Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-27
JAP PLAN OF BATTLE.

JAP PLAN OF BATTLE.
st, Petersburg, Feb. 27.-The Port Ar
thur correspondent Of the Russ telc-
graphs as follows;
ION the morning Of Feb. 20 a japan
ese squadron consisting of six battle
ships and four light cruisers appeared
on the horizon. The Russian cruisers
Askold, Bayat and Novok were In the
outer harbor. The Japanese ships, upon
attaining position within IS cable
lengths about A miles, OF the Russian
ships opened an attack. At this time
two Of our torpedo boats were return
ing to our ships from Pigeon bay. All
the Japanese cruisers attempted TO cut
them off; nevertheless. one OF the tor
pedo boats succeeded In reaching Port
Arthur while the other turned back.
The scene ofsthe battle was thus cut
In two, the Japanese battleship cam
nonading the Askold, Rayari and No
yik, which were supported by the bat
teries and the cruisers pursuing the
Russian torpedo boat which entered
Pigeon bay
The cannonade lasted 40 minutes and
several shells fell at various points In
the fortress One Chinaman was NOR
tally wounded by a splinter and one by
a she'll In yesterdays affair the man
euyers Of the japanese appeared to be
defective. While turning back to sea
the Japanese battleships got punched
and our ships did not fail to take ad
vantage OF this fact, They opened
running fire and one could clearly see
shells bursting amidst the tremendous
target, This clumsy maneuver on the
part of the Japanese IL considered as
affording weighty reasons Cor the be-
lief that Che enemy's losses were heavy.
"a Japanese torpedo boat lies on
bank off Fort White Wolf. II IL APP
parently one OF those which participant
ed in the night attack with the freight
ers.
II close hearing our cannonading but
without knowing the occasion of It."
ALEXIEFF's ACCOUNT.
ST. Petersburg, Feb. 27,-The czar has
received the following telegram from
Viceroy Alexieff, dated Port Arthur
Feb. 26
After the moon had set early IN the
morning Of Feb. % the Retvlzan re-
PEELED several attacks by the enemys
torpedo boats, two Of which are be-
lleyed to have been sunk In the open
sea. Our torpedo boats under Captain
Of the First Rank Matusseyltch and
Captain OF the Second Rank Prince
pursued the enemys torpedo boat flo
tilla, They sighted 10 large warshlps.
Later In the morning Of Feb. % the
cruiser Bayan. Diana, Askod and No
VIZ were sent out to prevent the Jap
anese cruisers from pursuing portion
OF our returning torpedo notllla.
zone OF our torpedo boats, which was
cut of by four japanese cruisers, sought
shelter In Dove bay Ii had no casual
ties.
THE japanese fleet ON sighting our
cruisers came In closer to the forts,
which together with cur warships, OPP
ened fire at 1850. Our cruisers, still
firing, entered the harbor, which our
torpedo boats had already safely
reached.
"The onemy's sheils for the most part
fell short. One seaman was wounded,
but I'VE sustained no other losses.
1.-THE japanese fleet consisted OF II
large warships and eight torpedo boats,
whereas the squadron which attempted
to block the entrance to Port Arthur on
the previous day had l2 torpedo boats"
JAPs LAND AT CHEFoo.
Cheefoo Feb. 27--Several Japanese
officers and sailors who landed here
from an open boat early today refused
TO give any information as 10 where
they came from. AZ the Japanese con-
sulate II was given out that they be-
long 20 gunboat which was damaged
during the fight on Port Arthur and
which sank trying 10 reach this port.
The statement that they were mem
bers OF the crews Of the merchant |
steamers sunk near the entrance OF |
Port Arthur for the purpose Of block |
Ing II and that they were not picked |
IN By the torpedo boats In company
was positively denied, They crossed |
the gulf In the open boat In (which they |
arrived. The consul claimed that he |
had been expecting the arrival OF sur |
yiyors Of the action of Port Arthur.
New York. Feb. FLA previous dis !
patch from Toxic giving details Of Ad. !
mlral Togo's attempt 10 bottle up the |
Russian fleet at Port Arthur, reported |
that all the crews OF the four japanese |
vessels which were sunk of Port Ar |
thur escaped In boats and were picked |
up by the Japanese torpedo boat de- |
stroyers conveying them. II Is con-
sldered possible however, that the sail
ors mentioned In the above dispatch |
were part Of the crews Of the sunken |