The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-19
CROSSES OF HONOR ARE
GIVEN FOR GALLANTRY
Both Army and Navy Are Eager to
Meet the Enemy Breast to Breast
to Fight for country's
Honor.

st. Petersburg, February ia long Of
fetal dispatch from viceroy Alexien re-
counting the details of the fight of Feb-
ruary at Port Arthur was given out
today It enumerates the Russian casual
ties, and says it is known that a number
of Japanese ships suffered severely which
accounts for their not following up the
attack.
The viceroy's dispatch is dated February
IS. and says: ~
After the night torpedo attack, the
Japanese fleet consisting of sixteen war
ships, appeared at 10 o clock in the morn
ing off Port Arthur. Its appearance was
noted by the coast signal stations, as
well as by the ships of our squadron
which lay in the outer roadstead, fully
prepared for the battle. Our squadron
consisted of FIVE battleships five first and
second class cruisers, and fifteen torpedo
boats under the command of Vice Ad-
miral Stark and Rear Admiral Utonsld.
Received the Enemy.
''The coast batteries Immediately pre-
pared to receive the enemy. Our squad
ron weighed anchor in order of battle and
upon the first shot being fred by the
enemy, the feet and batteries replied
simultaneously with a lively cannoade.
The most exposed to the enemy's fire
were the ships of the squadron. battery
No on Electric Cliff, and battery No.
l on Golden Hill. Other coast batteries,
principally Nos. II and IS were also under
fire.
THE following vessels took part in the
battle:
Vessels Taking Part.
''In the front line were the battleships
Petropavlosk, with the flag of Vice Ad-
miral Stark, and commanded by Captain
Jakovloff the battleship Sevastopol, Cap
tain Chernychoff; the battleship Poltava,
Captain UspenslSy; the battleship Peres-
w.t. flying the flag Of Rear Admiral Ukh-
tonsky, commanded by Captain Polss-
mann, and the battleship Pobieda, cap
tain Sazeareny.
There were also the f1rst-class cruisers
Bayan, Captain viron; Diana, Captains
Salouski, and Askold, Captain Gramchi-
koff; the second-class cruisers Boyarin,
Captain Sarycheff and Novik, Captain
Jassen.
"rhe battleships Czarevitch. Captain
Gregorovitch, and Retvizan, Captain Sem
snovitch, and the other cruiser Pallada,
Captain Kossovitch, which lay In anchor,
having been damaged In the torpedo boat
attack of the night before, likewise par
I1c1pdteu IN tne HBnl, as ulu the tIdHs-
port Angara, Captain Suchonlin. There
were also engaged the torpedo boats Of
the first and second divisions.
Torpedoes Lay to Right.
Throughout the fight the torpedo di-
vision lay to the right of the squadron,
distance of ten to fifteen cabletari Ga Rus
sian sea measure), waiting orders.
THE land batteries were under the gen.
eral direction of Major General Baloff,
commander Of the Kwan Tung garrison
of artillery. 1t is still difficult to as
certain the result of the battle, but ac-
cording to observations made by our
ships. 1t may be assumed that several
vessels Of the enemy's feet sustained
damage, which explains why they avoid
ed further fighting although they were
much superior to us in strength.
Crosses Are Conferred.
According to the reports of the COM
manders the men fought fairly we'll on
which account, in virtue of the imperial
authorization, have conferred six
crosses of the order OF st. George on each
company of the first and second-class
warships having crews of over 300 men,
four crosses on each company of all other
ships of the second class; one cross on
each torpedo boat: one cross on the sig
nal station at Golden Hill, which operat-
ed under the heavy fire OF the enemy;
four crosses on battery No. 15, three on
battery No. 13, and one cross on gunner
who, though severely wounded, returned
to his battery.
Russian Losses.
"Our losses were: OF the squadron, 5
officers wounded, IA men killed, and So
men wounded. OF the fortress and garri-
son, one man killed, one severely wound
ed and five men slightly wounded.
I'm announcing the above to your mai
esty am pleased to be able to add that
the naval and land forces in the far east
are inspired by the most heartfelt wish
to meet their insolent enemy breast to
breast. in order to fulfill their duty in
sight Of their adored ruler, and firm and
unshakable determination to fight for the
honor and glory Of their beloved father
land"