fairway.
Nafe 90 as FNf
emy's torpedo boats. Engineer Artificer
Swyereff and six seamen were killed and
the commander and twelve seamen wound
ed.
sAt daybreak the enemy's battleship
and cruiser squadron appeared. pro-
ceeded with the feet under my charge to
meet them.
.aThe second attempt to block the en-
trance failed, thanks to the energetic de-
fence by the sea and land forces, as did the
first. The entrance remains perfectly
free -
Gen. smirnoh sends an account similar
TO that OF Admiral Makaron. He adds
that one japanese steamer sank with her
bow touching a japanese steamer sunk
on a previous occasion on Majatschnaga
Goroda. A Hotchkiss one-inch quickhr-
ing gun was found ON one Of the sunken
vessels, from which a fire had been kept
up on the Russian torpedo boats. boat
left each OF the sunken vessels, carrying
their crews. One Of these boatloads Is be-
lieved TO have been picked up.
Toward 4 a. m, the enemy's torpedo
boats retired and the bombardment ceas-
ed. Five OF the enemy's torpedo boats
were sighted south OF Port Arthur and the
batteries opened fire on them. Al ol
O'Clock the enemy's squadron was seen on
the horizon and the Russian squadron put
out To meet them. At $50 the batteries
opened, but soon ceased firing. The Japa-
nese drew off TO the southeast, evidentlyl
declining an engagement.
Ii is stated that one Russian torpedo
boat was sunk during the engagement. II
is thought that she can be refioated.
The first land engagement OF conse
quence took place Monday between Cos
sacks and japanese cavalry. According to