The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-02-12
WAR IN THE FAR EAST
Japanese Warships Battle With
Russian Squadron.
Break Came on Friday, bnt HostiI-
tiles Did Not Actually Occur
Until Monday Night.

Weary OF waiting for Russia 3 reply to
Japan last note, which the Gar had
been holding back from day to day for
more than two weeks, and realizing that
Whlle the Russian government was
openly advocating peaceful settlement
OF the lar eastern trouble, she was at
the same time hurrying troops, war
vessels and army supplies into Manchuria
and Corea, the japanese government on
Friday telegraphed to Viscount Kurino.
Japanese minister at st. Petersburg, to
sever his relations with the Cars gov.
ernment, secure his passports and leave
the country.
Upon receipt of those orders, ViscOunt
kurlnO presented himself at the Russian
court, delivered the message of his gov
ernment, and was given his passports.
Immediately following, Count LamsdoIff.
the Russian foreign minister, ordered
Baron dc ROsen, the Russian minister to
Toxic, to proceed with his staff from
Japan at the earliest possible moment.
With this seveTing of diplomatic rela-
tlons, Russia at once dispatched a note
to Admiral AleXeff, Russian commander
III Asia, to at once transmit the reply OF
Russia to Japan's note TO the Toxic
government. That move was an en-
deavOr, no doubt, upon the part OF
Russia to place the blame for the break
ing oil OF diplomatic relations upon
Japan. The mikadO, however, contends
that the Russian note was not delivered
at Toxic until Tuesday, the day follow,
ing the opening of hOstilities.
With concerted movement on Sun
day the Japanese naval fleet conveyed
Japanese transports, carrying thou
sands OF soldiers, toward the coast Of
COrea. At few minutes before mid
night, Monday, japanese gunboats
steamed into the outer harbOr Of Port
Arthur and began an attack upon the
Russian squadron in the channel and
opened fire upon the land batteries and
IOrts protecting the entrance.
The Japanese squadron, conveying
the torpedo and gunboat f0tilla, re
mained out at sea about three miles,
while the gunbOats and torpedo boats
sailed into the channel under the dark
ness of night. Immediately upon lOcat-
ing the Russian battleehIps, the gun
boats tOrpedOed the Russian battleships
Czaruvitch and Ritvizan and the cruiser
Pallada, intlcring great damage. The
Russians ran the three ships to shore
and beached them in order to prevent
their sinking The remainder of the
Russian fleet Immediately weighed
anchor anG prepared to participate in
the battle. The gunbOate drew them
out to sea, where the japanese wArsbips
opened fire a. a range OF ~ miles. The
Russian battleship POltaVa and the
cruisers DiaDna, Askold and Novik
were each damaged on the water line
and were forced to retire from the line of
battle. This running engagement was
kept up for three hours, when the Japan
ese warships sailed southwark nscathed. |
Admiral AIexieff's Report.
Admiral Alexieff's reports to the ear
regarding the battle OF Port Arthur, are
as follows:
Note III must respectfully inform
your majesty that at or about midnight
of February 80 Japanese torpedo boats
made sudden attack by means of mines
(torPedOes) upon the Russian squadron
in the outer roads OF the fortress OF Port
Arthur, in which the battleships Rit-
vizan and Czarovitch and the cruiser
Pallada were damaged. An inspection
is being made TO ascertain the nature Of
the damage. Details are following for
your majesty"
Note BY order OF the vicerOy
admiral Alexieff). beg to report that
this day February 81, at about II
O'Clock in the morning, a Japanese
squadron, consisting OF about 10 battle
ships and cruisers, approached Port
Arthur and opened fire. The enemy was
received with a cannonade from the
shore batteries and the guns OF our
squadron, which also participated in the
engagement. At midday the japanese
squadron ceased its fire and left, pro-
ceeding south. Our Losses in the feet
were two officers wounded, nine men
killed and Al wounded. The battleship
POltava and the cruiser Novik, each
had hole knocked in her side below the
water line. The forts were slightly
damaged d-Major General Fug."
Note 3.-"Japanese squadron of Is
battleships and cruisers today (Fehru-
ary % began to lombard Port Arthur
The fortress replied and the SQUADRON