Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-03-09
VLADIVOSTOK BOMBARDED
Japanese Shell Cars Greatest
Stronghold in Far East.
RUSSIAN GUNS SILEN T.
Little Damage Done by the Lyddite Shells
and Japanse Fleet Sails Away
After the Attack.


that seven japanese ships approached
that port at 10 o'clock this morning, en-
tered Usuri bay at about noon and after
some maneuyering steamed out seward.
Vladiyostok. March For ffty-fve
minutes yesterday afternoon Eladivostok
was subjected to a terrific hombardment
from japanese fleet Of a battleship
four armored cruisers, and two unpro-
tected cruisers.
tor weeks, ever since the attack on
Port Arthur, the people Of this city have
lived in dread Of an attack from the
japanese fleet that was known to be
cruising III northern waters.
At $50 Sunday morning a sentry on
the ramparts described thin cloud of
smoke on the horizon beyond Askold IS
land at the eastern entrance of Usuri
bay, about thirty-two miles southeast of
Vladivostok. A few moments later it be-
came apparent that the smoke was from,
fleet Of approaching vessels.
Eagerly Watch Approaching Fleet.
Scores of officers with glasses in their.
hands thronged the walls of the FORTH
cations and eagerly studied the oncoming
fleet. 1t was more than an hour before
1t could be clearly made out. As it came
nearer 1t was seen that the fleet con
sisted of seven japanese warshipS, four
battleships and two cruisers. accompa
med by two torpedo boats.
When it became evident that the ap-f
preaching vessels were warShipS the en-
tire garrison was called TO arms and
there was q scene of great excitement
In Il few moments every battery was
manned.
Calmly Await Attack.
Gen. Neronitz and Gen. Artamonof
made every preparation TO repel the enc
my and then awaited the attack.
Slowly the fleet steamed westward
from the open sea until at noon it had
reached a point midway between Askold
island and the coast The water of
USuri bay is covered with ice and this
considerably impeded the advancing
squadron. -
/, 0pen Fire or Russian FORTS.
As they neared the harbor the Japa-
nese ships formed in line of battle and at
l % opened fire on the Notifications,
steaming, slowly along the water front Of
the city.
For hours the women and children and
other noncombatants had been hurrying
to the hills in the rear of the city, and
when the first gun was fired there were
few but soldiers within range.
Russian Guns Are Silent.
Tor 6fty-fye minutes the lombard
meDt was kept up, every ship in the
Japanese fleet taking part. During all
this time the Russian batteries were 81
lent, reserylng their fire for the nearer
approach of the enemy.
The japanese admiral, however, took
care to keep his feet out of reach Of the
shore batteries and at no time did the
attacking warShps come within a mile
and q third of the shore.
Shells Do Little Damage
The sound Of the cannonading was
terrific but the lyddite shells. of which
fully 200 were thrown into the city and
the Notifications, did comparatively lit
tie damage, as most Of them failed 20
burst.
Finally. at $50. the japanese fleet
drew off, without a single gun having
been fred by the Russian batteries. AS
the warships neared Asllold island they
were joined by the two torpedo boats
that had remained in the rear and
from the direction of Cape Maidel.
Rounding the island the fleet diSap-
pearei from view, the attack having
been practically without result.
Vessels Covered with Ice
Two Of the japanese vessels were the
first-cIass cruisers Idsumo and Yakunlo
The others could not be identified. All
were covered with ice.
The attack cost the Japanese more
than the Russians. for they used UP az
least 100000 worth Of ammunition
without inficting any serious damage
either on the city or the Notifications.
Consider City Impregnable.
Russian officers here consider the city
practically impregnable from the sea.
Millions of dollars have been spent in
building the huge fortresses that line the
shore of the oay and in equlpping them
with the best artillery that could be pro-
cured. The entrance TO the harbor and
the passages to the sen are so admirably
defended that their capture would be
next TO impossible
The city is also we'll protected from a
Land attack by a system Of batteries, con-
pceted by sunken roads and equipped
with heavy ordnance.
Prepared for Long Siege.
The stock of provisions is sufficient to
withstand & long siege and if the .Tapa-
nese succeed in cutting the railroad west
of the city, as seems to be their purpose,
the reduction Of N'ladivostok will not even
then be an easy matter. The garrison at
present consists of 5000 men.
Search for Japanese.
Last night passed quietly. The inhab-
itantS and troops are in unusually high
spirits. A strict search is being made
throughout the town for japanese. The
police have posted placards on the walls
offering a reward for information as to
the Whereabouts Of japanese and threat
eEing with trial by courtmartial any per-
son found guilty of concealing them.
Woman Is Killed
Outside of killing woman and wound
ing a few men, the bombardnent did no
material damage The wooden cottage Of
al, artisan was the only building wholly
destroyed 1t was pierced by a shell from
a 12~inch gun, which after traversing the
roof and wall. fell in the yard, killing the
woman previously referred to-
In the quarter of the city called the
'dirty corner" she'll fell on the house Of
Col Shukoff without exploding. 1t ira
versed bedroom, destroying stove, and
penetrated the wall. 1t finally burst near
the regimental safe which was standing
in the courtyard. A sentry guarding the
safe was covered with mud but vas not
injured. Evidently fearing an outbreak
of fire, the sentry1shouted: Help. Save
the regimenta colors." which were IN the
boysn ThoSa ultimately wnrn br0urht