Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-03-02
MAKES AN ATTACK. 1Al, THEIR i RUsE FAILED
Russian Paper Neutrality HAS Plucky Iaps Went Against Hard
Violated Proposition
RECEIVED A STUNNING REPULsE
iAll Does Not Appear to Be Smooth
Sailing to the Hopeful Hosts of the
4 Island Kingdom.

st. Petersburg. BY Cable.-Reports
Z of Russian victory at Port Arthur
were current late Wednesday after
moon and early in the evening, but
THE stories of the dimensions of this
victory were most conflicting and con-
,fusing In character.
The most circumstantial report was
that the Japanese had attempted to
bottle up Admiral Starks fleet in Port
Arthur by sinking two stone laden
vessels at the entrance Of the harbor.
employing the tactics which were
{ considered, but not executed, by the
late Admiral Sampson, y. s. N, with
the Merrimac at Santiago during the
Spanish.American wa.r. According to
this account two Japanese ships ap.
peared off the harbor with Japanese
feet behind them and ostensibly In
pursuit. The Russians however, sus-
pected ruse. and their ships steam.
ed. out sank the stone-ladened vessels
; and engaged and defeated the enemy
/. and drove them off. The reports OF
the losses inflicted, however, are con-
aicting. All the stories include the
feature of the vessels laden With
stones, but, according TO some ver'
sions, the japanese fleet was convoy
ing the two ships with purpose OF
efecting landing at Pigeon Bay.
and with the failure Of this prelim-
mary maneuvre, the Russians played
havoc with both the japanese war
ships and the transports, sinking
four Of the former and two Of the
latter. One account gives the name
ofythe battleship Retzivan as the YES.
sci which particularly distinguished
herself during the action by ramming
and sinking one of the Japanese bat
tleships.
Rumors Of this victory were spread
far and wide over the city during the
early part of the evening. and the
crowds which gathered in the streets,
In spite Of the severe cold, TO discuss
the news. were greatly excited. The
news Of the victory was accompanied
by3 the two stories. one that after the
first decisive Russian victory the EN-
psror would offer peace, and the 9th.
ei that Japan had depcsed the Emper,
e. Of Corea, and formally annexed
that country Both these reports are
without confirmation, and they are
given simply as examples of the
stories which foated about in the ex-
cited crowds.
Instead Of diminishing the crowds
at the admiralty and newspaper and
telegraph agencies Offices kept III
creasing, and the excitement att"iaeG
ttel fever point when 1t was definitely
Known that the Emperor had received
a telegram giving more details anu
slowing that the Russian victory was
e,en greater than was at fist report
e.. Newspaper messengers waited
a; the admiralty with fast horses
ready to carry away the news while
uEYas being prepared. When tho
sheets were finally distributed at $50
oslock this morning rush was made
tr the exits and the assembled Off:
c,rs cheered wildly and repeatedly.
The crowds showed no inclination to
6:sperse, showing that further news
,ould be received showing the exact
extent Of the Russian victory.
It must be observed that in his dis.
,atch Ficeroy Alexieff does not men
ion the number of steamers which
The Japanese tried to sink. or drive
tpon the Russian ships. and 1t is not
yet known whether the four vessels
the captain Of the Retzlvan observed
foing down were also laden with in
iammables or whether they were
yarships.
The greatest praise is given TO the
commander of the Retzivan, and the
splendid action of this American
built vessel places her name foremost
bn the roll of the Russian navy.
4 yiceroy Alexieff's dispatch was an
Emplifcation of brief telegram re-
reived by the Emperor earlier, but
which was not given oui
Later it was said that Russia sus.
tained no losses in the engagement.
/ It Is evident that Vice Admiral
Stark no longer commands the Rus.
sian Port Arthur naval forces, Vice.
roy Aleaieff mentioning a temporary
lcommander Of the fleet without Civ
li,r~