The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-21
JAPANESE ARE ELATEo
Proud Of Admiral Toso's Achievements
al Port rthur

Toxic. April 1s-The Japanese are
elated over the successes they have
won at Port Arthur They are also
proud Of the achievements Of Vice Al
miral Togo particularly OF his newest
strategy Of counter-mining the enemys
harbor and decoying him across this
field Of mines 10 an equally danger
Gus flank attack.
The success Of the system OF placing
deadly countermiDes Is due largely
10 a series Of careful observations
made by the Japanese during their
previous attacks on Port Arthur The
Japanese saw the Russian feet leave
the harbOr and return 10 II several
times. and they discovered that the
Russian warships followed an identi-
cal course every time they came ont
or went In. evidently for the purpose
Of avoiding their own mines. The Jap
anese took bearings on this course.
When the destroyer divisions Of the
japanese torpedo notilla laid the
counicrmlncs during the night Of
April 1913 they placed them along
this course. The laying Of these
countormincs was exceedingly peril
Gus. because # any Japanese boat with
mines on board had been struck by a
lucky Russian shot she would have
been annihilatod.
The weather Of the night Of April
1913 favored the work. There was
heavy rain. the night was dark and
cloudy. and the Russian searchlights
playing over the channel failed 10 re-
veal the presence Of the japanese de
stroyers
Rear Admiral Dewa was in command
OF the Japanese squadron which de-
coycd the Russian ship over the field
OF mines Ills squadron consisted Of
the cruisers Chitose, Yosbino, Kasagi
and Takasago, all unarmored vessels
which presented a tempting bait for
the heavier Russian ships
Vice Admiral Togo directed the flank
attack. lie had the battleships Hat
suse. Mikasa. Asahi, ShiNshima. va
shima and Full He waited 30 miles
ont at sea until Rear Admiral Dewa
signalled him by wireless biography 10
come in. Ills vessels then dashed at
full speed toYard the entrance of the
harbOr All the battleships under
Vice Admiral Togo are capable Of a
speed Of rs knots and they quickly
covered the distance. II Is not clear
what warned the Russians that they
had been trapped, but they probably
disccrned the battleship squadron on
the horizon and retreated precipitately
10 tho harbor. Vice Admiral Togo did
not succeed I'm preventing the Rus
SLAMS from entering. but did force them
10 a disastrous retreat which ended in
the destruction Of the Petropayloysk
and the disabling OF the Pobieda. After
these occurrences the cruisers Nishin
and Kaenga were used 10 lombard
Port Arthur They possess the high
est angled guns in the feet, capable
of throwing shells 10 the elevated Rus
sian land works. which ahe beyond at
tainment by the average naval
weapons.
Expressions Of regret at the death
of Vice Admiral Makaroh are general
hero. Speaking for the naval stan.
Commander Ogasawara has published
a lengthy statement in which he Ia
ments the death of the Russian vice
admiral and pronounces il 10 be a loss
10 the navles of the world. Commander
Ogasawara reviews the life profes-
sional career and the personal attri-
butes Of Vice Admiral Makaroff. and
declares that he is entitled to be
classed with the best admirals OF the
world.
The japanese report that the wreck
OF the Petropaylovsk lies southeast OF
Golden Hill. one mile outside the en-
trance OF the harbor