Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-04-02
JAPSTRY AGA|NFOR THEPORT
RUSSIANS SINK SEVERAL OF JAP.
ANEsE MERCHANT SHIPS.
Two of Their Fire Ships Grounded
Harbor Is still CIear-One Russian
Torpedo Boat Said to Have Been
Sunk, but May Be efloated-Toqo's
Squadron Retires.

quinn, Dut Way DC heTlodted-I oQo'S
Squadron Retires.
st. Petersburg, March 2S.-An of.
fetal dispatch from Port Arthur to the
emperor says that at 1 o'clock a. M.
the Russian searchlights made out
four large merchant steamers making
for the entrance of the harbor, sup
ported by six torpedo boats. A heavy
fire was opened on them by the batter
les and some warships. The torpedo
boat Stilni, commanded by Lieutenant
Krinzki, turned the merchant vessels
from their course by blowing I'D the
Prov of the first and then boldly at
lacking the enemy's torpedo boats. In
the fierce fight which followed Chief
Engineer Swyereff of the Stilni and six
marines were killed and the command
er and II men were injured. The Jap
anese plan to block up the entrance to
Port Arthur was frustrated and the
channel is still Gear.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding
| the Russian naval forces at Port
Arthur, has sent the followimng tele-
gram to the car:
Il beg most humbly to report that
| the enemy has made a second attempt
| to block the entrance to the inner road.
stead. For this purpose they dispatch
ed four large merchant steamers, con-
yoyed by six torpedo boats to the en-
| trance. The enemy's ships were
promptly discovered by the search
Flights and were bombarded by the bat
teries ana by re guardships Bohr and
Otvajey.
Fearing that the enemy might break
through, Lieutenant Krinzki, command
! ing the guard torpedo boat Stilni, at
tackled the enemy and destroyed the
bow of the foremost Japanese steamer
with a torpedo. This steamer turned
to the right and was followed by two
others, with the result that the three
were stranded to the right of the en-
side of the tairway. The Stilni then
battled with Inc enemy's six torpedo
boats. Engineer Artiticer Swyeren
and six seamen were killed and the
commander and IL seamen wounded.
| At daybreak the enemy's battlesnp
and cruiser squadron appeared and
proceeded with the fleet under my
charge to meet the enemy.
The second attempt of the Japan
| csc to block the entrance to Port AR
thur has failed, thanks to the ener-
getic defense by the sea and land
forces, who acted as they did during
the first attempt.
"The harbor remains perfectly
clear
1t is stated that one Russian tor
pedo boat was sunk in the en-
gagement but it is thought the vessel
can be relocated.
In an official dispatch General Smir-
appearance of Ine Japanese squadron,
the Russian squadron going out to
meet it and the japanese retiring.
"a Hotchkiss one inch caliber quick
frer was found aboard one Of the
sunken steamers, from which a fire
had been kept up on our torpedo
boats" said the general, telegraphing
the result of the first engagement. "a
boat left each of the sunken ships,
carrying their crews. One of these is
believed to have been picked up. To
wards o'clock this morning the en-
emys torpedo boats retired and the
bombardment ceased.
'Vice admiral Makaroff at once pro-
ceeded in a steam launch to inspect the
enemy's sunken steamers. The en-
emy's torpedo boats reappeared at 5
o'clock this morning. They were sight
ed south of rort arthur and the bat
teries reopened on them. Towards
o'clock the enemy's squadron ap-
peared on the horizon and our ships
steamed out to meet it. At $3.50 the
batteries opened fire. Our ships bat
teries soon ceased, the Japanese draw
ing off to the southeast evIuently de-
clining another engagement. At 10
o'clock they disappeared"