The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-30
HoBsoN TACTICS NO GOOD.
Japanese Again Fail to Block Port
Arthur Rarbor by Sinking
Ships.
Makaroff Reports that lap Fleet Declined
Invitation to Fight. Sailed Away
When He Went out to Give Battle.

Invitation to Fight. Sailed Away
When He Went out to Give Battle.
st. Petersburg, March 27.--Under
cover of darkness this morning Ad-
miral Togo made another desperate at
tempt to bottle up the Russian feet
| in Port Arthur, but he failed again,
and when after daylight Vice Ad-
miral Makarof steamed out to give
battle the Japanese commander re-
fused the challenge and sailed away.
The japanese practically repeated
the tactics of Feb. "a by sending in
four freships, preceded by torpedo
boat hotilla, with the exception that
the frehips this time were armed
], with Hotchkiss guns. for the purpose
of keeping off the Russian torpedo
boat destroyers.
The enemy's attempt was discovered
| by means of the shore. searchlights
and heavy Ere was opened from the
batteries and from two gunboats
which were guarding the entrance to
| the harbor.
The Russian torpedo boat destroyer
| SLIM was outside on scouting duty
and to the dash and nerve of her COM
mander, Lieut. Krinizki. is chiefly
due the complete defeat of the plans
of the japanese. He at once made
straight for the on coming ships un-
dera hail of fire from the Hotchkiss
guns and torpedoed the leading ship,
which sheered off, followed by the
others, three of them being piled up
| on the Golden Hill and one under the
] lighthouse. The SLIM then engaged
the entire six torpedo boats of the
enemy, coming out from terrific
fight with seven killed and her CON-
mander and u of her complement
wounded, but on the japanese side
onlv one boats crew was saved. In
addition, according to unofficial re-
ports, it is believed that the japanese
lost two torpedo boats.
| The japanese cruisers which sup
ported the attack exchanged shot with
| the batteries and then drew off, after
which Vice Admiral Makarof took
a steam launch and examined the fire.
ships. An hour later the japanese
| torpedo hotilla. followed by Vice Ad-
miral Togo's feet came up from a
southerly direction. Just at daybreak
Vice Admiral Makarof with his feet
sailed out to engage the enemy, but
after the ships and batteries had fred
a few long distance shots Vice Ad-
miral Togo decided to decline the is
sue and disappeared to the southwark.
The news of the repulse of Vice Ad-
miraI 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 are the subject of high
praise; but above all the moral effect
Of Admiral Makarof's willingness
to engage the enemy, showing that
be considered himself strong enough
to fight, produced a splendid impress
sion.
In high official circles this new eff
fort to bottle up the Russian feet is
looked upon as meaning only one
thing, namely, that the japanese, as
stated by the Associated Press on
March "a, are preparing for heavy
landing of troops in the gulf OF Liao
Tunp either at New Chwang or on
the west coast of the Manchurian
neutral zone, to effect which in safe
ty the immobility of Vice Admiral
Makaroff's feet is absolutely essential
while the transports are being convoy
ed around the southern end of the
peninsula. If the attempt had sucs
Eceeded it would have required several
| DAYS at least. to blow up the steamers
land clear away the wreckage, during
which time the japanese would be
assured of non-interference insthe cal
rying out of their purpoes. The fail
ure of the japanese this morning may
seriously hamper their plans as the
| ice in the Liao river is going out and
when the river is free from ice its
mouth can be easily mined.
The conviction continues to grow
here that the japanese have concluded
that it would be inadvisable to make
| direct frontal attack on Manchurla
from Corea against the whole Russian
army, and that it will be necessary
| to land hanking column in the gulf
of Liao Tung to divide the attention
of the Russians and if possible 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 China-Japanese war.
Some experts even 20 so far as to
express the belief that Vice Admiral
Togo was covering the, movement Of
| transports into the gulf of Liao Tung
this morning aud that therefore be
was compelled to exercise great eau
tion and to decline the Russian offer
of an engagement. Another view OF
the japanese admirals purpose,
| which was less entertained, is that
he believes that ponlbardments from
Pigeon bay would be disastrous to the
Russian feet if it were compelled to
remain in the barbor, he having
| ascertained from observation that the
Russian ships always pass out during
the high angle bombardmeuts and that