The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-25
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MEN 4 BOYS oUTF'TTEIHs.

Eng of February Gath nuomrous Japa-
ncse torpedo bonts attempted to attack
The battleship Retvizan and sink large
steamers loaded with inflammables. Inc
Retvizan was the first to observe inc
torpedo boats, and opened a strong ire
Al them. She was supported by the land
batteries. She destroyed two steamers
y near the entrance of the harbor; they
we're coming directly towards her, one
of them went on the rocks near the light
ho1,se on Tiger Peninsula. and the other
sank under Golden Hill. The Retvizani
n observed four steamers In a sinking con-
&dition. and eight torpedo boats depart
Ing slowly to retoin the waiting Japanese
warsh!ps. "A portion OF the crews of the
L Japanese vessels was drowned. The
grounded steamer Is still burning. The
enemy is observed In the offing OF Fort
Il Arthur in two lines.
6YI"The Japanese crews saved themselves
In boats and it Is possible that some.
Of them were picked up by the enemy's
4 torpedo boats.
587E"I am proceeding to examine the
ii Goa SITS The entrance OF the harbor is
5aopen. I attribute the complete derange-4
8ment Of the enemy's PLAN to the bril-
liz Mt action and destructive fire OF the
fRctyizan. Floating mines arc still vlsi-
lie in the roadsted. ] have recalled the
three cruisers sent In pursuit of the
enemy In order, in the first place, 70
a clear the roadstead Of floating mines.
1--WE had no losses.
Reports OF Russian victory at Port
Arthur we're current late yesterday af-
sternoon and early in the evening, but
tho stories of the dimensions Of tho vic
story were most conflicting and confusing
Tin character.
II THE most tcircunstantil report was
that tho Japanese had attempted to bot
Stlc&ur Admiral Stal'k's fleet In Port Ar
sinking two stone laden vessels
mt the entrance of the harbor, employing
tile tactics which We're considered, but
met executed. by the late ADMIRAL samp-
" son. United States navy, with tile Merit
mac at Santiago during the Spanish
American war, According to this account
two Japanese ships appeared off the har-
+ ,or with a Japanese fleet behind them
and ostensfhly in pursuit. The Russians,
z However suspected a ruse, and Their
ships steamed out, sank the stone laden
vessels. engaged and defeated the enc
my and drove them off. The reports OF
the loss Inflicted arc conflicting.
Other Reports.
All the stories include the feature Of
& the vessels loaded with stones, but, ac-
cording to some versions, the Japanese
fleet was conveying transports with the
purpose or effecting q landing at Pigeon
Bay, and after the failure of this pre-
ln!nary manoeuvre, the Russians played
havoc with both the Japanese warshirs
and the transports 4 sinking four OF the
former and twp otA the 'latter. One ac-
Y count gives the name Of the battleship.
s Rctvizan as the vessel which particularly
distinguished herself during the action
by ramming and sinking one of tho ia
panese battleships.
Runners Of this victory were spread far
and wide over the city during the early
( part of the evening. and the croTcs
which had gathered In inc streets, In
spite of the severe cold. to discuss the
news, were greatly excited
III. The news OF the victory. was accompa-
nied by two stories, one that after The
first decisive Russian victory the Enlpo-
4 ror would offer peace and the other that
Japan had deposed thu Emperor Of
Korea and formally annexed that coun-
try Both these reports are without con-
firmalion, and they are given simply az
examples OF the stories which floated
about In the excited crowds.
Fever Heat.
Instead of diminishing, the crowds al
the admiralty and newspaper and te!e-
graph agencies offices kept Increasing
and the excitement attained the fever