The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-04-01

Squadron Retires.
St Petersburg, March 2S.-An Of
fetal dispatch from Port Arthur to the
emperor says that at l o'clock a. m.
the Russian searchlights made out
four large merchant steamers making
for the entrance of the harbor, sup
ported by six torpedo boats. A heavy
fire was opened on them by the batter
les and some warships. The torpedo
boat Stilni, commanded by Lieutenant
Krinzld, turned the merchant vessels
from their course by blowing up the
PROV of the first and then boldly at
lacking the enemy's torpedo boats. In
the fierce fight which followed Chief
Engineer Swyereff of the Stilni and six
marines were killed and the command
er and IL men were injured. The Jap
anese plan to block up the entrance to
Port Arthur was frustrated and the
channel is still Gear.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding
the Russian naval forces at Port
Arthur, has sent the following tele-
sram to the czar:
q beg most humbly to report that
the enemy has made a second attempt
to block the entrance to the inner road
stead. For this purpose they dispatch
ed four large merchant steamers, con-
voyed by six torpedo boats to the en-
trance The enemy's ships were
promptly discovered by the search
lights and were bombarded by the bat
teries ana by lie guardships Bohr and
Otvajey.
Fearing that the enemy might break
through Lieutenant Krinzki, command
ing the guard torpedo boat Stilni, at
tackled the enemy and destroyed the
bow of the foremost japanese steamer
with a torpedo. This steamer turned
to the right and was followed by two
others, with the result that the three
were stranded to the right of the en-
trance. a fourth steamer went to the
side of the tairway. The Stilni then
battled with the enemys six torpedo
boats. Engineer Artihcer Swyere-l
and six seamen were killed and the
commander and II seamen wounded.
At daybreak the enemy's battlesmp
and cruiser squadron appeared and l
proceeded with the fleet under my
charge to meet the enemy.
"The second attempt Of the Japan
csc to block the entrance to Port ar
thur has failed, thanks to the ener-
getic defense by the sea and land
forces. who acted as they did during
the first attempt.
"The harbor remains perfectly
clear
It is stated that one Russian tor
, pedo boat was sunk in the en-
, gagement, but it is thought the vessel
can be relocated.
In an oficial dispatch General Smir
neff at Port Arthur tells of the second
appearance of the Japanese squadron
the Russian squadron going out tc
meet it and the japanese retiring.
"a Hotchkiss one inch caliber quick
frer was found aboard one OF the
sunken steamers, from which a fire
had been kept up on our torpedo
" boats" said the general, telegraphint
the result of the first engagement. r
L boat left each of the sunken ships
carrying their crews. One of these Il
d believed to have been picked up. To
> wards 4 o'clock this morning the en-
= emy's torpedo boats retired and TN
: bombardment ceased.
=. "Vice admiral MakarOff at once pro
ceeded in steam launch to inspect tn
enemys sunken steamers. The er
: emy's torpedo boats reappeared at
O'Clock this morning. They were sigh
- ed south of rort arthur and the bal
teries reopened on them. Toward
5 O'Clock the enemy's squadron al
- peared on the horizon and our ship
ID steamed out to meet it. At $50 tn
batteries opened fire. Our ships ba
A teries soon ceased, the Japanese draw
IS ing off to the southeast, evluentiy d.
n clining another engagement. At
Of o'clock they disappeared"