Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-02-13

from Port Arthur says the Japanese
fleet attempted Wednesday to land men
in several bays in the neighborhood of
Port Arthur under the protection of the
guns of cruisers. 1t is asserted however,
that all the attempts were unsuccessful.
Chefoo, Feb. 10-"I am told by a
japanese official they (the Japanese
warships that attack Port Arthur have
gone to sea to coal from their golfers.
We may expect them to return to
Port Arthur at any moment to complete
theri work. Nobody here doubts they
will capture or destroy the entire Rus
sian 1leet, while the ate Of Port Arthur
Is practically sealed.
DOUGLAS STORY"
The damage done to the Russians
yesterday in Port Arthur by the Jap
anese fleet under Vice Admiral Togo
is far more extensive than at first re-
ported. Seven warshps belonging to
the Russians were put out of action
The Pallada was not sunk, but lies at
her beam ends on the beach, so badly
damaged by we'll directed blows OF
torpedo that it is doubtful if it will be
possible to make her seawothy for many
months to come, if, indeed, she is not
IN the meantime captured by the Jap
anese. The battleships Retzivan and
the Czarevitch We're damaged below the
water line. IL the action had taken
place in deep sea the Russian vessels
| would have gone to the bottom. The
close proximity of the shore enabled
them to escape this fate. H s.-
In the second fight yesterday morn
ing the battleship Poltava and the
cruisers Novik, Askold and Diana
were seriously damaged. After the tor
pedo boats attacked, the Japanese fleet,
in three divisions, not two, as reported
yesterdy, sailed toward Dalny.
Presently they returned and found the
Russian fleet waiting for them.
The japanese opened a deadly fire
upon the Notifications, neglecting for
a moment the threatening attitude OF
warshlps. Suddenly a dash was made
by the Russian torpedo boats upon the
coming japanese. A terrible brust o
firing greeted them and they wer
forced to seek shelter behind their bat
tleships and cruisres. A general en-
gagement then ensued, at three mile
range, in which the forts and batteries
on shore took part, firing fast and fur
ious for short time. My correspon-
dent in Port Arthur gives it as half an
hour, while other reports state it lasted
only 20 minutes.
| The Poltava was stru tx below the
water line by IL inch shell and went
oft of action almost immediately
| Thee Of her men who were sent over
| h ," side to ascertain the damage were
drowned. The Diana was struck al
most Immediately afterward in the
steering gear by a shot from one of the
Russian shore batteries, though this
| fact is strenuously denied in Eofficial
| circles. My informatio on this point,
however, is absolutely correct.
The Novik and Askold ventured out
too far and were severely punished by
the japanese. The Asahi, Hatsuz and
Mikasa gave them each couple of
broadsides from their great guns, and
they were forced to turn tail. Both
were seriously damaged. understand
the Novok and Poltava joined their
comrades upon the beach.
AT noon the japanese fleet withdrew.
They have not since been heard from.
The excitement in Port Arthur and
Dalney is Undesirable. A panic has
seized the inhabitants, and the author1-
ties are in despair over the attitude of
the soldiers who are getting out of con-
troll. There are no more japanese at
Port Arthur and few foreigners.
Russian officers who have reached
here from Port Arthur strongly condem
Admiral Alexieff's lack of prudence
and foresight. They pronounced him
a drawing room commander, and clam
or for his recall. They say the only
man who can save Port Arthur is Gen
eral Kouropatkin, the veteran hero of
Pleyna. The officers conceded that
the disasters already inflicted upon
the Russian feet are a misfortune.
DOUGLAS STORY.
Blew Up Bridge.