The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-14
ACCOUNT from TOXIC.
Japanese Claim to Have inflicted
Great Damage

Japanese claim 70 have 1nnlcted
Great Damage
Toxic March 13-Ohicial and private
reports both indicate that Admiral To-
go's fourth attack on Port Arthur on
the 10th instant was the most. effective
since the first assault of "a month ago.
one Russian torpedo boat destroyer was
sunk and several Russian torpedo boa [
dostroyers seriously damaged. The for
titcationS and city were subjected TO a
heavy bombaTdment lasting nearly four
hours. The naval commandments OF the
land works have generally been ineffec-
tive. yet the peculiar typographical con-
ditiOnS Of Port Arthur make immunity
from serious loss from bonn bardment
almost impossible. Admiral Togo's tor
pedO fiotilla opened the action by boldly
Steaming i'm under the batteries and
successfully placing a number of me-
chanical mines at the mouth of the har-
Dor. Following that there was a des-
perate bow-to-bOW encounter between
the torpedo boat destrOyers, in which
the Japanese appear TO have scored a
clear victory. Then followed a long
range duel between the cruisers. ending
I'm the retirement of the Novik and
Bayan. the only Russians engaged. The
closing action was the bombardment
OF the inner harbor by the japanese
battleships.
City Bombarded
The latter took a position southwest
of Port Arthur and used only their
Finch guns. There were twenty-four
12-inch guns in the squadron of six bat
ueships, and each gun fired five rounds
making a total of 100 huge proiectiles
that were hurled at the city. The bonn
bardment was deliberate and carefully
calculated. In order 10 aid in perfecting
the firing. Admiral Togo stationed the
cruisers in a position due east of the
entrance 10 the harbOr and at a right
angle 10 the battleships. The cruisers
observed the range and effect of the
firing and signaIed the results and
suggestions by wireless biography.
These observations and reports greatly
aided the gunners in their effort TO
make every shell count. Admiral Togo
was unable TO definitely learn the re-
suits OF the bOmbardment. but later pri-
Nate reports indicate that much de-
struction was caused in the city. where
a series Of fires broke out. There was
also serious damage 20 the batteries.
Desperate Battle.
Captain Shojiro Asai, commanding
the flOtilla of torpedo boat destroyers
which engaged the Russian destEoyers.
is the hero fthe attack. He had only
three destroyers. but attacked the six
russian destroyers, ordering his craft
TO close in with the enemy. He steamed
so close to the enemy's deStrOyers that
the vessels almost touched. and a des-
perate conflict ensued from which the
Russians retired badly disabled.
Engineer Minamisawa of the DESTROY
or Kasumi received a mortal wound
NinamisaWa participated in the first
torpedo attack on Port Arthur also i'm
tho attempt 10 bottle the harbor by
sinking commercial steamers. He was
commended both times for his gallant
~ The Japanese hotilla which sunk
the mines at the mouth of the harbor
later engaged two Russian destrOyers
Ihis hOtilla was commanded by Com
mander NJ. Tsuchiya. Admiral Togo's
object IL sending cruisers to fallen
Wan bay was to encompass the de-
EtrUction of a signal station mine depot
on SamshantaO. This object was ac-
compliShed and the buildings were de-
mOlished.
Excitement at Toxic. .
Rear Admirals Dewa and Uriu par
uceeated IN the. operations under Ad-
miral Togo, the details OF whose opera
tons became known IN Japan only to-
day. The news created intense enthus-
asm. Admiral Togo's' report came last
night. but IL was withheld until shown
TO the emperor Admiral Togo is per
manently numbered among the heroes
Of the empire.
The latest reports place the JaDanesa