Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-02-27


current and they seemed to have been
definitely confirmed. but in the absence
OF an Official announcement, which Is
momentarily expected, the stories OF
the dimensions Of this victory were
most conflicting and confusing in
character
The most circumstantial report was
that the Japanese had attempted to
bottle up Admiral Stark's feet in Port
Arthur by sinking two stone-laden
vessels at the entrance of the harbor,
employing the tactics which were con-
sidered, but not executed by the late
Admiral Sampson, U. s. N, with the
Merrimac at Santiago during the Span
ish-American war.
According to this account, two jap
anese ships appeared off the harbor
with Japanese fleet behind them and
ostensibly in pursuit.
The Russians, however, suspected
the ruse. and their ships steamed out,
sank the stone-laden vessels, engaged
and defeated the enemy and drove
them off.
The reports Of the loss inflicted,
however, are conflicting.
All the stories include the feature
Of the vessels loaded with stones. but
according to some versions, the Japa-
nese fleet was conveying transports
with the purpose Of efrecting a landing
at Pigeon bay, and after the failure of
this preliminary maneuver the Rus
SLAMS played havoc with both the Jap
anese warships and the transports.
sinking four of the former and two Of
the latter.
One account even gives the name
of the battleship Retvizan 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 and the
crowds which had gathered in the
streets, in spite of the severe cold, to
discuss the news were greatly excited.
One newspaper printed an extra re-
lating the victory, based on 2 meager
telegram from LONDON. but as the
night wore @ on elo%as %tfsonati disappeared. ar ex-
cept from around the newspaper Of
fees.
These remained thronged with Off
GERS and others who were resolved to
await the official announcement.
The news of victory was accom-
panied by two stories. one that after
the first decisive Russian victory the
emperor would otter peace, and the
other that Japan had deposed the en-
peror Of Korea and formally annexed
that country.
Both OF these reports are without
confirmation, and they are given SIM
ply as examples of the stories which
circulated among the excited crowds.
Instead Of diminishing the crowds
at the admiralty and newspaper and
telegraph agency offices kept increas-
ing and the excitement attained the
fever point when it became known
definitely that the emperor had receiv-
ed telegram giving more details and
showing that the Russian victory was
even greater than at first reported.
Newspaper messengers waited at the
admiralty with fast horses ready to
carry away the news which 1t was
known was being prepared.
When the sheets were finally dis
trlbuted a rush was made for the exits
and the assembled officers cheered
wildly and repeatedly.
The crowds showed no inclination
to disperse, hoping that further news
would be received. showing the exact
extent Of the Russian victory.
1t must be observed that in his dis
patch Viceroy Alexieff does not men
ton the number Of steamers the jap
anese tried to sink or drive upon the
Russian ships and it is not yet known
whether the four vessels the captain
OF the Retvizan observed going down.
in addition to the two destroyed, were
also laden with infiammables or wheth-
er they were warships.
The greatest praise Is given to the
commander of the Retvizan. and the
splendid action Of this American
built vessel places her name foremost
on the roll OF the Russian navy.
Viceroy Alexief's dispatch was an
exemplification of briefer telegram
received by the emperor earlier, but
which was not given out.
Later it was said that Russia sus-
tanned no losses in the engagement.
II is evident that Vice Admiral Stark
no longer commands the Russian Port
Arthur naval forces, Viceroy Alexieff
mentioning temporary commander
of the feet without giving any name.
Stories TO the effect that the Jap
anese designed an attempt at landing
at Pigeon bay at the same time that
the engagement occurred, are not men
toned in the dispatches, but it is as
sumed these are without foundation.