Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-16
GATHERING PORT ARTHUR.

ant base.
Vice Admiral Togo's fleet, in two di-
visions, again bombarded the forts and
the town Of Port Arthur Thursday. For
four hours, according to dispatches di-
rect from Port Arthur, there was rain
of shot and shell. The Russian ships
and the forts replied, but the japanese
shells silenced two or the Russian bat
teries. Buildings in the town were fired.
Intense excitement prevailed.
Naval experts in London and in Paris
now believe, Notwithstanding the state
ment of the Russian officers to the cou-
trary, that the japanese have practically
succeeded in bottling up the Russian
ships at Port Arthur, and that japanese
torpedoes. not Russian mines, sunk the
battleship Petropavlovsk and damaged the
Tobieda. Official information has been
received in London ard Paris that a
naval battle did not occur between the
two fleets on Wednesday morning and
ended in the blowing up Of the Russian
battleship.
While the japanese deny that there
are any submarine boats with their fleet,
there is strong suspicion that it was
boat of that class that had much to do
with the disaster othe Russian warship.
The japanese would naturally conceal
the fact that they were using submarine
boats in their operations at Port Arthur.
A dispatch from Kobe, Japan, says
that the japanese arranged to lay 30
mines at the entrance of Port Arthur and
then entice the Russians out. The mines
were placed in position and Port Arthur
was bombarded April l3.
Viceroy Alexielf, who was at Mukden
when the battleship disaster occurred,
proceeded promptly TO Port Arthur TO
personally assume temporary command
of the naval forces there. His presence
is expected to put an end to the demor-
alization there
On the Sd instant japanese third
class cruiser, which had been sent to re-
connoiter the mouth of the Yalu, found
the enemy in possession of the land and
both approaches to the river. Reconnoiier-
ing by means of steam launches was aban-
doned, and Sunday astanative junk was
secured, in which Lieut.. Kyaganchi and
five men, disguised as Korean archmen,
pushed off and, skirtiDg under a prom
ontory. avoided the Russian pickets on
the left bank of the river and landed.
They so successfully surprised the Rus
sian post in the village that it retired
without resistance, leaving hot food in
the kitchen wagon. A quarter OF an
bour later two squadrons of japanese
cavalry arrived having marched from
Cheniu. The cavalry destroyed the
Russian post. The enterprising sea-
men thereupon determined to reconnoiter
the right bank of the Yalu toward An
tung. They met in midstream junk
engaged in similar reconnaissance ior
the Russians. The Russian junk drew
off and stranded on a sand bank. One
man was killed and the rest took to the
water. which at first was shallow. The
japanese, now standing up, fired rapidly
and secured two more hits. The Rus
slams. throwing away their rifles, were
forced to wade in water up to their
necks in order to reach the mainland.
In the meantime second reconnoiter-
ing Russian junk sailor under cover OF
the Yalu headland sand Ieachedthe far
ther sand bank, where it landed seven
teen men, who in extended order came
skirmishing up to the japanese and the
captured junk. The japanese got tho
captured boat off the sand bank anc
tried to tow her, but the tide was agains
them, and they we're forced to drop hel
and with difficulty getaway to their ships
There are now only two undamagec
battleships-the Peresyient and the Sev
astopol-in the harbOr at Port Arthur
but some of the damaged 7essels hay
been repaired, although their exact mum
ber and condition are not known. In
other electives are the armored cruise
Bavan, the first class cruisers Askold an
Diana. the second class cruiser Novik, tn
torpedo gunboats Vsadnik and Gayda
max. the gunboats Gremiaschi, ONashr
Giliak and Bobr, the cruisers Djidid
Razboynik and Zabiaka and the torpedo
boat destroyers, whose exact number
not known. Altogether 10 Russians YES
sells have been damaged or lost since tn
outbreak of the war.
Temporarily the last faith in successe
at sea died with Admiral Makarofi, an
the Russian people now look to the army
The specter of foreign complications ia
appeared. n..,o,..t ".
tits said that the PetropaylovsK W.
blown up by submarine boat lnrGlshe
to Japan by Great Britain, when,
course, would mean war with Great br
tain. In furtherance of this idea 1t
pointed out that the British Parllamel
has granted permission for Indian trool
; to cross the frontier OF oiThibet, which ma
, urally, means only that Great Britain
preparing to aid her ally by adyancin
upon Central Asia.