The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-03-25
ARTHUR IS
AGAIN ATTACKED
A Repeated Bombardment Of
the Russian Stronghold
by Japanese.
NOT MUCH DAMAGE DONE
Reported Five Soldiers Were Killed
and Nine Injured During Con-
flict-Attackine Ships Return
After Bombardment.

London, March PA dispatch t.
Reuters Telegram company from ST
Petersburg says:
Japanese torpedoboats appeared of
Port Arthur at midnight of the night OF
and %guardships shelled them for twenty
minutes.
The Japanese %retreated, but reap
peared four hours later, when they met
with the same reception, when they &c
tired again.
AT 6 "a. m. a Japanese squadron of two
divisions, composed of o and eleven
ships and accompanied by eight tor
~pedoboats, appeared and the Russian
squadron sailed ont from the outer
roadstead to meet them.
No further details regarding the ac-
tion are obtainable.
AT 9 a. NJ. the Japanese battleships,
having fired several shots at I.iao
Tishin and sheltered behind the
~promontory, commenced a lombard
ment of Port Arthur.
Russians Were Watchful.
ST. Petersburg, March 24.-Another
attack by the Japanese fleet on Port
\ DCSllllliIlS Will olcl "
torpedo boats and ending with a bonn
bardment by battleships and cruisers.
took place after midnight Monday.
The dispatches to the emperor from
Viceroy AleXieff n private informa-
ton show that the Russians sustained
no great damage. having only five sol
diers killed INC ten wounded.
Vice Admiral Makaroff claims that
one of the Japanese vessels was struck
by a shell.
The Emperor received the first mes
sage regarding the attack late Tues
day afternoon, but nothing was allowed
to reach the public until 10 o'clock.
All information which has reached
st. Petersburg shows that the defend
ers of Port Arthur had taken serious
ly to heart the coup of the Japanese
torpedo boats at the beginning of the
war, and We're now maintaining a sharp
lookout.
Enemy Easily Seen.
The Japanese torpedoboats were
twice discovered sneaking towards the
harbor entrance under cover of dark
ness, but both times they We're de-
tected far out at sea, and We're driven
off by the hot fire opened upon them.
The breaking of day necessarily pre-
vented further to%rpedoboat operations,
but Admiral Togo brought up his bat
tleships and cruisers. The division of
the fleet was for the purpose of making
a cross fire upon the harbor in the hope
Of destroying the town and of damaging
the Russian ships lying in the basin, or
at east of demoralizing the personnel
Of the defending force.
The commandment of March 9 show
ed to the Russians the advantage to
the enemy of the position off Lao
Tishin. which Vice Admiral Togo's
ships took up this morning, and Vice
Admiral Makaroff sought to minimize
this advantage by so stationing the
could reach the Japanese battleships.
Retvizan in Fight.
The fact that the Retvizan was used
for this proves the falsity Of the report
that her guns had been removed and in
stalled as a battery at Pigeon bay. and
that 1t has given rise to the impression
that there is a lack of great guns at Port
Arthur, as otherwise the battery would
have been erected to protect the town at
the only point which Vice Admiral Togo
seems to regar as vulnerable from the
sea.
When the first official dispatches were
received the belief gained ground that
Vice Admiral Makaroff had put to sea,
and that a naval fight had taken place.
While this would be in keeping with his
character as an intrepid officer, which is
further Indicated by his use of a cruiser
as his flagship. it was not in accord with
the plans of the Russian authorities.
Later advices established the fact tlla,
the admiral had simply gone with the III.
damaged portion of his fleet to the QUITE
roadstead. where he could more effects
ly support the batteries and :. the same
time take advantage Of rs akin
which nigh develop Nc the enemy's at
tack.