The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-10

first attack on Port Arthur by Jap
torpedo bonts was given to a Rus
sian officer on the vicerOy's staff by
Lieutenant Fu-Rak, Japanese navy.
who in the discharge of his duty feIl
overheard from one of the torpedo
boats and was picked up. Until re-
Gently Fu-Rak was a prisoner Of war
in Port Arthur but the Gar ordered
that he be sent to St. Petersburg. as
he desires to hear the story Of shis
great feat Of arms from the enemy's
own lips.
Since February we had been hover
ing about the Gulf of Iiau Tung, going
out nightly OF watch the enemy. and
make sure of its signaling code. We
We're well up in the code. used in times
OF peace, but surmised that a new one
might go into effect the moment war
was declared. Our orders were to in
fict the greatest possible damage At
the start. just as the Spaniards 'remov-
ed one of the foremost American bat
tleships, even before war with the
United States was officially declared.
Our torpedo boats are one and all
manned with young fellows. daring and
ambitious. and were were burning with
desire to strike the first blow.
"On the early morning Of February 8,
after receipt Of dispatches. a war eoun-
eli was held about the deliberations Of
which 1 know nothing. as junior officers
did not participate in the session. But
at its conclusion we were given to I'M
derstand that we must mold ourselves
ready night and day. without. however,
letting the crew know that a decided
step was on the boards. Morning and
the early part Of the afternoon passed
IN various drills. At o'clock sharp Of
ficers and men not on actual duty were
ordered below 10 take a good rest.
AT O'Clock fine dinner was served,
the men receiving extra portions OF rice,
fresh fish ana tea. while the table OF the
officers mess was more richly set than
ever except on the Mikados birthday.
AT p. m. we started upon our mys-
terious mission at half speed. There was
much excitement among the officers.
more perhaps among those who. like
myself, did not know that among the
staff officers, who were In the secret
While we were Ieisurely steaning along
the men not on actual duty were kept
below and the officers had 70 see to il
that they did not spend their time chat
ting ana smoking. They were to gather
strength for the fray.
Russians Are Sighted.
Toward II o'clock the enemy was
sighted. Through the dark night we wit
messed the maneuvers OF the Cars
fleet. conducted as openly and II 1 may
say So as carelessly. as II the ships
were in some Baltic port. The Rus
slams were playing attack and defense.
and the JAMS. of course, were ignornin-
lousy beaten. We recognized, by their
signal lights. the PaIlada, Retvizan and
Czarevitch. Being in the outer haToor,
they could be distinctly seen. In the
war play going on they acted the parts
aftel ward forced upon them with such
terrible earnestness-
1T seemed to US that they acted with !
a great deal of assurance, like 50 many |
big ma5tiffs declining to notice the /
snarls o. a parcel Of terriers. FoiS OF
the enemy's torpedo boats We're feign- |
ing attack, but as they represented I
only Japs, they went about business !
in foolish and haphazard fashion. At /
any rate, the commanders OF the Cars /
battIeships and cruisers dispatched the /
ANNOYING torpedoes without effort and /
with naughty mien. as II 10 say: 'PshaW, 1
a Jap torpedo IS unworthy or our I'M /
,.-ThA war play continued for a short |
half hour then the Russian torpedo |
boats disappeared in the direction OF /
Just as II there was no such thing as a /
conflict between Russia and Japan We I
might have put an end 10 their asSur- /
ance then and there II we had not hAd 4
our eye on bigger game.
The night was getting thicker. On /
our four boats every man was al ms 1
post, feeling It in his bones that the /
nour for action had come. \ et the Wofo /
attack was never mentioned until the |
crucial moment When II did come II Z
came like an electric bolt. setting our |
Il a.An
Lights had been extinguishe6 on all /
our boats the moment we came WITHIN 4
sight of Port Arthur, and we renamed 1
dark for forty minutes after the Rus
sian torpedo boats steamed away Tor 4
Dalny.
when one by one had vanished in |
the darkness. orders were EVEN 20 81 ., - ~
up in line, and each commander Went
on a last tour Of inspection. examining
every compartment and bulkheao, look
ing after the engines, taking the report
If 1he chief engineer. speaking kindly /
to the men, and giving a maj look 10 I
the ammunition. Then the chieI gun
ners tested the tubes IN the coInIn il.a,lI,.
er's presence. showing that every screw
was in perfect working order and that
all emergencies had BEEN taken into
Next saw my chief lean across the
bow and ask in a whisper, All ready?
-" All ready came the message from
the three other boats. No more was
said or done. and business opened at
that very moment
Seen From the Bridge.
ct was ordered TO attend the naviga-
tor on the bridge and had no sooner
taken my stard at his side. when our
boat went ahead. We were cautiously
feeling our way through the darkness,
avoiding noise as much as possible.
COCINJI CTC DEDI