The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-12-23
DESTROYERS ESCAPE
Desperate Sortie Of Port Ar.
thur Torpedo Flotilla.
KAMIMURA'S FLEET NEAR SINGAPORE
Squadron OF Powerful Japanese
Cruisers Sail south to Hold Sea
Gates Against Rojestven-
sky's Armada,

LONDON, Dec. GA Chefu report
says that eight torpedo boat destroyers
have escaped from Port Arthur, where
for the last twenty-four hours severe
snowstorm has been raging.
A special semloiiical St. Peters
burg dispatch says that four japanese
cruisers and twelve torpedo boats are
proceeding west from Singapore. 1t
Is not believed. however, that such
small squadron can have been sent out
by Japan with any idea of engaging
in offensive operations, but it is re-
garded as more probable that it is the
purpose Of this squadron to keep a
surveillance over the two detachments
of the Russian fleet, which are expect
ed to soon unite in the neighborhood
of Madagascar 1t is generally believed
that Vice Admiral Rojestvensky in
tends to establish a naval coaling base
on some small island between NADIA
gascar and the Philippines and that
the Japanese cruising squadron hopes
to mark down the rendezvous for Vice
Admiral Togo's information. The hope
is expressed that Admiral Rojestven-
sky will be able to catch up with the
japanese scouts. which, it is believed,
he could easily destroy, thereby weak
ening the japanese in the final naval
engagement
A Tokyo report received from Vice
A frnnA thnt a yriGnnnp
taken by the fleet, who is considered to
be reliable, reports that as a result OF
the attack on the battleship SevastOpol
eight torpedoes struck her deck and
that at least one took effect on her
hull. She now lies aground, with her
gun ports awash,
A Singapore Straits Settlements) rex
port says that two Japanese cruisers
called there and left soon afterward.
They reported that two japanese bat
tleships. two first class cruisers, two
second class cruisers and twelve tor
pedo boat destroyers were near by,
steamlng west.
Shanghai reports that squadron of
powerful cruisers under Admiral Kami-
mura has gone south to the China sea
to meet the Russian second Pacific
squadron.
Advices from Tokyo by telegraph
from the Japanese army before Port
Arthur says:
"The right column Of the army, TAX
ing advantage of the enemy's excite
ment, drove the enemy of an eminence
north Of Housanyentao, on Pigeon bay,
and occupied the position and later dis
lodged the enemy from a height on
the peninsula west Of Housanyentao,
which we occupied, capturing one small
gun. After the Japanese occupation Of
the positions the enemy made coun-
ter attack, but was Immediately re-
pulsed. At present our occupation Of
the positions is practically secure"
Mukden dispatches say that artillery
firing from Poutiloff hill dispersed a
party of japanese who were trying TO
intrench in front of that position
Chinese report that Field Marshal
Oyama and his staff have established
at Liaoyang and that the
japanese are constructing new forts
around the city.
The Orenburg COsSaCks have captur-
ed six japanese scouts. four Of whom
were badly frozen, two having to have
their feet amputated. The same Cos
sacks recently captured seventeen Jap
anese. who We're unable to fire single
shot when they found themselves sur
The port of Yinkow is closed by ice.
Large japanese re-enfOrcementS land
ing at Dalny are going in the direction
Of Port Arthur