The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-01
STORY OF THE EFFORT
TO BOTTLE THEM UP.

London, March 31.-A correspondent
of the Times at sea, in a wireless tel
egram via Wei-Hai- describing
the last attempt of the japanese to bot
tie up Port Arthur, says:
After the bombardment of March p,
Vice Admiral Togo waited until better
weather before reattempting to bottle
up Port Arthur The officers who con-
Quoted the first attempt insisted upon
their right to complete their work. The
admiral consented, and the same Off
GERS were chosen. but the crews and
stokers were selected from new Volun-
teers.
The moon disappeared at midnight
and the sea was like glass when the
desperate enterprise was begun. Wheh
within two miles of the goal, the
frenzied motions of a searchllght snow
ed that suspicion had been awakened,
and suddenly a solitary gun announced
that the japanese had been discovered
The Russians sprang to the guns oil
the batteries, and in three minutes the
Japanese craft were enclosed in SEMI
circle of gun flashes. The sea was
churned to a turmoil by falling Shells
but there was no hesitation. The tor
pedo boats opened out and the trans
ports, with men standing at the hie-
boat stations, steered directly INTO tne
inferno. There was then only a mile
10 traverse and the safety fuses were
ready.
at was Just at $3.50 o'clock in the
morning when the Chiyo Maru led
with a searchlght beating upon her,
and she target for hundred guns
towards the east side of the entrance.
The fuses were set and the crew push
=
of suspense. The charge exploded
sinking her 100 yards from a point on
the east side of the entrance.
1.-THE Fukui Maru next passed on the
port side of the Chiyo Maru and drop
ped anchor just as the officers and
crew pushed clear there was dull ex-
plosion She had been struck and sunk
in the exact place which the japanese
desired by a torpedo from within the
harbor.
80 close were the defending de-
stroyers that the Yenamya Maru was
grazed by a Russian destroyer ana
her crew was scorched by the flame
of a discharging Russian 6-poundef
gun.
1T was a horrible melee, but the
Japanese kept their presence of mind
throughout, and their steadiness was
shown by the fact that before she had
been fouled by the destroyer, the
Yenamya Maru passed to starboard
of the Chiyo Maru and then between
her and the Fukui Maru and reached
the center of the channel where she
was hit by torpedo, which sank her
on the west side of the channel her
bow pointing toward the shore.
Not a man of the transports crews
was drowned.
THE enterprise failed completely to
block the channel because there were
only four transports. 1t is probable,
however, that the channel has been
rendered impracticable for the large
battleships, and it is certain that the
Japanese will not rest until the chan
mel has been closed.
THE maneuver was covered by
torpedo division, which. running In
close. endeavored to draw the fire of
the land batteries from the main en-
terprise This division remained in
action until all the crews were res
cued, and just before daybreak was
engaging a Russian destroyer, which
remained at the entrance line, firing
torpedoes during the night. The scream
of escaping steam proclaimed that the
Russian had been damaged in her vi
tails.
AT daybreak the flotilla drew or
under cover of the fleet, which was
waiting ten miles outside"