Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-03-30
Another Attempt On Port Arthur
Failed SignaIly
JAPANESE MADE BOLD ATTACK
The Russian Guns Repeiied the War
Vessels From the Forts and the
Harbor Remains Open.

St Petersburg. BY Cable-An official
dispatch from Port Arthur to the EN-.
perov says that at l o'clock Monday
morning the Russian scarChlights dis
closed four large merchant steamers
making for he entrance to the harbor.
supported by six torpedo boats. A
heavy fire was opened on them by the
batteries and some warships
The torpedo boat Stilni. commanded
by Lieutenant KriniZki. turned the
merchant vessels from their course by
blowing up the prov OF the first and
then boldly attacked the cnemys tor
pedo boats In the fierce fight which
followed Chief Engineer Swyereff. of
the Stilni and six marines were killed
and the commander and twelve men
were wounded.
The Japanese plan to block the en-
trance TO Port Arthur was fru1trated
however. and the channel is still clear
Vice Admiral MakarofI. command
ing the Russian naval forces at Port
Arthur. has sent the following tele-
gram to the Emperor:
Il beg most humbly to report that
at o'clock this morning the enemy
made a second attempt to block the
entrance to the inner roadstead. For
this purpose they dispatched four
large merchant steamers, conveyed by
six torpedo boats To the entrance The
enemy's ships We're promptly discov-
cred by the searchiightS and were
bombarded by the batteries and by the
guardships. Fearing the enemy's
ships might break through Lieut.
Krinizki. commanding the guard tor
pedo boat Stilni. attacked the enemy
and destroyed the bow of the foremost
Japanese steamer with q torpedo. This
steamer turned to the right and was
followed by two others, with the result
that the three We're stranded to the
right of the entrance. \ fourth steam
er went to the right of the enemy's
ships and likewise sank 10 the side
of the fairway. The Stini then bat
tied with the cnemys six torpedo
boats. Engineer Artincer SweyereT
and six seaEen were killed and the
commander and twelve seamen were
wounded. At daybreak the enemy's
batteship and cruiser sQuadrons ap-
peared and proceeded with the fleet
under my charge TO meet the enemy
The second attempt of the Japanese
to block the entrance to Port Arthur
has failed. thanks to the energetic de-
fence by the sea and land forces. who
acted as they did during the first at
tempt. The harbor remains perfectly
clear"
The following official dispatch has
been received from Gen. Smirnom:
Port Arthur. March 27-last
night. after moon-rise. the Japanese
attempted to block the entrance to the
harbor. Four fire ships were sent to-
ward the port conveyed by n torpedo
ftotilla. Toward 2:15 a. m. the ap-
proach of the enemy's ships were per
ceived by the guardshipS and batteries
which simultaneously opened upon
them heavily. The fire ships were
preceded by torpedo boats. followed at
considerable distance by larger
ships. which opened on the forts sup
porting the action of the fire ships and
the torpedo boats. Owing 10 the
heaviness Of our artillery fire and the
boldness OF our torpedo boats. the
hre ships did not reach the entrance
~ the harbor. Two of them grounded
On reef under Golden Hin, another
sank behind the first turn OF land
struck hy torpedo from one of our
boats. and the fourth sank. its bows
touching Japanese steamer sunk in
the previous attempt OF Majatchnaja
Gorda. The entrance to the harbor re
mains clear
"A Hotchkiss one-inch calibrc quick.
hrer was found aboard one of the
sunken steamers from which a fire
had been kept on our torpedo boats.
boat left each of the sunken shipS.
carrying their crews One of these is
believed TO have been picked up. To-
ward o'clock n. III. the enemy's tor
pedo boats retired and the lombard