The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-28
BLOCKADE
 IS BLOCKED Port Arthur Exit Still
 Open. TORPEDO BOATS FIGHT Game "Stilni" Engages Six Japanese Ships. Russians Lose Engineer and Six Marines, But Entrance is Clear. slav Squadron Went for
 the Enemy.
TORPEDO BOATS FIGHT

of darkness this morning Vice Admiral Togo made another desperate attempt to bottle up the Russian fleet in Port Ar thur, but he failed again, and when after daylight Vice Admiral Makaron steam ed out to give battle the Japanese commander refused the challenge and sailed away.
 The Japanese practically repeated the tactics of February 24 by sending in four fire ships proceeded by torpedo boat fio- tflla with the captain of the lire ships this time. armed with Hotchkiss guns for the purpose of keeping of Russian torpedo boat destroyers.
 The enemy's attempt was discovered by means of the searchlights and a heavy fire was opened from the batteries and from two gunboats which were guarding the advance to the harbor.
 The Russian torpedo boat destroyer Silni was outside on scouting duty. and to the dash and nerve of her commander. Lieutenant Krinizki, fis chiefly due the complete defeat of the plans of the Jap anese. He at once made straight for the oncoming ships under a hail of fire from the Hotchkies guns and torpedoed the leading ship; which sheered off, follow ed by the others, three of them being piled up on the shore under Golden Hill and one under the light house. The Silni then engaged the entire six torpedo boats of the enemy coming out from terrihc fight with seven killed and her command CT and twelve of hSr crew wounded. but on the Japanese side only one boats crew was saved In addition. according to un- official reports, 1t is believed that the Japanese lost two torpedo boats.
 The Japanese cruisers. which support ed the attack, exchanged shots with the batteries and they drew off, after which Vice Admiral MakaFoff took steam launch and examined the fire ships.
 An hour later the Japanese torpedo fiotilla followed by Vice Admiral. Togo's fleet, came up from a southerly direction. Just at daybreak Vice Admiral Maka-' rolf, with his fleet, sailed to engage the enemy, but after the ships and the bat terles had fired few long distance shots, Vice Admiral To8o decided 10 decline the issue and disappeared to the southward. The news of the repulse of Vice Admi- ral Togo's second attempt to block Fort Arthur created much rejoicing in the Russian capital and among all classes the gallantry of the Silni and her com mander is the subject of high praise; but above all the moral effect of Vice Admi- ral Makarofrs willingness. to engage the enemy, showed that he considered him. self strong enough to fight, produced a splendid impression.
 Meaning of Attempt.
 In high official circles this new ehort to bottle up the Russian fleet is looked upon as meaning one thing. namely that the Japanese as stated by the Associat- ed Press on March 24 are preparing for a heavy landing of troops in the Gulf or Liao Tung, either at Newchwang or on the west coast of the MHnchurian neutral zone. to effect which in safety the immo- bility of Vice Admiral Makaroff's fleet is absolutely essentt t,l, while the trans ports are being conveyed around the southern end of the peninsula.
 If the attempt had succeeded 1t would have Required several days at least to blow up the steamers and clear away the wreckage during which time the Japanese would be assured of non-interference in the carrying out of their purposes. The failure of the Japanese this morning may seriously hamper their plans as the leo in the Liao river is going out and when the river is free from ice its rAouth can be easily mined.
 The conviction continues to grow here that the Japanese have concluded that it would be lnadvisable to make another direct frontal attack on Manchuria from Korea against the whole Russian assem- bIy and that it will be necessary to land a standing column in the Gulf of LiaO Tung to divide the attention of the Rus sians, and If possible, to seize and cut of Port Arthur.
 The ground above Newchwang is per- fectly familiar to the Japanese, who oe- cupied it for a year during the Chino-Jap- anese war. Some experts even go so far as to express the belief that Vice Ad- miraf Togo was covering the movement 3f transports in the Gulf of Liao Tung this morning, and that therefore he was compelled to exercise great caution and to decline the Russian offer of another en- gagepent. Another view of the Japanese main purpose which is less entertained, Is that he gives that bombardments from Piegeon Bay would be disastrous to the Russian fleet, if 1t were compelled to re- main in the harbor, he having ascertain ed from observation that the Russian fleet always passes out during thelg lgh angle bombardments and that shell dropped on the ships could easily pierce the deck, and exploding. might completely de- stroy 1t.