Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-11
Today's Telegraphic News
The Siege of Port Arthur.

patches reporting W. - barhor
Russian fleet from Port Arthur nSi TO-
and subsequent naval engagement Inc
J;snotch 10 the legation reads
rVarious reports from Talien- wan
how that the Russian squadron emerged
en-, Port Arthur on the morning OF
August 10. A severe naval battle ensued
continuing till sunset. la the night our
torpedo flotilas seem to have attacked
the enemy's squadron, for at dawn, Oh
August II, the Retvizan aid another
ba'tleship, ofthe Pobieda type, appeared
to be taking flight toward Port Arthur
The Toxic correspondent of the Reu-
ter Telegram Comps wiring regarding
the fight outside of Port Arthur, says the
result of the torpedo attack is not known.
The Retyizan and PObieda were seen out
side of Port Arthur This morning.
Continuing, The correspondent says;
"The Russian Aee. consisted OF six bat
tIeships and four cruisers. The torpedo
boats of the Russians, which are smaller
than the japanese vessels, opened fire on
the Japanese. The pursuit lasted for two
and half hours"
The press dispatches vary from the
legation report, in that the former assert
that the Russian fleet eluded the watch
full japanese and steamed away from the
port, escaping the line of vessels under
Admiral Togo until they were we'll out
to sea. The japanese vessels are said
to have given pursuit, and naval en-
gagement in the open sea is expected.
These details cannot be confirmed and
are in part denied in effect by the lega-
zion report, which states that the Rus
sian battleships Retvizan and Pobleda
were seen returning to Port Arthur this
morning.
Toxic, Aug. 1.-THE net of Japan
csc troops about Port Arthur is drawing
daily closer. Heavy siege guns have
been stationed in new positions and are
now able to pour shell and heavy shotin
to the town from high angle. These new
positions also permit well placed she'll
ing of the ships in the harbor. This
latter phase Of the situation is probably
what forced the Russian fleet to make
the sortie yesterday, which was frustrat-
ed by Togo's vigilance.
Chefoc, Aug. 1.-THE Russian tor
pedo destroyer which reached here from
Port Arthur today, and which brought
news of the Russian sortie from the
port. is the Rechitelni. According to
the captain of the destroyer, the Japa-
nese continue to attack Port Arthur in
energetic fashion. Their line now ex
tends FROM Tulsa Bay on the north shore,
to point Immediately east of Tachi
Bay, which is about seven miles east OF
Port Arthur. The japanese, he says,
are wasting lives by their reckless cour-
age. Positions are frequently lost and
retaken, only to be lost and retaken
again. Five passengers aboGru the de-
stroyer confirm the reports that the
shells from Wolf Hill are falling in
Port Arthur. Several civilians have
been injured.
Chefoo, Aug. IL. p. m.-The stcaDl-
er Tuug Chow reports that she sighted
six vessels during the night, in the
vicinity of Chefoo, which she believes
were Russians. 1t is rumored that a
sea fight has occurred near Round
Island but this report cannot be
verified.
London Aug. ia dispatch to the
Central News from st. Petersburg says
it is reported there that the japanese
have advanced against the Russian left
flank in neighborhoOd of Lao Yang.
1t is also reported that the japanese have
retired from some of their southern
positions. Apparently the advance on
Lao Yang has begun.
Chefoo, Aug. ll.-Sixteen Russian
warships have been sighted off here.
Cheioo, Aug. 11.-Three japanese
torpedo boat destroyers are outside Che
foo harbor, watching for the Russian
destroyer Rechitelni, which arrived to-
day from Port Arthur. A previous dis
patch from ChefoO stated that sixteen
Russian warships had been sighted off
that port If the above dispatch is true,
the dispatch relative to the Russian war
ships being sighted must necessarily
have been unfounded in fact.
London, Aug. II. The Chefoo COZ
respondent of the Reuter- Telegram Com
pany SAYS the report that the Russian
warships Retyizan and Pobiedo had re-
turned to Port Arthur is denied.
Chefoo, Aug. ia report is current
this morning that the japanese cruiser
Kasagi was sunk in the naval battle
which followed the sOrtie of the Russian
fleet from Port Arthur harbOr.
London, August IA naval officer,
who has watched the sea movements of
the war in the East closely, said today
that the latest developments indicated
that the purpose Of yesterdays manoeu-
yre was TO get the hospital ship Mongolia
out OF Port Arthur to some friendly |
port. The Mo igolia is known to have |
a large number of sick aud wounded |
aboard, and besides there were women
and children whom the Russians were
anxious to get away. The closeness OF
the japanese force attacking by land and |
the fact that their shells were drop
ping into the town and harbor, prompted
the Russian Admiral to take the des-
perate resort of giving the enemy battle.
Under cover of the fighting, the naval
man thinks, the Mongolia and the Rus
sian destroyer stole away. Itthis theory
is correct the plan was successful. After
the Russian Admiral saw that the Mon
golia and her convoy we're we'll on their
way, it Is probable that be withdrew his