New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10

fleet and ali went in to attack the armored
cruisers.
In the Japanese feet which consisted Of two
divisions, were the Mikasa the flagship. the
first class battleships Asahi. Full. Yashima, Shi-
kishima. Hatsuse and the dispatch boat Tat
suma. The second division of the feet under
command Of Admiral Kammura, on the flag
ship Idsumo. consisted Of the armored cruisers
Yakima. Asams and Iwate.
\ member OF the crew Of the Columbia tells
this story Of the torpedo boat'- attack:
The Columbia was lying in the roadstead sur
rounded by fourteen Russian battleships and
cruisers. At 30 o'clock Monday night
severe shock was felt on board the Columbia
The Russians Immediately began to operate
their searchiiChts and opened fire toward the
sea The firing lasted only short time. At
o'clock more shocks were folt and the Rus
slams again began firing.
The japanese did not return the FIRE At >
O'Clock two Russian hattieships went in and
We're beached across the entrance Of the hsrbor
They were soon followed by "A Russian cruiser
which also was beached. None OF the vessels
were damaged above the wateriine. More shocks
from torpedoes We're felt during the early morn
ing. and then All was quiet
At 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning three Jap
anese cruisers Vassed Port Arthur I'm sight Of
the Russian fleet The whole Russian fleet i'm
u,ediately weighed anchor and went after them
hut returned in half an hour.
The steamer Foo-Chow. from Dalny, passed
through the japanese fleet to-day. The fleet
consisted Of SIX battleshrs. tour first class cruis-
ers and six other vessels. They we're eighteen
miles from Port Arthur this morning. and were
proceeding in a southeasterly direction. The
Fco-Chow brought thre, hundred Japanese ref
ucees.
When seen by the Zoo Chow this morning the
fast cruisers were circlmg IN radius Of six
miles. 40 torpedo boats were seen. and 1t is
probable that they left tire vicinity after the
pedo attack q Monday nigh.
The Russian Zee, outside of the hsrbor con-
sisted % ;he IatfIoyhips -Pofreeaulor--,a = nag
ship: Pcresviet yub-nsgship: PobIeda. Pol;ava.
Czarevitch. I,et,izan and scbastorol. and the
cruisers Novik. B,yarin. Bayan. Diana. Palad1.
AsSold and Aurora.
The disabled battlcShirs are inside Forts
Huan- Ching Shan and Chi-Kvan-Shan. The
cruiser Boyarin is outside. but within range OF
the forts.
Tho Columbia reports thai she had narrow
escape from injury. Her passengers and crew
were much excited. While going out OF the
roads at Port Arthur the Russian cruiser NoviS
got between the Columbia and the Japanese
feet Shells which passed over the Novilc
struck around the Columbia. Her flag cut
into shreds and one shell fell on her deck. The
faces OF those who were on deck were hiackened
with powder smoke.
\ naval officer who was recently at Port Ar
thur says the Russians We're not prepared for
the attack on their ships. and had insult
acicnt amount OF steam UP. 4 boat patrolled
the Straits OF Pe-Chi-Li continuously but ap-
parently the Japane-e torpedo boats were not
noticed until after the fret torpedo was fired.
The Russians fired. but tho japanese did not
return the fire and backed of. An hour later
the discharge Of torpedoes was repeated, after
which the torpedo boats withdrew some dis
tance.
At 10 O'Clock on Tuesday morning the Jap
aneee fast cruisers circled within view of the
whole Russian feet. bat they were not engaged.
The Russians returned toward the harbor after
an hour. The japanese. continuing. came within
three miles.
\ battle then began between the Russian forts
and fourteen ships and sixteen japanese vessels.
4 few of the japanese shells were effective. but
rs far as seen the Russian shots fell short.
II is probable that the Japanese fleet was con-
voying twenty-slx troop ships from saseho to
some port Of Corea.
Japanese are reported to he I'm possession of
the southern portion OF the peninsula.
FIGHT SHORT And SHARP.