Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-25
REPORTED REVERSE.

AS has Uecu SldlCu lOPViIo Va " N'""
sian victory at Port Arthur were current
late yesterday afternoon and early in
the evening in St. Petersburg, and about
midnight they seemed to have been def
nitely confirmed but, in the absence Of
an official announcement, which is mo-
mentarily expected, the stories of the
dimensions of this victory were most
confusing in character.
The most cireumstantial report was
that the japanese had attempted to bot
tie up Admiral Stark fleet in Port Ar
thur by sinking two stone-laden vessels
at the entrance of the har00r, employ
ing the tactics which were considered,
but not executed, by the late Admiral
Sampson, United States navy, with the
Merrimac at Santiago during the Span
! ish- American war.
According to this account two Japa-
nese ships appeared off the harbor, with
japanese feet behind them and osten-
sibly in pursuit. The Russians, how
ever. suspected a ruse and their ships
steamed out, sank the stone-laden YES
sells, engaged and defeated the enemy
aud drove them off. The reports of the
loss inflicted, however, are conflicting.
All the stories include the feature Of
the vessels loaded with stones, but, ac-
cordng to some versions, the japanese
fleet was conveying transports with the
purpose of efiecting landing at Pigeon
Bav, and after the failure Of this pre-.
liminary meneuver, the Russians played
havoc with both the japanese warshlps
and transports, sinking four Of the for
mer and two of the latter. One account
even gives the name of the battleshlp
Retvizan as the vessel which particular
ly distinguished herself during the action
by ramming and sinking one OF the Jap
anese battleships.
RumOrs of this victory were spread
far and wide over St. Petersburg during
the early part of theevening. Thenews
of victory was accompanied bv two stories,
one that alter the first decisive Ruosian
victory the Emperor would offer peace,
and the other that Japan had deposed
the Emperor of Korea and formally an
nexed that country. Both these reports
are without confirmation, and they are
given simply as examples of the stories
which foated about in the excited
crowds.
A dispatch from St. Petersburg gives
another version of the reported japanese
defeat at Port Arthur, according to which
the japanese planned to sink some
barees in the strait leading from the outer
to the inner harbor of Port Arthur, thus
blocking the exit The Russian guniire,
however, sunk the barges before they
arrived at the intended spot.
Reliable reports from northern Korea
via Toxic indicate that the Russians
have not vet crossed the Yalu river.
Their scouts have, it is rumored. pene-
trated into the country south of Wuu,
but the main force still remains north
OF the river. The japanese seem to be
confident that the Russians are unable
to assemble in sufficient force to at
tempt a movement into Korea. The
Russian strength north of the falu is
yariously estimated from 10000 to
40, 900
II is probable that Russia will not
oppose the passage of the Yalu river,
bnt will withdraw her first line OF de-
fense farther into Manchuria, believing
that such action will be disadvantageous
to the enemy, because of his distance
from his base and the inefficiency OF bis
cavalry.
Viceroy Alexiefi, with a complete
: staff. now has his headquarters on
special train, which at present is abou
four miles from Mukden, fully equipped
and ready to move from place to place
as the necessities of the situations re
! qure.
A telegram from Viceroy Alexief t'
to the Gar says "At 2:45 in the morn
inr'of February % numerous Japanes'
torpedo boats attempted to attack th
battleship Retvizan and sink large steam
ers loaded with infammables. The Ret
yizan was the first TO observe the TORPEDO
boats. and opened a strong fire on them
She was supported by the land batteries
= She destroyed two steamers near the en-
/; trance OF the harbOr; they were comm
II directly towards her. One OF them wen
y on the rocks near the lighthouse on Tige
peninsula, and the other sank unde
Golden Hill. The Retvizan observe
four steamers in a sinking condition an
eight torpedo boats departing slowly
reioin the waiting japanese warships.
portion of the crews OF the japanese YES
. sells was drowned. Thegrounded steame
} is still burning. The enemy Is observe
- in the ofing of Port Arthurin two lines.
Escaped an Awful Fate.