The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-25
ST. PETERSBURG WILD.
Reports of Great Victory Stir the
 Populace.


 St. Petersburg, Feb. 25.--(2:52 a. m.)- Reports of Russian victory at Port Ar thur were current late yesterday after noon and early in the evening and about midnight they seemed to have been con- flrmed, but in the absence of an official announcement the stories of the dimen- sions of this victory were most conflict ing and confusing in character.
 The most circunlstantial report was that the japanese had attempted to bottle up Aomiral Stark's fleet in Port Arthur by sinking two stone-laden vessels at the entrance of the harDor, employing the tactics which were considered but not executed by the late Admiral Sampson, U s. N., with the Merrimac at Santia- go, during the Spanish-American war.
 According to this account, two Japan csc snIps appeared off the harbor with a fleet behind them and ostensibly In pursuit. The Russians. however, sus- pected a ruse and their ships steamed out, sank the stone-laden vessels, en- gagged and defeated the enemy ana drove them of. The reports of the loss in flitced, however, are conflicting. All the stories included in the feature of the ves- sells loaded with stone, but according to some versions the Japanese fleet was conveying transport with the purpose of ef1ecting a landing at Pigeon Bay and after the failure of this preliminary man. euver the Russians played havoc with both the Japanese transports and war ships, taking four of the transports and two of the warships. The account even gives the name of the battleship Retz- vizan as the vessel which particularly distinguished herself during the action by ramming and sinking one of the Jap anese battleships.
 Rumors of this victory were spread 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 excited, One news paper printed an extra relating the victory based on a meagre telegram from Lon official confirmation, the crowds disap- peared except from around the newspa- per offices.
 These remained thronged with officers and others who were resolved to await the official announcement.
 The news of victory was accompanied by two stories one that after the first decisive Russian victory the Emperor would offer peace and the other that Ja- pal had deposed the Emperor. of Ko- req and formally annexed that country.
 Both reports are without confirmation and they are given simply as examples of the stories which floated about in the excited crowds.
 Instead of diminishing, the crowds al inc admiralty and newspaper and tele- Kraph agencies offices kept increasing and the excitement attained the fever poiU: when it was known definitely that the Emperor had received a telegram giving more details and showing the Russian victory was even greater than was at first reported. Newspaper messengers waited at the admiralty with fast horses ready to carry away the news which it was known as being prepared. When the sheets were finally distributed at 2:9( this morning a rush was made for the exits and the assembled officers cheered wildly and repeatedly The crowds show. ed no inclination to disperse, hoping tha' further news would be received showing the exact extent of the Russian victory.
 It must be observed that in his dispatch Viceroy Alexieff does not mention the number of vessels which the Japanese tried to sink or drive upon the Russian ships, and 1t is not yet known whether the four vessels the captain of the Ret yizan observed going down in addition tC the two destroyed, were also laden with Infiammables or whether they were war. ships. The greatest praise Is given tC inc commander of the Retvizan and thS splendid work of this American-built shi. places her name foremost on the roll iI The Russian navy.
 VIceroy AlexIeff's dispatch was an ex qualification of the briefer telegrams re- seived by the Emperor earlier, but which was not given OufA