The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-28

OF. PETERSBURG, March 27.-Au
y official dispatch from Port Arthur
to the emperor says that at
o'clock this morning the Russian
searchlights disclosed four large mer-
chant steamers making for the entrance
of the harbor, supported by six torpedo
boats. A heavy fire was opened on
them by the batteries and some war
ships.
The torpedo boat Stilni. commanded
by Lieutenant Krinizki. turned the
merchant vessels from their course by
blowing up the prov of the first and
then boldly attacked the enemy's tor
pedo boats In the fierce. fight which
followed Chief Engineer Swyereff of the
Stilni and six marines were killed and
the commander and twelve men were
injured.
The japanese plan to close up the en-
trance TO Port Arthur was frustrated,
however, and the channel is stiil clear.
Makaroff's Reports.
Vice Admiral AIakarom, commanding
the Russian naval forces at Port Ar
thur. has sent the following telegram
TO the emperor:
L beg most humbly to report that at
. o'clock this morning the enemy made
a second attempt to block the entrance
pose they dispatched four large mer-
chant seamers. conveyed by six torpe-
do boats. to the entrance
The enemy's ships were promptly dis
covered by the searchlight and were
bombarded by the batteries and by the
guardships Bohr and Otvajny.
One Against Six.
Fearing the eneTny's ships might
break through. Lieutenant Krinizki.
commanding. the guard torpedo boat
Stilni. attacked the enemy and de-
stroyed the bow of the foremost Japan
csc steamer with a torpedo. This
steamer turned to the right and was
followed by two others, with the re-
suit that the three were stranded to the
right Of the entrance. y fourth steam
er went TO the right of the enemy-S
ships and likewise sank to the side Of
the fair way. The Stilni then battled
with the enemy'S six torpedo boats. En-
Eineer ArUdcer Swyeren and six sea
men were killed and the commander
and twelve seameu were wounded
At daybTeak the enemyS battleShip
and cruiser squadron appeared. and
proceeded with the fleet under my
charge TO meet the enemy.
Second Attempt Failed.
1.-THE second attempt Of the Japanese
20 block the entrance to Port Arthur
has failed. thanks to the energetic de-
tense by the sea and land forces. who
acted as they did during the first at
tempt
The harbor remains perfectly clear
The following official dispatch has
been received from General Smirneh:
Port Arthur, March 27.-Last night.
after moOnrise. the Japanese attempted
10 block the entrance TO the harbor.
-Four fire ships were sent toward the
port. conveyed by a torpedo fOtilla.
. -. - -.
cnemy's ships was perceived by the
Cuardships and batteries. which stimuli
taneOusly opened upon them heavily.
The freships We're preceded by tor
pedo boats and followed at a consid-
erable distance by the larger ships.
which opened on the forts, supporting
the action of the lireships and the tor
pedo boats.
Batteries Did Well.
Owing to the heaviness Of our ar
tillery fire and the holiness OF our tor.
pedo boats. the fireships did not reach
the entrance to the harbor. Two of
them grounded on a reef under Golden
hill, another sank beyond the first turn
OF the channel. struck by a torpedo
from one of our boats, and the fourth
sank. its bow touching a Japanese
steamer sunk in the previous attempt
of Majatschnaja Goroda.
The entrance TO the harbor remains
clear.
"A HOtchkiss One-inch calibre quick
frer was found aboard one OF the sunk
en- steamers, from which a fire had beer
kept up on our torpedo boats.
A boat left each Of the sunken ships
carrying their crews. One OF these is
believed 10 have been picked up.
Towards 4 o'clock this morning the
enemy's torpedo boats retired and the
bOmbardment ceased"
Japs Declined 70 Fight.
Vice Admiral Makaroff at once pro-
ceeded in a steam launch to inspect the
enemy's sunken steamers
The enemy's torpedo boats reap
peared at 5 O'Clock this morning. They
were sighted south of Port Arthur anC
the batteries reopened on them. To-
wards o'clock the enemy's squadron
appeared on the horizon and our ships
steamed out to meet it, At $3.50 the
batteries opened fire. Our ships bat.