The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-14
Official Announcement at
 TokiO. JAP ADMIRAL IS A HERO
Describes Bow t0-Bow Action
 in HarbOr.
On March 10 Torpedo Flotiiias Lock ed Horns and Fought at Short Range-Russian Vessel
 Was Destroyed.

t t se s- x s-a 4
 Tokio. March 1s.-oniciai private re- ports. indicate that Admiral Togo's fourth attack on Port Arthur on the 10th inst. was the most effective since the first assault of a month ago. One Rus sian torpedo boat destroyer was sunk and several Russian torpedo boats de- Btroyed and seriously injured. The for heavy bombardment lasting nearly four hours The naval bombardments of the late week have been generally effective. yet the peculiar typographical conditions of Port Arthur make imunity from ser- lous loss from bombardment impossible
 Admiral Togo's torpedo fiotilla opened the action by boldly steanaing In under the battle and sinking number of me- chanical vessels at the mouth of the har- bor. Following that there was a des- perate bow to bow encounter, between the torpedo boat destroyers in which the Japanese appear to have scored a clear victory. Then followed a long range duel between the cruisers ending in the retirement of the Novik and Bahan. the only Russians engaged.
 The closing action was the lombard ment of the inner harbor by the Japa- nese batleships. The latter took a posi- tion southwest of Port Arthur and used only 12-fnch guns. There were "A twelve inch guns in the squadron of six battle ships and each gun was fired five rounds. making total of 121 huge projectiles that were fired at the city. The bom- bardment was deliberate and carefully planned. In order to aid the firing. Ad- miral Togo stationed the cruisers in position due east of the entrance to the harbor, and at a right angle to the bat tleships. The cruisers observed the range and effect of the firing and sig nailed the results and suggestions by wireless telegraphy. The observations and reports greatly aided the gunners In their effort to make every shot count. Captain Asai Hero.
 Captain shojaro Asai, commanded the notilla of torpedo boat destEoyefs. which snsaeed the Russian destToyers. fS gIsS hero of the first attack He had only three destroyers, but attacked the six Russian destroyers, ordering his craft to close in with the enemy. He steamed so close to the enemys destroyers that they touched and desperate conflict ensued, from which the Russians retired badly disabled.
 Engineer Minamisawa, of the destroyer Kasumi received small wound. He participated in the first torpedo attack on Port Arthur, also in the attempt to bottle up the harbor by sinking com mercial steamers, and was commended both times for his gallantry.
 The Japanese hotilla, which sunk the mines at the mouth of the .harbor, later engaged two Russian destroyers. This 1otilla was commanded by Commander Tshiya Admiral Togo's object in send ing cruisers to Talien Wan Bay was to encompass the destruction of signal station mine depot at Samshantao. This object was achieved but the buildings I were demolished. Rear Admiral Dewa 8 and Uriu participated in the operations under Admiral Togo. the details of whose operations became known In Japan only today, and the news created intense enthusiasm Admiral Togo's report came last night, but it was withheld until shown the Emperor. Admiral Togo Is permanently numbered among the he- roes of the Empire. The latest reports place the Japanese loss at nine killed, 4 five seriously wounded and seven slight Iy hurt. The Japanese fleet was not # damaged in the fighting.
 The report of the fourth attack on Port Arthur by the Japanese fleet on March 10. reached Tokio late Saturday q afternoon. It is as follows:
 ''Our squadron as prearranged. attacked the enemy at Port Arthur on March 10. Our two torpedo notillas reached the mouth of the harbor at Port Arthur at q 1 o'clock on the morning of the 5tho
 Finding no enemy and awaiting until dawn, one iotiIla engaged in sinking spc- cial mines in the harbor entrance. Not withstanding the enemys fire our hotilla % succeeded in sinking the mines. The other lotilla met the enemy's torpedo hotilla consisting of six boats in the Lao Thie Shan channel, south of Port Arthur at 4:30 o'clock. A hot engagement oc- cured at close range for thirty minutes. The enemy then took flight.
 "Our fire greatly damaged the Rus
 sian ships, one of which was badly crfp-
 pied by a shot through the boilers, and
 another was observed to be on fire So rfar0 fha VI t0 that our destroyers, the Asashio, Karumi and Akaktsuki nearly touched the ene-
 my's ships and our crews even heard
 the cries of the enemy from agony of
 the injured men. We sustained some damage and loss. The AkaktsuIxi had A
 steam pipe broken and four stokers were
 killed thereby. Our loss was seven killed
 and eight wounded. Among the latter
 is Chief Engineer Minamisawa of Kasu-
 mi"
 Steregushtchi Captured.
 Our other hotilla while IeavinR inc
 harbor entrance, observed two Russian
 torpedo boats coming from the seaward
 and immediately engaged them in bat
 tie lasting one hour. After causing them
 escape. but our destroyer. the sasahaml
 captured the other boat which proved
 to be the stereRushtchi."
 Notwithstanding the land batteries
 pouring a heavy fire on our hotllla. the
 captured vessel was taken in tow. Owing
 to the high sea the tow line soon parted
 and the Sasanami found it necessary Go
 take the crew from the Russian boat
 and abandon the StereguschtchL which
 finally sank at 10:So o'clock"
 ''The enemy's cruisers Novik and No
 bren steamed out of the entrance of the
 harbor towards us but observing the ap-
 proach of our cruisers squadron retired
 fo the harbor. Our fotilla suffered some
 damage but not heavy. The 'Sasanami
 and the Akoktuski had two soldiers
 killed and sub-Lieutenant shimi of the
 1Akaktuslkl and three sailors were
 wounded.
 "our main and cruiser squadron arrived