The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-14

Toxic, March 14.-One Russian tor
pedo-boat destroyer was sunk and
several seriously damaged in bow
to-bow battle between the Russian
and Japanese fiotillas in the Lao-thie-
shan channel at Port Arthur Thursday.
A second Japanese torpedO-boat de-
stroyer fotilla succeeded in sinking
special mines at the entrance to the
harbor.
This attack on Port Arthur was the
most effective since the nrSC assault
q month ago.
Admiral Togo's report has been re-
ceived here. In it he says:
Our squadron, as prearranged, at
tackled the enemy at Port Arthur
March 10. Our two torpedo flotillas
reached the mouth of the harbor at
Port Arthur at o'clock in the morn
ing. -,
Finding no enemy. and waiting until
dawn, one flotilla engaged in sink
ing special mines In the harbor en-
trance. Notwithstanding the enemy s
fire, our flotilla succeeded in sinking
the mines.
THE other f1otilla met the enemy
torpedo f1otilla, consisting of six boats,
In the Lao-thie-shan channel sound
of Port Arthur at 4:30 o'clock. A hot
engagement occurred at close range
for thirty minutes. The enemy then
took flight.
Our fire greatly damaged the Rus
sian ships. one Of which was badly
crippled by a shot thru the boilers
and another was observed to be on
fire. SO close were the two fotillas
to each other that our destroyers, the
Asashio, Kasumi and Akatsuki, near
ly touched the enemy's ships and our
crews could even hear the cries OF
agony Of the Injured men on them
Our loss was seven killed and eight
wounded.
Engage in Battle.
"Our other flotilla, while leaving the
harbor entrance, observed two Rus
sian torpedo boats coming from sea-
ward and Immediately engaged them
the battle lasting one hour. After
causing them severe damage, one OF
them effected Its escape but our de.
stroyer, the Sasanami, captured the
other boat, which proved. to be the
Steregushtobi. .
soon parted and the Sasanami found
It necessary to take the crew from the
Russian boat and abandoned the
Steregushtchi, which finally sank a
1880.
1.-The enemy's cruisers, the Novil
and the Bayan, steamed out of thu
entrance Of the harbor toward us, bu
observing the approach Of our cruiser
SQUADRON, retired to the harbor. GU
fotilla suffered some damage, but no
heavy. The Sasanami and the Akat
suki had two sailors killed and Sub
Lieutenant Shima Of the Akatsuk
and three soldiers were wounded.
"Our main and cruiser squadron
arrived off Port Arthur at 8 o'clocl
and the cruisers Immediately ad
vanced toward the harbor entrance t.
protect the torpedo flotilla.
Indirect Cannonade.
"The main squadron advanced nea
Lao-thie-shan and opened an ind1rec
cannonade against the inner harbo
from 10 o'clock to lao.
According to the observation
made by one Of our cruisers facing tn
entrance, the bombardment was re
markably effective. During our car
nonade the enemy's land batterie
fired, but none Of our ships suffere
any damage. Another cruiser squad
ron went to Talienwan and BON
barded the enemy's fortress on Sam
shantao, damaging the building
thereon.
1.-THE cruiser Takasago and Chihay
reconnoitered the west coast Of tn
Port Arthur peninsula, but did M
find the enemy.
1.-THE Russian torpedo boat destroy
er damaged in the third attack o
Port Arthur was found to be tn
Vnushitlny, which had been complete
ly sunk, the mast only being visib
above the water.
"Our squadron stopped fighting {
2 o'clock and returned to the rende;
yOus"