Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-03-30
BY MAKAROFF
Russian Admiral at Port Arthur
Leaves the Harbor.
JAPS SHIPS WITHDRAW.
Another Unsuccessful Attempt Is Made
to Sink Ships at Mouth of Port
Arthur Harbor.

feet, steamed out of this harbor and
threw down q challenge for a naval bat
tie to the japanese squadron outside the
harbor, but Vice Admiral Togo refused
to fight and sailed away in a southerly
direction.
This action on the part Of the Russian
naval commander followed another des-
perate but unsuccessful attempt of the
Japanese to bottle up the Russian feet
before daylight this morning. Practical
ly the same tactics were used as on the
morning of February "a, by sending in
four freships, preceded by torpedo boat
totilla, with the exception that the fire
ships this time were armed with HOtch-
kiss guns for the purpose of keeping off
the Russian torpedo boat destroyers.
Russian Lieutenant Proves a Hero.
The enemy's attempt was discovered
by means of the shore searchlights, and
a heavy fire was opened from the batter
les and from two gunboats which were
guarding the entrance to the harbor. The
Russian torpedo boat destroyer SLIM was
outside on scouting duty, and to the
dash and nerve of her commander, Lieut..
Krinizki is chiefly due the complete de-
feat Of the plans of the japanese. He
at once made straight for the on-comlng
ships, under a hail of fire from the
ing ship, which sheered off, followed by
the others, three Of them being piled up
on the shore under Golden hill and one
under the lighthouse.
The SLIM then engaged the entire SIX
torpedo boats of the enemy, coming out
from a terrific fight with seven killed
and her commander and twelve of her
complement wounded, but on the Japa-
nese side only one boats crew was saved.
In addition, according to unofficial re-
ports, it is believed that the japanese
lost two torpedo boats.
The japanese cruisers which supported
the attack exchanged shots with the
batteries and then drew off, after which
Vice Admiral Makaroff took a steam
launch and examined the fire ships
An hour later the japanese flotilla,
followed by Vice Admiral Togo's feet,
came up from a southerly direction. Just
at daybreak Vice Admiral Makaroff with
his fleet sailed out to engage the enemy,
but after the ships and batteries had
fred few long distance shots Vice Adj
mra Togo decided to decline the issue
and disappeared to the southwark.
Theories as to Retreat of Togo.
St Petersburg March 2S.-The news
of the repulse of Vice Admiral Togos
attempt to block Port Arthur created
much rejoicing, and among all classes
the gallantry Of the SLIM and her COM
1hander is the subject of high praise.
Above all, the moral effect of Vice
gage the enemy, showing that he con-
sidered himself strong enough to fight,
produced a splendid impression
In high official circles this new effor.
to bottle up the Russian fleet is looked
upon as meaning only one thing-that the
japanese are preparing for a heavy land
ing Of troops in the gulf of Lao Tung.
either at New Chwang or on the west
coast of the Manchurian neutral zone,
to effect which in safety the immobility
of Vice Admiral Makaroff's fleet is alb
solutely essential while the transports are
being conveyed around the southern end
Of the peninsula.
If the attempt had succeeded it would
have required several days at least
to blow up the steamers and clear away
the wreckage, during which time the
Japanese would be assured of non-inter
ference in the carrying out of their pur-
poses. The failure of the Japanese yes
their plans, as the ice in the Lao river
is going out, and when the river is free
from ice its mouth can be easily mined.
Believed to Conceal New Maneuver.
The conviction continues to grow here
that the japanese have concluded that il
would be inadvisable to make q direct
frontal attack on Manchuria from Korea
against the whole Russian army and
that it will be necessary to land a flank
ing column in the Gulf Of Lao Tunc to
divide the attention of the Russians. and
if possible, to seize the railroad and cut
off Port Arthur. The ground above New
Cnwang is perfectly familiar to the jap
aneSe. who occupied it for 4 year during
the Chno-Japanese war.
Some experts even go so far as to ex-
press the belief that Vice Admiral Togo
ports in the Gulf of Lao Tunk yester-
day morning, and that, therefore, he was
compelled to exercise great caution and
to decline the Russian offer Of an engage
ment.
Another view of the Japanese admi-
rails purpose, which is less entertained,
is that he believes that bombardments
from Pigeon bay would be disastrous to
the Russian fleet if it were compelled to
remain in the harbor, he having ascer-
tanned from observation that the Rus
sian ships always pass out during the
high angle bombardments, and that a
big shell dropped on a battleship could
easily pierce the deck, and, exploding,
might completely destroy it.
Brave Officer Slightly Wounded.
Vice Admiral Makaroff in a telegrom
to the Emperor yesterday says:
I respectfully report that the enemy hav
Ing Withdrawn, | returned to the harbor
with the fleet. The torpedo boat DESTROYER
SLIM, which stranded on a reef in conse-
quence Of damage caused to her engines by
one of the enemys shells, was foated and
entered the harbor thanks to the energy
of her crew. Her commander, Lieut.. Kri-
nizki, who was slightly wounded in the
arm, did not quit his post.
On the fireships were Internal machines
the wires connected with which were cut
by Lieut.. Kedroff and Ensign Pilsoudsky
of the irregulars. whom / dispatched on
this task. They boarded one of the steam
ers as soon as it stopped, cut the electric
wire and extinguished the fire, which would
have lit up the entrance of the harbor to
the enemy In the roadStead.
floating mine was found bearing an in
fernal machine, but the latter was success
fully removed. The inspection made
showed that the steamers utilized as fire
ships were not old. They were each of
about 2OOC tons, and were armed with light
caliber guns.
The second attempt OF the japanese to
block the entrance to Port Arthur has
failed, thanks to the energetic defense by
the sea and land forces, who acted they
did during the first attempt. The harbor
remains perfectly clear
A HotchkisS Inch caliber quick firer was
found aboard one of the sunken steamers
from which a fire had been kept up on cur
torpedo boats