The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-15
STILL FLOATS.
The Only Russian Battlexhip
Left at Port Arthur
Is Outside the HarbOr in a Dam
aged Condition.
UNDER TORPEDO FIRE.
She Has Been Attacked by Yes
sells of TogO's Squadron.
Japanese Are Advancing Along
Shores of Pigeon Bay.


parently damaged.
Headquarters of the Third Japanese
Army, via Fusan, Dec. 15.-Every part
of the city and harbor of Port Arthur
is visible from 203 Metre hill. The
streets of the city are deserted and but
few soldiers are doing patrol duty Many
buildings have been burned and others
shattered. The shelter of the harbor
presents a strange appearance with the
turrets, masts and tunnels of warships
showing just above the water. There
is not vessel afioat in the harbor. The
docks and buildings on the water front
are torn and burned. The Japanese
shell search every part of the city and
harbor.
The Russian batt1eship Sevastopol,
the only Russian warship that escaped
destruction, being docked when the 9TH
er vessels were sunk after the japanese
captured 203 Metre hill, escaped from
the dock harbor and is now anchored
under protecting mountain Some tor
pedo craft are also outside of the har-
Dor.
The tremendous price in life paid by
the Japanese for the capture of 203
Metre hill has been redeemed by the
utter destruction of the Russian fleet.
The Japanese hett will now go into
dock.
The japanese are working their ad-
vance on the shores of Pigeon Bay on
comparatively level ground against the
Taiyankow, Idzchan and Antzeshan
forts. The approaches to the fortifica-
tionS are easy but the forts are enor-
mously strong and the near approach
will be all the more difficult as the sap
ping of trenches will have to be done
through frozen ground.
The guns mounted on 203 Metre hill
will be able to cover the advance of
infantry against any of the western
forts.
Bath Rooms in Dugouts.
Russian Headquarters at Mukden.
Dec. 15.-During the lull in serious
fighting the soldiers enjoy engaging in
daring feats and exploits. The other
knoll guarded with wire entangle-
ments which the Japanese usually oc-
cupy in the daytime and cut down
wood and carried it to the Russian
positions Frequently volunteers creep
up to the Japanese lines and carry off
hundred feet or more of barbed
wire.
The dugouts along the front, which
in reality are underground barracks,
are splendidly constructed and are
even furnished with bath rooms.
Seems to Be Sinking.
Toxic, Dec. 15-3 P. M-The comman-
der of the third japanese squadron re-
porting at 1875 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing says:
Commencing at 11:30 o'clock Tuesday
night and continuing until 8 o'clock
Wednesday morning, six torpedo boats
and specially fitted torpedo craft con-
stantly attempted attacks against the
Russian battleship Sevastopol, the coast
defense vessel Otvashni and the mill
tary transports
"Details of the attacks are not vet
known. However. according to reports
received from the watch tower at 9
o'clock this morning, the Sevastopol had
commenced lowering astern and the wa
ter was said to reach the torpedo tubes
eastern"
The same commander. telegraphing
last midnight says:
cat $3.50 o'clock on the morning of
December IA, Wednesday, Commander
Otaki, leading f1otilla of torpedo boats,
and Lieutenant Miyamoto, leading an
other fiotilla, began attacks against the
Sevastopol and the transports.
"Otaki'S fotilla failed to accomplish
its purpose, owing to the severe snow
storm. a
"Miyamodo's fotilla, succeeded in
reaching the intended spot by taking
advantage of the fact that the enemy's
searchlightS were exposing Otaki's flo
tilla and were not directed against Mi
yan1oto's. In the thick of the snow,
while Miyamoto's f1otilla was search
ing for the enemys ships, one torpedo
boat became lost from it's comrades
ships.
"At O'Clock Lieutenant Nakamuda's s
torpedo OOdL independently attacked Il
military transport. Another torpedo
boat under Miyamoto discharged and
exploded a torpedo against the Sevasto-
pol Both returned safely but failed to
meet the missing torpedo boat and
crew.
Reports received from the watch
tower guardship at nine say that the
stern of the Sevastopol appeared to
have lowered three feet"
The Attack on the SevastopoI.
D e-<ia lIxy
successful torpedo attack on the Sevas-
topol was made in the face of almost
insurmountable obstacle and writes an
bravery of a number of officers.
The entire crew of the torpedo boat
destroyers and torpedo boats volunteer
ed for the attack, counting death in
Russian battleship at Port Arthur.
Facing a driving snow storm and
heavy seas, the f1otillas separated and
under individual commanders, the YES
sells attacked Independently. The decks
of the destroyers and torpedo boats were
coated with ice and the men suffered
acutely from cold.
The Russians resorted to the most ex-
treIne precautions to protect the Sevas-
topol. They dropped torpedo nets which
shielded the bows of the warship, and
the Sevastopol was further protected by
a specially constructed wooden boom,
the frame work of which was compos-
ed of ironbound logs and cables and
heavy chains interlaced and entangled.
From the surface of this boom hung a
deep curtain made of torpedo nets ta-
ken from the sunken battleships, the
purpose Of which was to catch and de-
stroy the torpedoes and their mechanic
ism.
The Japanese probably refrained from
attempting to cut or Jump the boom, a
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