The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-05-04
THOUSANDS
WERE KILLED
Great Loss of Life in the
Fighting on the Yalu.
SLAUGHTER WAS AWFUL
Admiral Togo Sends His Daily
Iron Messages to Port Arthur's
Wearied Garrison.
SLAUGHTER WAS AWFUL

LONDON, May 4.-Late dispatches
from the theater of war in the far east
show that Admiral Togo to complete
the Generalization of the Russian
forces made fierce attack on Port
Arthur. Several merchant ships were
sent in to block the channel and were
sunk by the Russian gun fire. 1t is
said two Japanese torpedo boats were
also sunk. Admiral Alexeieff himself
conducted the defense.
Details of the defeat of the Russians
by the Japanese under Kuroh at the
battle of the Yalu approach the di-
mensions of a disaster. Their losses as
far as known are 1900 to 1900 kill
ed, $50 officers and men taken
prisoners, twenty seven field guns and
six quick firing guns captured, while
General Kashtalinsky, two regimental
commanders and one artillery com,
mander were killed, with many other
superior officers killed or wounded.
The japanese losses seem TO be about
900, the first dispatches saying that
600 men had been killed or wounded
and the subsequent reports of General
Kuroki saying that 300 were added to
our casualties in pursuit" No general
officers were reported killed or wound
ed.
Indications of the straits to which
the Russian advance guard has been
reduced il the news that General Ku-
ropatkin, the commander in chief, has
himself hastened to the front with 20
600 picked troops to retrieve the day
and the Fastening TO the far east of an
artillery armament to replace that lost
in the battle. The Russians have been
seriously crippled by the loss of so
many guns
There is little doubt that the Japa-
nese advance now seriously threatens
the ability of Port Arthur to hold out.
while great body of Russian troops
has been cut off and may be captured.
Viceroy Alexeieff has reported to St
Petersburg the attempt to block Port
Arthur early yesterday morning as
follows:
Il respectfully report TO your high
ness that a fresh attack was made by
the enemy with the object of obstruct-
ing the entrance to the port and that
1t has been successfully repelled.
AT l o'clock in the morning five tor
pedo boats were perceived near the
coast from the eastern batteries. I'M
der the fire of our warships and the
batteries they retreated southward.
AT L. As o'clock the first ireship, es-
corted by several torpedo boats, was
sighted, and we opened fire upon it
from the batteries and the warships.
Three-quarters of an hour afterward
our searchlights revealed a number of
flreships making for the entrance OF
the harbor from the east and south
east. The coast defense vessels OF
vashni and Gremieshchi and the gun
boat Gillak repulsed each by a well
directed fire.
Altogether eight ships were sunk by
our vigorous cannonade, by Whitehead
boats and by the explosion of several
submarine mines. Further, according
| to the reports of the officers command
| ing the batteries and the gunboat Gil
lax, two Japanese torpedo boats were
| destroyed.
up to the present thirty japanese,
including two mortally wounded Off
GERS who took refuge on a launch or
were rescued from the fireships by us,
have been picked up. The inspection
| of the roadstead and the work of saw
ing the enemy's men were hindered by
the heavy sea running. We suffered no
casualties, with the exception of n sea
man belonging to the torpedo boat de
stroyer Boevoi.
"On the appearance of the first fire
ship, accompanied by the enemy's tor
pedo boats, l boarded a launch and
proceeded to the Otvashni to take i'm.
mediate measures for repulsing the
fireships.
"'The crews Of the. Japanese fireships
which were sunk tried to save them
selves by boats, in which they put ouI
to sea. A majority of them We're killed
by our machine guns and rifles Some
of the survivors were picked UP.
General Kuropatkin reports 10 the
emperor as follows:
According to the testimony Of per
j snIas q ,.risri5,a z. hara aaarigar. IN. .piast'