The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-03-19

st. Petersburg, March 1.-THE en-
peror has received a message from
Viceroy Alexieff which says: Admiral
Makaroff, commanding the fleet, reports
from Port Arthur under date Of March
II as follows: six torpedo boats which
went out to sea the night Of March H.
four of them being under the general
command of Capt. Mattoussevitch, en-
countered the enemy's torpedo boats
followed by cruisers. A hot action en-
sued in which the torpedo boat destroyer
Vlastini discharged a Whitehead tor
pedo and sunk one Of the enemy's tor
pedo boats. On the way back the torpedo
boat destroyer Stereguschtchi, com-
manded by Lieut.. Sergueieff, sustained
damages. Her engine was disabled and
she began to founder. BY eight O'Clock
in the morning five Of our torpedo boat
destroyers had returned. When the
critical position of the Stereguschtchi
became evident hoisted my flag on the
cruiser Novik and went with the Noyik
and the cruiser Boyarin to the rescue.
But as five of the enemy's cruisers sur
rounded our destroyer, and as their bat
tleship squadron was approaching, did
not succeed In saving the Stereguschtchi,
which foundered, Part of the crew was
made prisoner and part was drowned.
ION the ships which participated in
the night attack one officer was serious
ly and three others were slightly
wounded, two soldiers we're killed and IL
were wounded.
Bombardment of Port Arthur.
AT nine o'clock IA ofthe enemy's ships
assembled before Port Arthur and a bonn
bardment was begun with the heavy
guns Of their battleships squadron at
long range. This lasted until one o'clock
In the afternoon. 1t Is estimated that
the enemy fired 1874 12-inch shells. The
damage 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 tothe 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 a distance must be
considered ineffective, but the Japanese
cruiser Takasago is reported to have
been seer to suffer serious damage, the
extent of which, however, 1t was impos-
sible to ascertain at a distance of FIVE
miles. Many shells were fired at a range
of IA miles.
81 have the honor TO report the forego-
ing to your majesty.
"ALExIEFF."
Port Arthur Prepares for Siege.
Tientsin, March lit is reported
the Russians are withdrawing all su-
perfiuous troops from Port Arthur to
Hardin and Kirin, owing to the short
ness OF provisions at Port Arthur. 1t
is stated that explosives are being
placed In houses at Dalny in prepara-
ton for the Japanese occupation Of
that town, which is regarded as In
eyitable in the near future.
Russians at Newchwang are prepared
to block the river and scuttle the gum
boat Siyoutch In the event Of the jap
anese advancing on the town. Probably
In that event the Russians will with
draw, as 1t is doubted despite the 3d.
900 troops there. whether they would