Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-18
DUE TOGD's STRATEGY
Planned Laying the Mines
Which Wrecked Ship.
REPORT OF DISASTER
INTERESTING NfRRAT1vE OF A
SURVIVOR OF THE WRECK.
Saw Makarof Lying on His Face on
the Bridge-Russians Reported
Invading Korea.
REPORT OF DISASTER

Invading Korea.
A cablegram from London says: The
Times correspondent on board the steamer
Haimun, in the Yellow sea, cables under
yesterdays date, using wireless telegraphy
to Wei-hai-wei as follows:
Il now send further details of Admiral
Togos eighth attack on Port Arthur, which
1 reported briefly from the actual scene Of
fighting last Wednesday. Upon discover
ing from various sources that entrance to
the harbor at Port Arthur was still prac-
| ticable, Admiral Togo determined to try
| a new maneuver in order to effect the de-
struction of the Russian fleet. His scheme
was as follows:
HE determined to mine the mouth of the
harbor and place weak squadron outside
| the port in order to entice the Russians
out, while he himself, taking advantage of
| the fogs on the coast, lay off and prepared
to pounce in and catch the Russians at sea
II they succeeded in evading the mines.
How successful the ruse proved Is unfold
| ed in the following narrative:
Laid Mines Successfully.
During the night of the 18th instant
division Of destroyers and one torpedo
flotilla, escorting the Korio Maru, a min
ing vessel, arrived off Port Arthur. De-
stroyer f1otillas protected both tanks. and
the Korio went boldly in. The action of
this vessel Is typical of the reckless dar-
Ing of the Japanese. Although the con-
centrated beams Of four searchlights show
ed up every spar and rail Of the Korio, and
although a merciless fire swept around her,
she accomplished her object and came out
again unchanged, without the Russians
discovering her designs.
Supporting the enterprise was a SQUAD
ron consisting of two f1rst-class and four
second-class cruisers, and at daybreak in
terest centered in them. In the meantime
the destroyers were having an action by
themselves which will describe later.
Makaroff Accepted Challenge.
Day broke with the usual mist over the
land, though out at sea the atmosphere
was fairly clear. South Of Port Arthur 1t
was quite clear. but the fog was thick in
the direction Of Talienwan. The Russians
were all alert owing to the firing during
the night. Admiral Makaroff at a. M,
seeing only a weak squadron mena cling the
port. put to sea with the following force:
Battle ships Petropavlovsk, Poltava, Pob-
vieda, cruisers Diana, Askold and Novik.
These were joined noutside by the cruiser
Bayan which had been engaged with the
destroyers in the night. The japanese
cruiser squadron, seeing that the Russians
cleared the mines, steamed out to sea with
the Russians under full steam after 1t.
The latter opened a rapid long-range fire,
the Japanese replying at intervals
Started for the Harbor,
when the Japanese had drawn the Rus
slams out some fifteen miles they communi-
Gated the situation to Admiral Togo by
wireless biography Togo unfortunately,
was thirty miles away lurking under cover
OF the mist and rain squalls Immediately
upon receipt of the message he signaled the
Kasuga and Nishin to Join the battle ship
squadron and went forward at full steam.
pry1 1T ~ I~a H..
at this moment dispelling the mist, and the
Russian admiral, deserving the smoke,
guessed the ruse and put about under full
steam for Port Arthur, all the Japanese
ships pursuing him at their utmost speed.
1t was magnificent spectacle but the Rus
slams had not been enticed far enough out,
and had steamed under the protection Of
the guns of the fort before Admiral Togo
arrived within effective range.
Petropavlovsk is Destroyed.
Then a most extraordinary contretemps
happened. The Russians leading ship be-
neved to be the Petropavlovsk, because
covered with signal flags. listed heavily,
and in an incredibly short time sank. Ad
miral Togo's design had proved successful;
she had struck one of the Korio's mines
In a moment this fearful catastrophe threw
the whole Russian line into confusion, and
the vessels could be seen firing indiscrimi-
nately into the water in their immediate
terrible engines Of maritime warfare which
might remain. This was just about 1890
am.
1.-The remaining Russian vessels, having
cleared their front, steamed independently
into the harbor, covered by the fire of
the forts on Golden Hill. They were ia
vored by the mist, which still hung about
the approaches of the port, and gained the
inside by noon.
Russian Destroyer is Sunk.
Il must now return to the night attack
The second division of the japanese de-
stroyers, covering the mining enterprise,
lay off Swanson Point, and toward morn
ing discovered Russian destroyer evi-
IDENTIFY making for Port Arthur from Dalny.
AS soon as they discovered her the jap
anese went in pursuit, cut the Russian ves-
sci off, and destroyed her in ten minutes
with their six-pounders. While the Japanese
were attempting to save the unfortunate
crew they made out in the dim light the
great shadow of the four-funneled cruiser
Bayan bearing down upon them; also
another Russian destroyer. This destroyer
escaped, as 1t was now light, and 1t was
firers
The Bayan's Gallant Fight.
1.-THE Bayan then proceeded in the di-
rection of Port Arthur and was the first
to encounter the Japanese cruiser squad
ron, which she engaged single handed
until about to Join Admiral Makaroff's
line of battle as he emerged into the open
sea.
Shortly after noon Admiral Togo with
drew his whole force, which retired in
different directions and, concentrating
in the evening, anchored at sea within
striking distance of Port Arthur The fol-
lowing morning the torpedo-boat fotilla
and the second class cruisers were again
off Port Arthur, Aand further attempts
were made to draw the Russian fleet out,
but all was silent. and Admiral Togo's
vessels were not, even molested by the
shore batteries 70
Bombardment Last Friday.
ION the 18TH instant, therefore. Admiral
Togo again took hts battle feet up to
Port Arthur and made a demonstration.