Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-23
FIGHTING WAS TERRIFIC.
Vivid Description of Battle at Port
Arthur.

Wehaiwei. March 22-(With Japa-
nese fleet, by DeForeSt'S wireless tele-
raphy).-Admira Togo has been COM
paratively passive since Feb. %, and
Port Arthur has been given a respite,
although the cruisers and destroyers
are keeping a close blockade. Admiral
Kamimura's bombardmcnt of Nladi-
vostok on the 9th was carried out by
the cruiser squadron. The vessels
opened fire on the port about 80 +.
NJ. and the bombardnent lasted about
three quarters of an hour. The little
affair gave the same evidence of skill
and clearly defined plan of attack
which has distinguished all the Japa-
nese naval operations. Kamimnra
brought his ships into range opposite
the forts at the northeast entrance.
thus avoiding their fire and also that Of
the forts on the opposite side.
AleNieff's report that the japanese
ships We're not within the range of the
forts is incorrect. The truth is that
the forts We're unable to reply, although
the ships came within the limit of the
range of the guns, owing to the fact
that the positions Kamimura took up
were we'll beyond the area of the train
ing of the guns. The ships fired at 4
range of about 1000 yards.
The extent of the damage is I'M
known but the outbreak of fire was
seen at the eastern harbor. The only
object of the operations was to harasS
the enemy and induce the cruisers to
come out of the harbor. On the 18th
inst. Kamimura again apprOG ched the
etrance of the harbOr and menaced the
forts but failed to draw their fire. After
searching Amur bay without result, he
steamed southwark the same day.
Since Admiral Makaroffs arrival at
Port Arthur the defensive t2.ctics of
the Russians have become more active
and their destroyers more alert ana
enterprising.
At 4 a. m. on the 10th inst. the first
division of the Japanese destroyer flo
tilla. under command of Capt. Asia,
while accommodating southwest of the
1.iautiesthan peninsula. attacked six
Russian deStrOyers. A fierce engage
ment ensued which lasted 50 minutes.
Early in the fight two Russian de-
Stroyers We're severely damaged.
They drew off and made for Port Ar
| thur. Others. still fighting, retreated
until under the protection of the guns
of the forts. and they also reached the
barber. The contest was SO fierce at
times that the opposing vessels were
within n few yards of each other. So
close We're two of them that a Russian
b,uejacket threw a charge of explosives
on the bridge of n Japanese destroyer.
Fortunately it did not detonate, The
charge is kept as Il memento. All the
vessels engaged We're more or less dam
aged. A Japanese destroyer received
| a shell in one of her stokeholes, which
burst steampipe and scalded a stoker.
and petty officer to death. The Rus
sian casualties We're not known, but
must have been considerable. The jan
anese losses were six killed. and eight
wounded. That the Russians We're de-
feated in spite of superior numbers, is
due to the superior shooting of the
japanese. combined with the fact that
most of the Russian destroyers We're
armed with three Founders, while the
japanese were armed with six-pound-
ers. Tho three-pOunders, while per-
forating the hull, does less damage TO
the vessel and crew than the six
FOUNDER. =. ..... A.AAxII..kk