The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-25
ALL RUSSIA.
NOW REJOICING
BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY.
THE RETVIZAN PARTICULARLY
DISTINGUISHED HERSELF.

st. Petersburg Receives Conflicting
Stories Regarding the Losses
Sustained by the Japanese-Indi-
cations That the Japs Intended to
Bottle Up the Russian F1eet-The
Russians Sank stone Laden Ves-
sells Before They Reached the
Point Intended.
st. Petersburg, Feb. Is, 2:12 a. H.
Reports of Russian victory at Port
Arthur were current late yesterday aft
ernoon and early in the evening, but
the stories of the dimensions of this
victory were most conflicting and con-
fusing in character.
The most circumstantial report was
that the japanese had attempted to
bottle up Admiral Stark's fleet in Port
Arthur by sinking two stone laden ves-
sells at the entrance of the harbor, en-
ploying the tactics which were consid-
cred, but not executed, by the late Ad-
miral Sampson U. S. N, with the Mer-
rimac at Santiago during the Spanish
American War. According to this ac-
count, two Japanese ships appeared
off the harbor with a Japanese fleet
behind them and ostensibly in pursuit.
The Russians, however, suspected a
ruse and their ships steamed out, sank
the stone-laden vessels, engaged and
defeated the enemy and drove them
off. The reports of the loss inflicted,
however, are conflicting.
Vessels Loaded With stones.
All the stories include the feature of
the vessels loaded with stone, but ac-
cording to some versions the Japanese
fleet was conveying transports with
the purpose of effecting a landing at
Pigeon Bay and, after the failure of
this preliminary Vancouver, the Rus
slams played havoc with both the Japa-
nese warships and the transports, sink
ing four of the former and two of the
the battleship Retvizan as the vessel
which particularly distinguished her
self during the action by ramming and
sinking one of the Japanese battle
ships.
Crowds Gathered in the Cold.
far and wide over the city during the
early part of the evening and the
crowds which had gathered in the
streets in spite of the severe cold, to
discuss the news, Were greatly ex-
cited.
The news of victory was accom-
panied by two stories, one that after
the first decisive Russian victory the
Emperor would offer peace, and the
other that Japan had deposed the EN-
peror of Korea and formally annexed
that country. Both these reports are
without confirmation and they are
given simply as examples of the
stories which foated about in the ex-
cited crowds.
Instead of diminishing, the crowds
at the Admiralty and newspaper and
telegraph agencies Offices kept in
creasing and the excitement attained
the fever point when it was known
definitely that the Emperor had re-
ceved telegram, giving more details
and showing the Russian victory was
even greater than was at first report
ed. Newspaper messengers waited at
fine Admiralty with fast horses ready
to carry away the news which it was
known was being prepared. When
the sheets were finally distributed at
2:9O o'clock this morning a rush was
made for the exits and the assembled
officers cheered wildly and repeatedly.
The crowds showed no inclination to
disperse, hoping that further news
would be received showing the exact
extent of the Russian victory.
II must be observed that i'm his dis
patch Viceroy Alexieff does not mem
zion the number Of steamers which the
Japanese tried to sink or drive upon
the Russian ships, and it is not yet
known whether the four vessels the
oaptain of the Retvizan observed go
ing down, with the one first destroyed,
were laden with inflammables. or
whether they were warships.
Great Praise 20 the Retvixan.
The greatest praise is given to the
command er OF the Retvizan and the
splendid action OF this American built
vessel places her name foremost on
the role Of the Russian navy
Viceroy Alexieff's dispatch was an
adjudication Of a briefer telegram re-
calved BY the Emperor earlier but
which was not given out. Later It
was said that Russia sustained no
losses In the engagement
II Is evident that Vice Admiral Stark