The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-28
JAPS MEET
A REPULSE
Attempt to Block Port Ar
thur Harbor a Failure.
BOAT BATTLE
Russian Destroyer StiIni Sinks the
Foremost Channel Stopper
with a Torpedo

LONDON, March 2S.-A st. Peters
burg dispatch says Vice Admiral Max
aron, commanding the Russian naval
forces at Port Arthur, has sent the
following official report to the en-
peFOr:
ION Sunday morning before day
light another daring but unsuccessful
attempt was made by the japanese to
block the entrance to Port Arthur and
bottle up the Russian feet by sinking
four stone laden steamers in the en-
trance to the harbOr. The steamers
were conveyed by eight torpedo boats.
"As the Japanese fleet, consisting of
sixteen ships, neared Port Arthur they
were soon discovered by our torpedo
boats acting as scouts. When the four
steamers approached the harbOr they
were sunk by the guns Of the forts
and the Russian ships Bohr and OF
ranjuy lying in the outer harbOr,
which opened terrific fire.
Fearing the enemy's ships might
break through, Lieutenant Krinizki,
commanding the guard torpedo boat
Stiln, attacked the enemy and de-
stroyed the bow of the foremost Japa-
nese steamer with a torpedo. This
steamer turned to the right and was
followed by two others, with the re-
suit that the three were stranded to
the right of the entrance. a fourth
steamer went to the right Of the enc
my's ships and likewise sank to the
side Of the fairway. The Stilni then
battled with the enemy's six torpedo
boats. Engineer Artifcer Swyereff of
the Stilni and six seamen were killed,
and the commander and twelve sea-
men were wounded.
AT daybreak the enemy's battle
ship and cruiser squadrons appeared,
and l proceeded with the fleet under
my charge TO meet the enemy. The
torpedo fiotilla was followed at a con-
siderable distance by the battleships,
which opened fire on the forts, sup
porting the action of the freships and
torpedo boats.
lowing to the heaviness of our ar
tillery fire and the boldness of our tor
pedo boats the fireships did not reach
the entrance to the harbor. Two of
them grounded on n reef under Golden
hill another sank behind the first turn
Of the channel, struck by torpedo
from one of our boats, and the fourth
sank. its bow touching a Japanese
steamer sunk in the previous attempt
Off Majatschnaja Goroda. The en-
trance to the harbor remains clear.
"A Hotchkiss one inch caliber quick
frer was found aboard one of the
sunken steamers from which a fire had
been kept up on our torpedo boats.
"a boat left each of the sunken ships
carrying their crews. One of these is
believed to have been picked up.
Toward 4 o'clock a. N. the enemy's
torpedo boats retired, and the bonn
bardment ceased. at once proceeded
in a steam launch to inspect the en-
emy's sunken steamers.
"The enemy's torpedo boats reap
peared at o'clock. They were sighted
south of Port Arthur, and the batteries
reopened on them. Toward O'Clock
the enemy's squadron again appeared
Ou lue uOTlhOlls anu OuI SHIPS bledueu
out 10 meet It, At $3.50 the batteries
opened fire Our ships batteries soon
ceased, the Japanese drawing off to the
southeast, evidently declining an en-
gagement. At 10 O'Clock they disap-
peared below the horizon"
1t is believed that the Japanese lost
two torpedo boats in the attempt
1t is acknowledged that one Russian
torpedo boat was sunk in the engage
ment, but it is thought the vessel can
be refioated.
When Vice Admiral Makaroff with
his feet sailed out to engage the enc
my Vice Admiral Togo decided to de-
cline the issue and drew off.
Among all classes the gallantry of
the SLIM and her commander is the
subject of high praise but above all
the moral effect of Vice Admiral Max
aroff's willingness to engage the enc
my, showing that he considered him
self strong enough to fight, produced
a big impression.
In high official circles this new ef-
fort is looked upon as meaning only
one thing-namely, that the Japanese
are preparing for a heavy landing Of
troops III the gulf Of Liaotung, either