The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-10
THREE WAR VESSELS BEACHED
They Are The Russian Battleships
Poltara and Czarevitch and The
Cruiser Boyarin.

that they left the vicinity after the tor
pedo attack of Monday night.
The Russian fleet outside of the harbor
consisted of the battleships Petropaulovski
flagship; Pereswet, sub-fagship; Pobieda,
Poltava, Cnarevitch, Retvizan and Sebas-
topol, ard the cruisers Novik, Boyarin,
Bayaru, Dianu, Palada, Askold and
Angara.
The disabled battleships are inside forts
Huan Ching Shan and Chi Kwan Shan.
The cruiser is outside, but within range
of the forts.
The British steamer Columbia which
arrived here today from Port Arthur
bringing news of the attack by the Japa..
ncse fleet upon the Russian fleet, reports
that Columbia had narrow escape from
INJURY. Her passengers and crew were
very much excited.
While going out of the roads at Port
Arthur the Russian cruiser Noyik got
between the Columbia and the Japanese
fleet Her flag was cut into shreds ard
one shell fell on her--deck.s The faces
of those who were on deck were black
ened with powder smoke.
A naval officer who was recently at
Port Arthur says the Russians were not
prepared for the attack on their ships
and had an insufficient amount Of steam
up. A boat patrolled the Straits of Pe
Chi Ii continuously, but apparently the
japanese torpedo boats were not noticed
until after the first torpedo was fred The
Russians fired. but the Japanese lid not
return the fire and backed off. An hour
later the discharge of torpedoes was re-
peatcd, after which the torpedo boats
withdrew some distance.
At ten o'clock Tuesday morning the
Japanese fast cruisers circled within view
CT the whole Russian fleet, but they We're
not engaged The Russians returned TO-
ward the harbor after an hour.
The Japanese, continuing, came within
three miles. A battle then began between
the Russian forts and fourteen ships ard
sixteen Japanese vessels. A few of lie
Japanese shells were effective, but as la:
as seen the Russians shots fell short. The
Jalanese feet YVES steaming toward Daluy
when seen last.
The steamer Columbia left just as Tues
day mornings contest began and was u,l-
able to learn the result. Il is rrobaD.e
that the Japanese fleet was conveying
twenty-six troops ships from Sasebo to
some port of Korea.
Japanese are reported to be il posses
sion of the southern portion OF the peni,l-
sula.
STORY OF BATTLE.
Cheefoo, Feb "a member OF the crew
| of the Columbia tells this story of the
naval battle at Port Arthur:
The Columbia was lying in TIE road
stead surrounded by fourteen Russian
| battleships and cruisers. AT 1880 o'clock
Monday night a severe shock YVES felt CD
beard the Columbia. The Russians lmnie
diate!y commenced TO operate their
searchlights and opened fire towards the
sea. The firing lasted only short time.
At l O'Clock more shocks were telt aa1
the Russians again commenced firing.
The japanese did not return the fire.
At 2 O'clock two Russian battleshrs w2rt
in and were beached across the entrance
of the harbor. They were soon followed
By a Russian cruiser which also was
beached None of the vessels were dam
aged above the water line. More snock;
from torpedoes were felt during the cari:-
morning and then all was quiet.
"At ten o'clock Tuesday mornicg thyee
japanese cruisers passed Port Arthur in
sight of the Russian fleet. The whole
Russian fleet Immediately weighed anchor
and went after them but returned in half
al hour