The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-10
RUSSIANS oUTMANEUvERED.
Japs Shoot Better and Handle Ships
 More Seamanlike.

JdpS 0HOOC 6etCer ana dduulc Su1pS
 More Seamanlke.
 Paris, Feb. 10.-The correspondent at Che Foo of the Paris edition of The New York Herald describes. in a dispatch, the tranquil appearance of Port Arthur Mon day night, when a Russian official said he expected the Japanese fleet in three or four days.
 The weather was fine, and the Russian sailors impressively chanted their even- ing hymn. At o'clock the light house was lighted and the guiding lights were burning. Only one Russian ship was using her searchlight, and this in leis- urely fashion. Three torpedo boats were patrolling on the outskirts of the fleet. All the others were inside the basin
 4A deep silence settled down, but this was broken at Il 80 o'clock by three muf- fled explosions, which made the steamer Columbia vibrate violently. Immediately firing began and the scarchlights were used. but without much method.
 "I watched the operations" the corre- spondent goes on, thinking they were only manouvres, until midnight, when the firing almost ceased. It stopped en- tirely at 3 o'clock in the morning"
 The correspondent then describes the arrival and bleaching of the Russian ves- vels. which were at first supposed to have been in collision. But at twenty minutes of 3. Russian naval officers boarded the Columbia in a great state of excitement, saying the Vtceroy had ordered the Columbia not to attempt co leave. This was apparently done with the idea of preventing the ship from ac- quainting the Japanese with the extent of the damage.
 Daylight revealed two Japanese cruisers watching on the horizon. After daybreak Sfr anqfh.- capmCd tha Russians. The white faced gaping crews caowded forward on the decks of the dama ged vessels and none of the Russian shipus showed disposition to chase the en- emy or fire single shot till the Japanese had departed at twenty minutes past s, when the Russians started in pursuit, go- ing inshore toward Port Dalny. They re- turned, however. at a quarter past 9, with out having fired.
 It having apparently occurred to them that the Japanese had effected a com plete surprise, owing to their bad out look, the Russians now have outside five effective battleships and five effective cruisers, besides smaller vessels and SeV- enteen torpedo boats.
 It was almost Il o'clock when the Jap anese squadron of sixteen vessels, in- cluding five battleshlps, appeared in fine order.
 AL a QudrIcT past II CdHle lH6 nISl HdSl from Japanese vessel, and a Finch shell landed near the torpedo boats grouped near the entrance of the har- bor. The aim was splendid.
 Owing to confusion on the part of the quarantine officials or perhaps because the Russians thought the Japanese would not like to fire near the British flag the Columbia was close to the Russian fleet and in the line of fire, and the Japanese shells fell thickly around her, several bursting nearby and strewing her decks with splinters and water. The captain of the Columbia then got under way in spite of the protests of the Russian guards on board and got his vessel out of range. making full speed for Che Foo. The Russian guards were praying fer vently and the Chinese crew of the ship were frightened, but they worked we'll Those on board the steamer feared the Russian batteries would sink them for dlsobeying orders. the captains repeated signals for permission to proceed having been ignored
 The bombardment lasted until a quar- ter of twelve. The Japanese aimed their fire well, two shells bursting at the sum init of one fort and a number on the cliff and the beach. All were heavy shells. Some of them emitted d yellow smoke but from a majority came a dense black smoke. The rate or lire on both sides was slow. Three Russian battleships were hit, but the extent of the damage could not be ascertained. Apparently no ship on either side was disabled.
 The Russian cruiser Novk fought pluckily. keeping closer ny far than any other Russian vessels, to the Japanese until the heavy fire concentrated on her compelled her to retire on the battle ehips. The othe. Russian cruisers fought at first outside the line of battleshps
 The Russians seemed to have little for nation. but this was probably due to the cramped space. they being never more than one and a half miles from the shore and under the guns of the forts. which drod over them. This firing. however. was not frequent
 Before the action the men on the war ships could he seen throwing beds and humber overboard The Russian shin. constantly wheeled around in the same nosition, while the Japanese kept in splendid formation. The latter retired slowly in line to the southeastward
 The Columbia escaped with a small hoIa in her after-deCk.
 Japs Under Our Care St. Petersburg, Feb. 9,-t'nited States