The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-28


cover of darkness this morning, Vice
Admiral Togo made another desperate
attempt to bottle up the Russian fleet
in Port Arthur. but he failed again,
and when after daylight Vice Admiral
Makaroff steamed out to give battle,
the Japanese commander refused the
challenge, and sailed away.
The Japanese practically repeated
the tactics of Feb. "a by sending in
four fire ships, preceded by a torpedo
boat fotilla, with the exception that
the fire ships this time were armed
with Hotchkiss guns for the purpose
of keeping off the Russian torpedo
boat destroyers.
The enemy's attempt was discovered
by means of the shore searchlights,
and a heavy fire was opened from the
batteries and from two gunboats
which were guarding the entrance to
the harbor. The Russian torpedo boat
destroyer SLIM was outside on SCOUT
ing duty and to the dash and nerve OF
her commander, Lieut.. Krinizkl' is
chiefly due the complete defeat of the
plans of the Japanese. He at once
made straight for the on-coming ships
under a hail of fire from the Hotch-
kiss guns and torpedoed the Leading
shin. which sheered off, followed by
the others, three of them being piled
unon on the shore under Golden Hill
Ifevnf
SLIM then engaged the entire six tor
pedo boats of the enemy, coming out
from a terrific fight with seven killed
and her commander and twelve OF her
connlement wounded, but on the Jap
anese side only one boats crew was
saved.
In addition, according to unofnclal
renorts. it is believed that the Japa-
nese lost two torpedo boats.
Japanese Cruisers Drew On
The Japanese cruisers which sup
norted the attack exchanged shots with
the batteries and then drew off, after
which Vice Admiral Makaroff took
steam launch and examined the hre
ships.
An hour later the Japanese torpedo
Aotilla. followed by Vice Admiral 10
go's fleet, came UP from southerly
direction. Just at daybreak Vice Ad-
,o;ral Makaroff with his fleet sailed
ont to engage the enemy, but arter tne
shins and batteries had f1red te"
,one distance shots, Vice Admiral Togo
aaoidad 70 decline the issue and dis
anneared to the southward.
THE news of the repulse OF wee
Admiral Togo's second attempt TO
block Port Arthur created mucn re-
ioicing IN the Russian capital ana
among all classes the gallantry Oh
tho Silni and her commander are the
suhiect of high praise; but above all'
the moral effect of Admiral Makar-
ofe,s Willingness to engage the en-
a,,, showing that he considered
himself strong enough to hgnt' pro-
duced a splendid impression.
To RENDER Fleet ImpOtent'
Tn high official circles this new erort
to bottle UP the Russian fleet is looked
unon as meaning only one thing name
ly, that the JdpdnVSS' %
Associated Press on March a. are pre-
paring for a heavy landing OF troops
IN the Gulf of Lao Tung. either at
New Chwang or on the west coast OF
the Manchurian neutral zone, to e1ect
which In safety the immobility OF wee
Admiral Makaroffs feet is absoiuteiy
essential, while the transports are De-
ing conveyed around the southern end
OF the peninsula.
II the attempt had succeeded II would
have required several days al least 70
blow up the steamers and clear away
the wreckage. during which time the
Japanese would be assured Of non-in-
tsrferenee IN the carrying out Of their
purpose. The failure OF the Japanese
this morning may seriously hamper
their plans, az the ice IN the Lao river
h going out, and when the river is free
from ice 10 mouth cen be easily mined.
70 Maks New Landing.
The conylcfion continues 70 grow
here that the Japanese hags conclpdr
~ chat t would ~ inadyisabie 70
make = direct frontal atiack va Man
ebsF.s aom AosSs pgainsi ths AhpisI