The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-03-28
Another Attempt to Block
Port Arthur Proved
Futile.
RUSSIANS WERE ACTIVE
Admiral Makaroffs Fighting Force
Was OH the A 'ert and Japs
Were RepuIsed.
Merchant Vessels Intended to Act
as Barriers Were Driven
Ashore.

st. Petersburg, March 28.-Sunday
morning Vice Admiral Togo made an
other desperate attempt to bottle up
the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, but
he failed again, and when, after day
light, Vice Admiral Makaroff steamed
out to give battle, the Japanese COM
mander refused the challenge and
sailed away
The Japanese practically repeated
the tactics of Feb "a by sending in
four f1reships, preceded by torpedo
boat fotilla with the exception that
the fireshIps this time were armed
with Hotchkiss guns for the purpose
of keeping off the Russian torpedo
boat destroyers.
The enemy'S attempt was diScOv-
cred by means of the shore search
lights, and heavy fire was opened
from the batteries and from two gun
boats which were guarding the en-
trance to the harbor The Russian
torpedo boat destroyer SLIM was out
side on scouting duty, and to the dash
and nerve of her commander, Lieuten-
ant Krinizki, is chiefly due the COM
plete defeat of the plans of the Jap
anese. He at once made straight for
the oncoming ships under a hail of
fire from the Hotchkiss guns and tor
pedoed the leading ship, which sheer
ed off, followed by the others, three of
them being piled up on the shore un-
der Golden hill and one under the
lighthouse The SLIM then engaged
the entire six torpedo boats of the
enemy, coming out from a terrific
fight with several killed and her com
mander and twelve of her compile
ment wounded, but on the japanese
side only one boats crew was saved.
In addition, according to unofficial re-
ports, it is believed that Japan lost
two torpedo boats. The Japanese
cruisers which supported the attack
exchanged shots with the batteries
and then drew off, after which Vice
Admiral Makaroff took steam
launch and examined the f1reships.
An hour later the Japanese torpedo
flotilla, followed by Vice Admiral To-
COS fleet, came up from a southerly
direction. Just at daybreak Vice Adj
miral Makarof with his feet sailed
out to engage the enemy, but after
the ships and batteries had fired a
few long distance shots, Vice Admiral
Togo decided to decline the issue and
disappeared to the southwark
The news of the repulse of Vice Ad-
miral Togo's second attempt to block
Port Arthur created much rejoicing in
the Russian capital, and among all
classes the gallantry of the SLIM and
her commander is The subject of high
praise; but above all the moral effect
of Vice Admiral Makaroff's willing
ness to engage the enemy showed that
he considered himself strong enough
to fight, produced splendid impress
sion.
In high official circles this new eff
fort to bottle up the Russian fleet is
looked upon as meaning only one
thing, namely, that the Japanese are
preparing for a heavy landing of
troops in the gulf of Lao Tung. either
at New Chwang or on the west coast
of the Manchurian neutral zone to ef-
feet which in safety the immobility
of Vice Admiral Makaroff's fleet is
absolutely essential while the trans
ports are being conveyed around the
southern end of the peninsula. If the
attempt had succeeded it would have
required several days at least to blow
up the steamers and clear away the
wreckage, during which time the Jap
anese would be assured of non-inter-
ference in the carrying out of their
purpose. The failure of the Japanese
may seriously hamper their plans as
the ice IN the Lilo river is going out
and when the river is free from ice its
mouth can be easily mined
The convictions continue to grow
here that the Japanese have conclud-
ed that it would be inadvisable to
make direct frontal attack on Man
churia from Korea against the whole
Russian army and that it will be nee
essary to land a fianking column in
the gulf of Lao Tung to divide the
attention of the Russians and, if pos
sible, to seize the railroad and cut off
Port Arthur. The ground above New
Chwang is perfectly familiar to the
Japanese who occupied it for year
during the Chino-Japanese war.
1t is stated on apparently reliable
authority that Vice Admiral Makaroff's
reports of the reconnaissance of the
Elliot islands yesterday, contained
the startling statement that he cap
tured junk filed with Chinese reg
ular troops which was being towed
by japanese gunboat.