The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08
RUSSIANS RETREAT FROM FENG WANG CHENG
 BEFORE ADVANCE OF THE VICTORIOUS LAPS
TOGO TELLS OF HEROIC CORKING OF PORT 2THUR

Tokio, May s.-vice-Admiral Togo's of- hcial recital of the latest engagement of Fort Arthur, which was received here today, shows that the Japanese have blocked the entrance to the harbor. Tuesday morning after the blockading fotilla had been scattered by a gale and the commander of the fotilla had &gnaied In vain that the attempt be aban- doned Pending the moderation of the storm. the orews of the separate ships. in no wise dauntAd by the weather which Isolated them from their companions proceeded to the work of their own desperate initiative
 They forced their way in the face of the Russian fire which was more deadly than ever before, as a result of the i'm proved Russian defenses, over the field of mines. Many of these exploded. yet five out of the Japanese blockading ships were damned in the inner channel and now prevent egress from the harbor 10 all craft excepting small boats This attack exceeded all it's predecessors in desperation. and the courage iispiayed by the volunteer crews is equal to that shown in any event in the war history of the world
 Loss of Life Heavy.
 Although vice-Admirat Togo again avoided damage to single one of his vessels, the attack proved to be expen- sive in lives. The blockading fotilla con sisted of eight stone laden merchantmen. The blockadfng vessels and their escort left the main squadron for Port Arthur Monday evening. They encountered a southeasterly gale and by il o'clock at night the seas were mountainous and 1t was found impossible to keep the steam CTS together. Commander Hayashi. who was in command of the expedition. ob- served the inpossibility of keeping the flotilia intact and signaled 1t to abandon the attack.
 These signals were repeated until o'clock in the morning, but they failed to reach the vessels of the expedition which were swept apart by the tempestu- ous seas. and proceeded separately to the mouth of the harbor. Upon arriv- ing there. the Mikawa Maru. one of the merchantmen, saw that the enemy was firing on the fourteenth torpedo boat fiotiila. The men on board the Mikawa Maru thought the other steamers had reached the harbor mouth, and they steamed boldly in. She was followed closely by another of the merchantmen, believed to be the sakura Maru The Russians had fires burning at the mouth of the harbor and they also used many powerful searchlights on the invading Japanese vessels. They poured an inces- sant firA into the channel
 Sinking of Mikawa. Naru.
 Lieutenant Sosa, who was In command of the Mikawa Maru, unhesitatingly forced his ship into the channel. rammed his way through the booms and reached the center If the inner entrance Here he anchored his vessel and then blew her up. She sank immediately.
 Another steamer. supposed to be the sakura Maru. then camc to anchor near protecting rock at the mouth of the harbor. and sank. Following the Sakura Maru came the Totmoia. Tchido Maru and Otaru Maru. the Sagani Maru and Aikoku Maru and the Aesagowa Maru. these six. steamers advanced to the mouth of the harbor
 The Russian fire now became highly ef- fective. while number of sunken mines.