The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-21
BY WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.
Another Account of the Torpedo Boat
Battle

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of the Times at New Chuang cables as
follows;
According to information received
here. the reason the Vladivostok forts
did not reply 10 the bOmbardment by
the japanese was because the batteries
were not provided with guns. Since the
bOmbardment parties have been work
ing night and dag 10 place guns in posi-
ton. The bombardment destroyed the
Linevitch battery. The Russian losses
We're slight, because the batteries were
deserted. The same conditions pre-
vail at VladivOstok as at Port Arthur
The supply Of provisions there is run
ming short and the population is panic
stricken. The ice is considered the only
real protection.
Old Story of Feb. 9.
4 correspondent of the Times with
the Japanese forces. by wireless teleg-
raphy via Weihaiwei. under date of
March 20, sends over a column of mat
ter. which is mostly u description OF
the torpedo fight between the Russians
and Japanese on March 2. He says
that Admiral Togo has been compare
lively passive. according 70 the last ad-
vices. and that Port Arthur has been
given a respite. although the cruiser
and the torpedo boat destroyers have
kept a close blockade
The correspondent says that Vice
Admiral kamimura's bOmbardment OF
NladivostOk was solely intended TO
harraSs the Russians and compel the
Russian cruisers 20 leave the harbor.
The vice admiral brought his ships
within range opposite the dead point
OF the forts on the northeast entrance.
The Russians did not reply because the
Japanese vessels took up position
beyond the arc of the training of their
guns.
Vice Admiral Kamimura. the CORE
spOndent says. sailed south on March
II, after searching Amur bay.
Makarof Changed Things.
Since Vice Admiral Makaroffs arriv-
al at Port Arthur he adds. the Rus
slams defensive tactics have been more
active. and their torpedo boat destroy
erS more alert and enrerprising.
Describing the fight between the Rus
sian and Japanese torpedo boats. the
correspondent confirms the ferceness of
the contest. The vessels were 50 close
that the Russians threw charges of ex-
ploSives on the bridge Of one of the
japanese boats. These however. failed
to detonate All the vessels engaged
were more or less damaged The Jap
anese losses were six killed and eight
wounded. That the Russians We're de-
feated in spite of their superior num-
bers is due to the better shooting OF
the japanese and the fact that the Rus
sian vessels We're armed with three
pound guns. while the armament OF
the japanese ships was made up OF
SiX-pOunderS.
Officers Are Killed.
In reference to the fight Of three
hours which occurred later. the CORE
spondent says the Russians fought with
desperation, and the Japanese with a
confidence born of their past victories.
one Russian commander was killed
early in the fight. \ lieutenant then
took command only 10 fail. shot in
both legs Then the command devolved
upon the sub lieutenant. who also was
killed after taking the wheel himself.
When the cOXswain fell this vessel was
captured by the Japanese The other
Russian vessels escaped.
On the Japanese side one DESTROYER
was hit on the water line. two of her
compartments We're flooded and her
quick firing ammunition was wetted.
This vessel retired from the action. Her
officers escaped narrowly from a
tWelVe-pound shot, which struck the
platform in front of the bridge, killing
one man end sweeping the bridge with
splinters- The same vessel received a
three-pOund shot through the hull but
the damage was repaired within four
days.
Sickening Sight.
A Japanese lieutenant. who boarded
the Stereguschtchi, said he had never
seen a more sickening sight Thirty
bodies, terribly mutilated by a shell,
were lying on the deck. As the Japan
csc approaches two Russian bluejackets
rushed from the coming tower locat-
ed themselves in the cabin aft and re
fused 10 come out. Two stokers jumped
overheard and were picked up. These.
with two wounded men. were the only
survivors of crew of fifty-hve.
When the Stereguschtchi sank the
men who were locked in the cabin sank
with her.
The fight lasted nearly an hour. The