The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-03-11
JAPS rain Shells
ON PORT ARTHUR
HEAVY COMMANDMENT OF RUS
SIAN STRONGHOLD CoNTIN-
UED FOR THREE DAYS.
SERIOUS LAND BATTLE
NOT YET EXPECTED
st. Petersburg Officials Proceed De-
liberately with Plans-First At
tack by Japan on Port Arthur
Described.

Described.
New York, March There has been
a three days bombardment by the
Japanese of Port Arthur, according to
a Herald dispatch from Tien-tsin,
dated Saturday morning. The attack
was kept up at intervals on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Japanese ships attacking the
town were inNactiOn first at distance
of nine and three-eighths miles from
the forts, and then they drew closer,
their range being four and three-quar-
tiers miles.
Russians Proceed Deliberately.
st. Petersburg, March THE con-
tinued dearth of war news from the
front does not occasion surprise here,
as the Russians are proceeding delib-
erately with their plans, serious land
operations not being expected for sew
erapw However, minor collisions
in north Korea may occur at any
time.
The report of Maj. Gen. Plug, chief
of staff of Viceroy AleXieff, that the
stacks of Japanese cruiser sunk near
Chemulpo have been seen, confirms the
theory entertained from the first that
the Japanese are following their tradi-
tional policy of concealing their losses.
The disappearance of the japanese
fleet fom Port Arthur, after its failures,
is creating merriment here, one paper
hot n hoc sEInnno6 70
visible cap, straddled the carpet, and
may next land in the ice in front of st.
Petersburg"
The Gazette Saturday morning attrib
utes the less unfriendly attitude of the
United States and Great Britain toward
Russia to the fact that they are COM
mercial nations, and realize that the
war will cost tremendous lot of money,
and that Japan will not have the walk
over anticipated.
Looking for Japanese Ships.
Toxic, March Am Austrian steam
er which has arrived at Hakodate from
Vladivostok reports that the Russian
squadron left Vladivostok on Febru-
airy 30 1t is presumed to be cruising
in northern waters, with the hope of
capturing Japanese merchantmen. An
other report says that two Russian
warships have been seen off Usulie
bay. Advices from Hakodate do not
mention any attacks on northern ports.
Russians Move North.
Seoul, March THE Russians, who
recently retired from Anju to Puk
Chen, are reported to have moved
northward from the latter place.
First Attack Described.
ST. Petersburg, March IA letter
from an officer of the Russian cruiser
Pallada has been received here, de-
scribing the first attack by the Japan
csc upon Port Arthur. The writer de-
MES the story that the officers of the
Russian fleet were ashore and confirms
the statement that the Japanese made
use of false lights. He asserts that at
IL o'clock at night a practice drill to
repel a torpedo attack was executed
and that toward midnight four Russian
torpedo boats, which simulated the
enemy, headed back toward Dalny,
from which place they had come. The
crews of the fleet had retired, only the
watch remaining on deck. The ships
were in the outer harbor and the cap
tain of the Pallada, which vessel occu-
pied the advance position, had descend
ed from the bridge for a last look
around before going below, when he
perceived lights advancing. The ships
lights shown were white above red
being those of the Russian warShips
when entering the harbor. The cap
tain of the Pallada supposed the ap-
preaching vessels were the Russian
torpedo boats returning from Dalny,
and his suspicious were only aroused
when, upon drawing nearer, they COW
cred and uncovered their lights at ir-
regular intervals. The signal tower
signaled that the lights were not un-
derstood.
At this moment the Pallada's cap
tain, through the thick night, made
out the outlines of the torpedo boat
destroyers' smokestacks in pairs, amid
ships. AS the stacks of the Russian
destroyers are in line fore and aft, the
crews of the Russian ships were in
stantly called to quarters.
In less than three minutes the Pal
lada's men were at their posts, orders
were given that the guns be charged
with grape and fierce fire was opened
on the oncoming japanese. The bat
tleships Cesarevitch and Retvizan,
| which were in the first line, a short
distance astern of the Pallada, also
opened fire almost Immediately.
A terrific explosion occurred under
the hull of the Pallada, raising a tor
rent of water which submerged the
| cruisers deck, but did not stop her fir
| ing or maneuvering, which now, how
ever, were complicated by the meas
ures taken to close breach amidships.
below the waterline, made by the ex-
plosion of the torpedo.
Soon afterwards two other torpedoes
exploded almost simultaneously, one
under the bow of the Retvizan and the
| other under the stern of the Cesare-
witch. This double explosion ended the
attack, the Japanese vessels retiring at
full speed.