The San Francisco call., 1904-12-16
BATTLESHIP SEVASTOPOL
DISABLED AND JAPANESE
TORPED0-BOAT MISSING
FIERCE NAVAL FIGHT
Small War Vessel
and Crew Dis
appear.

TOXIC, Dec. 15.-The turretship
Sevastopol is still afioat. but is ap-
parently damaged.
The partially successful torpedo at
tack on the Sevastopol was made in
the face of almost insurmountable OBJ
stacles and writes another inspiring
story OF the splendid bravery of a
number of officers. The entire crews
Of the torpedo-b boat destroyers and tor
pedo-boats volunteered for the task,
courting death in their efforts to de-
strOy the only floating Russian battle
ship at Port Arthur.
Facing a driving snowstorm and
heavy seas, the fotillas separated and
under individual commanders the YES
sells attacked independently. The
decks of the destroyers and torpedo
boats were coated with ice and the
men suffered acutely from the cold.
The Russians resorted to the most
extreme precautions to protect the
Sevastopol. They dropped nets, which
shielded the bows of the Warship, and
the Sevastopol was further protected
by an especially constructed wooden
boom, the framework of which was
composed of iron-bound logs and
cables and heavy chains, interlaced
and entangled. From the surface of
this boom hung a deep curtain made
of torpedo nets, taken from the sunken
battleships, the purpose of which was
to catch and destroy the torpedoes and
their mechanism.
The Japanese probably refrained
from attempting to cut or jump the
boom, but the torpedo-boats and de-
stroyers evidently forced the openings,
which the Russians had left to allow
communication with tho harbor.
The commander of the Japanese
third squadron, reporting at 10:35
o'clock yesterday morning, said:
Commencing at 11:3O o'clock on Tuesday
nesday morning six torpedo-boats and espe-
ciaily fitted torpedo craft constantly made at
tacks against the Russian battleship Sevasto-
pol the coast defense vessel Otvashni and the
military transports.
Details Of the attacks are not yet known.
However, according to reports received from
the watch tower at clock this morning the
Sevastopol had commenced lowering astern. and
the water was said TO have reached the torpeSo
tubes astern.
The same commander, telegraphing
last night, said:
IA "wednesday. Commander Otaki, leading
notilla Of torpedo-boate. and Lieutenant Miya-
moto leading another hotilla, began attacks
against the Sevastopol and the transports.
Otaki's fotilla failed to accomplish its pur
pose owing e t, he severe sn9TStGr Is rsacnn the
intended spot by taking advantage of the fact
that the enemys searchlights were exposing
Otaki's hotflla. and not directed against
Miyamoto's In the thick os the snow, while
Miyamoto's fotilla was searching for the en-
emy's ships one torpedo-boat became lost from
its comrade ships.
At o o'clOck Lieutenant Nakamuoss torpedo
boat Independently attacked military trans
port Another torpedo-boat under Aiyamoto
discharged and exploded torpedo against the
Sevastopol. Both returned safely, but failed
20 meet the missing torpedo boat.
Lieutenant Nagata commanding this boat,
has not returned and there is anxiety for the
safety OF the boat and crew.
To-day the watch tower guardship reports
that the stern Of the Sevastopol appears to have
lowered three feet.