The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-05-12
CLOSE CHANNEL
ADMIRAL TOGO REPORTS ON THE
coRkiNc or PORT ARTHUR.
FIVE MERCHANTMEN SUNK N CHANNEL
Peat Was Accomplished During Prog.
ress Of q cAie-crews Of stone
Laden ships Forced Them Into
harbor Entrance IN Face Of Ter
rifle Flre-Japs Lost Many Men.

ToKIo-(Speclai) Vice Admiral
Togo's official recital OF the latest en-
gagement off Port Arthur. which was
received here Saturday. shows that
the Japanese have blocked the n
trance to the harbor.
On Tuesday morning, after the
blockading flotilla had tRen scattered
by a gale and the commander Of the
flotilla had signalled in vain that the
attempt be abandoned, pending the
moderation Of the storm, the crews OF
the separated ships, in no wise daunt.
ed by the weather whio,. isolated them
from their companions. proceeded to
the work on their own desperate in
itiative. They forced their way, in the
face OF the Russian fire. which was
more deadly thar ever before. as a re
sule OF the improved Russian ~defenses,
over the field OF mines. Many OF these
exploded. yet five out OF the japanese
blockading ships were jammed into
the inner channel and now prevent
egress from the harbor to all craft
excepting small boats.
This attack exceeded all its prede.
cessors in desperation, and the cour-
age displayed by the volunteer crews
Is equal TO that shown in any event in
the war history Of the world. Al
though Vice Admiral Togo again
avoided damage 70 a single one OF his
vessels, the attack proved to be ex-
pensive in lives.
The blockadipg vessels and their
eight stone-laden merchantmen. They
were escorted by the gunboats Akagi.
Commander Fugimoto. and Choikai,
Commander Iwamura: the second tor
pedo boat destroyer flotilla. under
command OF Commander Shida; the
third torpedo destroyer flotilla. Com
mander Tsuchiya; the fourth flotills,
Commander Nagai; the fifth flotilla.
Commander Mano; the ninth torpedo
boat flotilla. Commander Yashima: the
Tenth torpedo boat flotilla, Command
er Ctaki. and the fourteenth torpedo
boat %flotilla, Commander Sakuai.
The blorckadlng vessels and their
escort left the main squadron for Port
Arthur on Monday evening. They en-
eountered a southeasterly gale and by
I II o'clock at night the seas were
: mountainous and it was found impossi-
bic TO keep the steamers together.
a Commander Hayashi. who was IN com
mand OF the expedition, observed the
impossibility Of keeping the notilla IN.
' tact and signaled Il TO abandon the
/ attack
' These sienals were repeated until 2
y o'clock In the morning. but they failed
/ TO reach the vessels OF the expedition.
which were swept apart by the TEN.
Z pestuous seas. and proceeded sepa.
d ntely TO the mouth OF the harbor.
Upon arriving there the Mikawa Maru.
e one Of the merchantmen. saw that
the enemy was firing upon the four.
teenth torpedo boat flotiIla. The men
on board the Mlkawa Maru thought
the other steamers had reached the
harbor mouth and they steamed bold.
ly In. She was followed closely by
Il another Of the merchantmen, believed
n to be the Sakura Maru.
The Russians had fires burning al
the mouth OF the harbor and they
e used also manv powerful ~searchlights
y on the invading japanese vessels
They poured an incessant fire into
the channel
Lieutenant Sosa. who was IN com
mand OF the Mikawa Maru. unhesitat
lngly forced his ship into the channel
y rammed HIS way through the boom,
and reached the center of the inner
entrance. Here he anchored his yes
sci and then blew her mp.
g Another steamer. supposed 20 be IN,
sakura Maru. then came 20 anchor
near a projecting rock at the mouth
Of the harhor and sank, Following
e the Sakura Maru came the Toni Mari
Tchldo Maru. the Otaru Mau. Ia,
70 sagami MaFu. the Aikoku MAru an,
a the Asagawo Mauu. These six steam
ers advanced 10 the mouth Of the bar
Dor.
? The Russian fire now became hlghl,
3 effective. while a number Of sunkei
. mines. which were struck by n
- steamers, began 70 explode. These q,
y plosions caused heavy casualtie
among the japanese on board m
b~iockading vessels. The Toni Mar
eolllded with a boom. This turne
her stem 70 the eastward and an
!, sank athwArt the passAge. blOckin
nearly 0ne-half Of the entrance TO N
haTbor.
When the Yedo Mam reached n
mouth Of the passage and was loEel
= ing her anchor. her captain. Con
mandeF T~skayangf was shot throug
the stomach and killed. suhiieutei
= ant NEFsta succeeded % the ron
. mand. He anchored the Yedo Mar
and sank her.