The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-18
| 0OKED ON WHILE
WARSHIPS FOUGHT
THRILLING STORY is TOLD
op THE LATEST BATTLE OF
FLEETS OFF PORT ARTHUR.


a PetropavIOvsx Survivor.
Tjao Yang. April 1.-THE Associat-
Cd Press correspondent, believing that
tb4 Japanese would repeat the at
tempt to block the entrance to Port
Arthur with fire ships on Easter eve,
went from Liao Yang to Port Arthur
q week ago yesterday.
For four nights 1 watched with the
sentries on Golden Hill. Three nights
passed quietly.
Tuesday night, April IL, Vice Ad-
miral Makaroff took to sea with his
entire squadron including fourteen tor
pedo boats. The next night, April IS,
in the teeth of a gale, eight torpedo
hoats were sent out to reconnoiter.
From Golden Hill, on which 1 was
standing, through the blackness the
searchlights of the Notifications fash
ed over the inky waters of the road
stead and far out to the hazy horizon.
At IL O'Clock 1 heard firing at sea,
and counted seven shots, but could see
nothing. At daybreak l made out
through the light haze to the south
ward. five miles in shore, torpedo boats
strung out in line, all firing.
In the lead and outstripping the
others was a boat heading at full
speed directly for the entrance of the
harbor. The last in line was clouded
in steam and tagging. She had evil
IDENTIFY been hit. 1t was difficult to
distinguish the color of the boats, but
finally, through my glasses, I saw that
the leader and the laggard were Rus
sian and that the four others were
Japanese.
The flash of the guns and splash of
the projectiles as they struck the water
showed the intensity of the conflict.
The torpedo boat, from which steam
was escaping, was firing viciously. The
four center craft drew together, con-
tracing their fire upon her, but the
crippled destroyer, poured. out her fire,
and was steadily keeping off her as
sailants.
1t Was the Bezstrashni.
The signal station flashed the news
to the men of the batteries that the
vesesl was the Bezstrashni.
The unequal combat was observed
with breathless interest, but the net
drew close around the doomed boat.
The four Japanese vessels formed
sem-circle and poured in deadly
fire. The steam from the Bezstrashni
grew denser, covering her like white
pail. Still she fought like a desper-
ately wounded animal brought to bay
Running straight for the adversary
barring her way to safety, she passed
the Japanese astern and fired at them.
At this stage Vice Admiral Makaroff,
who had been observing the progress of
the conflict through a telescope, sig
nailed to the cruiser Bayan, lying in
the harbor, to weigh anchor and go
out to the rescue. The japanese de-
stroyers clung to their victim like
hounds in chase They had been sep
arated but again resumed their for
nation. Small jets of flame and smoke
were squirting from the light rapid
irers, varied by denser clouds as tor
pedoes were discharged against the
Strashni.
1t was the end. The stricken boat
Ioosed a final round, but it was as if
a volley had been fired over her own
grave, for she disappeared beneath the
waves, only a little cloud of steam
marking the place where she went
down.
Pursued by the Bayan.
Satisfied with what they had accom-
plished, the Japanese torpedo boats
turned and made off at full speed, fol-
lowed by the Bayan To their sup
port came six of the enemy's cruisers.
sun the Bayan went on, seemingly in
Nltlng certain destruction. She soon
ported her helm to bring a broadside
10 bear upon the foe, which was ad-
Fancing in line of battle. She opened
upon them and then turned quickly
ana stood on into the hail of the enc
my s broadsides. The Japanese steam
eu at right angle, enabling all their
guns to bear. and projectiles rained
around the Bayan, raising columns of
home.
10 the eastward suddenly appeared
nVe more of our torpedo boats, re
5u'hlng to the harbor under forced
uraught. Two of the Japanese crlis-
ers were Immediately detached to cut
mem off, but the Bayan noticing the
movement, checkmated it by turning
upon them. The movement was cffec-
I'e' The Japanese slowed down and
~ me torpedo boats slipped through INTO
the harbor
Meantime, in accordance with Vice
sS1QIhlral Makaroff's orders, the battle
s!Ips and cruisers in the inner harbor
Tipped anchor. Majestically, the Petro-
paNloVsk flying the Admiral's flag,
a.gaiIled through the entrance. On her
oeFTarance the more formida BILE enemy
~ Japanese cruisers turned and fled.
te ADMIRAL signalled the Bayan to
urn. Then a stream of vari-colored
Bayan. F"
japanese Cruisers Fled.
by this time the entire Russian
pLt@IIon was in the outer harbor.
b5SIdes the Petropavlovsk, 1 saw the
sqs sueshlps Peresviet Polev, Pobieda
NJ MI oeVastopol, the cruiser Novik,
ia Askold and the torpedo boats.
s- ne nags announcing the Admirals
al ioprauon of the Bryan were haul
OWN and replaced by another
al 'l@1l. @ Immediately torpedo boats dash
70 mead and the heavier ships began
spread out
icing the fight of the japanese
users the Petropavolovsk opened fire
v.si -i her great guns, but the enemy
"a out OF range and soon disappear
our squadron continued the chase
"1Ia.lY fading from view.
waited anixously for its reappear-