The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-14
DAMAGE TO RUSSIANS
BY ATTACK ON PORT
ARTHUR ON THURSDAY
Admiral Togo's Account of the
Torpedo Squadron's Engage
ment on March 10.
VICTORY WAS COMPLETE
Japanese Losses Were Small and
Their Fleet Is Intact-Rus-
sion Losses Heavy.

TOXIC. March 13.-Oficial and private
reports both indicate that Admiral Togos
fourth attack on Port Arthur on the 10th
was the most effective since the first as
sault Of a month ago. one Russian tor
pedo boat destroyer was sunk and several
Russian torpedo boat destroyers were Sc
riously damaged. The Notifications and
city were subjected 10 a heavy lombard
ment. lasting nearly four hours. The naval
bombardments of the land works have
generally been Ineffective. yet the peculiar
typographical conditions of Port Arthur
make immunity from serious loss from
bombardment impossible.
Admiral TOgO's torpedo hotilla opened
the action by boldly steaming in under the
batteries and successfully placing a num-
Der of mechanical mines at the mouth of
the harbor. Following that there was a
desperate bow-to-bOw encounter between
the torpedo boat destroyers. in which the
Japanese appear to have scored a clear vic
tory. Then followed a long range duel be-
tween the cruisers, ending in the retire
ment of the Novik and Bayan. the only
Russians engaged.
The closing action was the bombardment
of the inner harbor by the Japanese battle
ships. The latter took a position south
west of Port Arthur and used only their
twelve-inch guns. There were twenty-four
twelve-inch guns in the squadron of six
battleships and each gun was fired five
rounds, making a total of 40 huge pro-
jectiles that were fired at the city. The
bombardment was deliberate and carefully
planned.
In order to aid in perfecting the firing.
flT0fF al TOT V.n1 h
position due east of the entrance to the
harbOr and at a right angle to the battle
ships. The cruisers observed the range and
after firing signaled the result by wireless
telegraphy. The observations and reports
greatly aided the gunners in their effort to
make every shot count.
Admiral Togo was unable to definitely
learn the results of the bombardment, but
later private reports indicate that much
destruction was caused in the city, where
a series OF fires broke out. There was also
Captain Shojiro commanding the hotilIa
or torpedo destrOyerS, which engaged the
Russian destroyers is the hero of the at
tack. He had only three destroyers but
attacked the six Russian destrOyers, order
ing his craft TO close i'm with the enemy
He steamed so close to the enemy's de-
stroyers that they almost touched and a
most desperate conflict enSued, from which
the Russians retired badly disabled
Engineer Minamisawa, of the destroyer
Kasumi, received a small wound. Nina
tack on Port Arthur, also in the attempt to
bottle the harbor by sinking commercial
steamers. He was commended both times
for his Rallantry.
The Japanese 1otilla which sunk the
mines at the mouth OF the harbor later en-
gagged two Russian destroyers. This fotilla
was commanded by Commander Tsuchiya.
Admiral Toga's object in sending cruisers
to Talienwan bay was to encompass the
destruction of a signal station and mine
depot at Samshattiac. This object was
achieved and the buildings were demol-
ished
Both Admirals Dewa and Uriu partici-
pated in the operations under Admiral Togo,
the details of whose operations became
known in Japan only to-day, and the news
created intense enthusiasm.
Admiral TogO's report came last night
but it was withheld until shown to the
Emperor. Admiral Togo is permanently
numbered among the heroes of the en-
pire.
The latest reports place the Japanese loss
at nine killed. five seriously wounded and
seventeen slightly hurt. The Japanese fleet
was not damaged in the fighting.