Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-18


the night attack one officer was serious
ly and three others were slightly
wounded, two soldiers were killed and Is
were wounded.
Bonbardment Of Port Arthur.
"At nine o'clock IA of the enemy's ships
assembled before Port Arthur and bonn
bardment was begun with the heavy
guns of their battleships squadron at
long range. This lasted until one o clock
In tbs afternoon. 1t is estimated that
the enemy fired 154 Pinch shells. The
de mage to our vessels was insignificant.
and they are again ready for battle. Our
losses were one officer slightly wounded
and one soldier killed and four soldiers
wounded
The illumination of the sea at night
by the searchlights mounted at our bat
teries was most satisfactory, and sew
eral times isolated shots from our bat
teries forced the enemy's torpedo boats
to retire. With the commencement Of
the bombardment at dawn the guns of
the fortress replied to the enemy's fire.
The crews of all the ships engaged
gave proof of remarkable GOODNESS in
action. Below decks the work of the
day followed its ordinary course, in spite
of the shells falling between the vessels
and covering them with fragments. A
bombardment at such distance must be
considered ineffective, but the Japanese
cruiser Takasago is reported to have
been seen to suffer serious damage, the
extent OF which. however, it was impos.
sible to ascertain at q distance of five
miles. Many shells were fired at range
OF ~ miles.
II have the honor to report the forexo-
ing to your majesty.
"ALEXIEFF."
Praise for Makaro6.
st. Petersburg, March 1.-THE com.
plete story Of the fierce fight off Port
Arthur between the torpedo notillas.
which occurred Wednesday and the
bombardment which followed ON Thurs.
day morning, was not given out here
until after midnight. The official mes
sages from Viceroy Alexieff had been
received during the day and presented
to the emperor, but the public remained
In suspense. When the texts an.
peared it became evident that the col
lisions between the torpedo flotillas had
occurred accidentally during the night,
while the Russians were scouting in
search Of the enemy.
AS far as is known here this is the
first time torpedo boats have engaged
each other at sea. Although the odds
were against the Russian. as the
Japanese fotilla was supported by the
cruiser squadron, the Russians made q
heroic dash for the foe and apparently
had the better Of the combat. sinking
a Japanese torpedo boat, until the
cruisers got within range, and one Of
the latter's shells crippled the Sters.
guschtchi.
| The gallant action Of Vice Admiral
Makaron in transferring his flag to the
fast cruiser Novik and sailing out in
the face Of the enemy in an attempt at
rescue, receives unstinted praise
stamping him at the outset Of his com.
| mand as man Of force and action
who insists on being in the van Of the
fighting.
The removal Of the battleship Retvi
Fan from the mouth of the inner har.
Dor, which marked the assumption OF
command by Admiral Makaroff, will
permit the free exit Of the heavy arm
ored ships. 1t had been believed that
the reason why the Russian ships had
not made sortie before was the ap
prehension Of meeting with superior
force, but 1t is now clear that the
ships were unable to leave. With the
channel open, it is expected that Ad
miral Makaroff will make the squadron
an aggressive force. Approaching thu
misfortune Of the division Of the fee
before the war, it is believed that Ad
miral Makaroff will attempt to unite
his forces by bringing the Vladivostol
squadron to Port Arthur.
| Expresses Russia's Thanks.
| Washington, March 12.-Count Gas
sina, the Russian ambassador called o,
Secretary Hay Friday at his residence
and in the course Of a long CONVEX
sation on Russo-American relation!
personally and officially thanked thu
secretary and through him the govern
ment Of the United States for the proc
lamatiou issued by the President yes
terday enjoining prudence and eau
ton on officials in speech and actor
- 49, FrSY.