Americus times-recorder., 1904-04-17
an additional supply Of ammunition.
Account of Mdweek Fight.

an additional supply of ammunition.
Account Of Midweek Fight.
London, April 16.-1 p. ma dis
patch to The Central News from Port
Arthur dated yesterday, gives the fol.
lowing account OF the midweek fight
ing.
Late Wednesday, night eight torpe-
do boats rut to sea to scout. At
about $50 the next morning, when
the fiotilla was returning, two boats,
the Strashni and the Smyeli, were
overhauled by the ships of the enemy
which had been cruising in the neigh.
borhood but out of range of the guns
of the forts. The Strashni and the
Smyeli were attacked by six Japa-
nese torpedo boats which were cover
ships. During the firing Japanese
shell struck the torpedo room of the
Strashni. There was a severe eXplo-
sion, and the boat was completely
WlCShSu ne OluSI COI pGuO DOdIS
turned back to aid the Strashni and
the armored cruiser Bayan also came
to help the Russian torpedo boats. The
Japanese fire was concentrated on the
Bayan which picked up five of the
Strashni's crew and then covered the
withdrawal of the rest. of the f1otilla
which reached the harbor safely. On
the arrival of the tlotiIla Vice Ad-
miral MakarOff left the harbor with
the battleship Petropavlovsk and Pol
tava and Pobieda and the protected
cruisers Askhold, Diana and Novik,
and attacked the Japanese. The lat
ter begun to retire, whereupon the
Russian battleships returned toward
the harbor On their way back the
explosion occurred on board the Pc
tropavlovsk, which sank in two min
utes.
Seventy y-five members Of her crew
were picked up, but the rest, about
525 men, perished.
Verestchagin, the painter, who was
on board the Petropavlovsk, perished.
This afternoon the bodies recovered
after the explosion were inferred.
Japs SheIIed Shore.
Port Arthur, Friday, April 15.-De-
layed in transmission)-A 6 o'clock
this morning a small Japanese squad
ron appeared on the horizon and soon
drew Off but at about 10 o'clock hos
tile fleet, numbering 23 vessels, was
again sighted. They formed two dis
visions, one taking up position be-
hind Cape Lao Shan, shelling the
shore and Tiger peninsula while the
other bombarded the Golden Hill and
other batteries from a point opposite
the roadstead. The fire was contin-
ued intermittently until 1 o'clock in
the afternoon. The Russian ship
replied with an indirect fire and made
good practice, one shot damaging a
Japanese cruiser. According to some
reports two Japanese ships were in
jured. There was no damage done
to the forts or to the town. Some
Chinese were killed and few Chi
nese and Russians were wounded.
Enemy Not Responsible.
st. Petersburg, April 16.-2:2O pm.
One of the highest authorities at the
Admiralty makes the following state
ments to the Associated Press:
You can deny with absolute assur-
ance the reports that the enemy was
in any way responsible for the disas-
ter to the Petropovlovsk. Admiral
Makaroff never left the harbor with
out dragging for mines. We believe
the Petropavlovks's boilers blew up
They were of the old Scotch type We
also consider it quite likely that an
unexpected whitehead torpedo caused
the Pobieba's injury as the explosion
occurred just at her water line.
Vice Admiral Skrydloff's appoint
ment to command the naval forces at
Port Arthur has been received with
great satisfaction by both the navy
and the public. He is a great favor
ite with the jackies, who have a song
about him. Skydloff is considered to
be one of the ablest seamen and STRAIT
egists in the Russian navy. He is
the natural successor of Makaroff,
whose comrade he was during the
Turko-Russian war both distinguish
ing themselves. The papers unani-
mously commend the selection in the
highest terms.
The NOyosti reviewing the naval sit
uation, argues that there is no cause
for despair, the ships left at Port Ar
thur and Vladivostock still constitut-
ing what Captain Maban calls "a fleet
in being" which leaves the japanese
now free to act. The first two bri-
gades of the Ninth Siberian Rifle bri-
gades have been ordered to be con-
verted into nine divisions, increasing
Their numerical strength to about 100,-
600 men |
Cuthbert Adds New Enterprises.
Cuthbert, Ga, April 15.-.Details are
being closed which will give Cuthbert
two or three important manufactur-
ing enterprises. Cuthbert has been
giving her attention to these matters