The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-07
Japanese Attack Russia s
Northern Stronghold.
Shell Town and Shore Batteries
Nearly an Hour.
NO DAMAGE REPORTED.
Most of Shells Said to Have
Failed to Burst.
Private Report Says Five Rus
slams Were Killed.
NO DAMAGE REPORTED

vladivostock. March IA fleet of five
japanese battleships and two cruisers
appeared off this place at 1:25 o'clock
Sunday afternoon and bombarded the
town and shore batteries for 50 min
utes.
The fleet approached from the direc-
ton of Askold islands. at the east en-
trance to Ussuri bay. and about S2
miles southeast of Vladivostock- En-
terfng Ussuri bay, the enemy formed a
line of battle but did not approach to
a closer range than a mile and one
third. They directed their fire against
the shore batteries and the town. but
no damage resulted, as most of their
200 lxddite shells failed to burst.
The Russian batteries. commanded
by Generals Veronetz and Artamnoff.
did not reply, awaiting a closer ap-
proach Of the enemy.
The Japanese fire ceased at 2:2O p.
m, and the enemy retired in the direc-
tion of Askold island. simultaneously,
two torpedo boat cestroyers appeared
near Askold island and two more near
Cape Maidel. The Japanese ships were
covered with ice.
The attack resulted in no loss to the
Russians, but cost the enemy 200, 900
rubles (S1Oo00O in ammunition. Most
of the prOiectiles were 6 and 12-inch
shells.
The population of Vladivostock was
warned in the morning of the presence
on the horizon of a hostile fleet and the
prospect of attack during the day, but
it remained tranquil.
Outside of killing a woman and
wounding a few men yesterdays bonn
bardment of VladivOstock by the Jap
anese fleet did no material damage.
The wooden cottage of an artisan was
the only building wholly destroyed 1t
was pierced by d shell from a u 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" a shell fell on the house
of Colonel Shukoff without exploding.
It traversed a bedroom, destroying a
stove and penetrated the wall. 1t
finally burst near the regimental safe
which was standing in the court yard
A sentry guarding the safe was COW
cred with mud, but was not injured
Evidently fearing an outbreak OF fire
the sentry shouted: Help, save the
regimental colors." which were i'll the
house. These ultimately were brought
out by the cOloneis wife and the sol
diers.
Five sailors were slightly wounded b.
the explosion Of a shell ii the cour
yard of the Siberian naval barracks.
Outside of these casualties no on'
was killed or injured and there was NJ
outbreak of fire anywhere in the city
The fact that the Russian batteries
did not reply to the japanese bonn
bardmend was due partially to tn
slight chance of hitting the enemy
warships 4 such a long range and par
TALLY to a desire not to betray the posi-
tion of the batteries.
1t is now thought that the attackin,
squadron consisted of a battleship
four armored cruisers and two unpro
tected cruisers.
ALEXIEFF'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
St Petersburg, March IA commu
nication from Viceroy Alexieff to th'
car from Mukden. bearing Sunday
date. says;
I most humbly inform your majest t.
that the CCmmandant at the, fortress
at Vladivostock reports that at S.5
this morning seven vessels We're sight
ed south of Askold island. At 9:45 the,
We're seen to be warships making 70
AskOld island. About noon the enemy
squadron was midway between tn
coast and AskOld island, making fO
Ussuri bay. They We're out of reac
of the shore batteries. At 80 the en-
emy opened fire. Two vessels in tn
squadron We're probably the first-clas
cruisers Idsumi and Yakumo, but tn
names of the other vessels are un
known
OFFICIAL dispatches received here con
cerning the bombardment of Nladivo
stock by q Japanese fleet do not men
ti0n any Russian losses but private ad
vices say that five We're filled. four sail
ors and the wife of an engineer.
1t is apparent the Japanese wer
afraid to risk exposing their ships t
the plunging fire of the land batterie
and it is considered probable here tina
the attack was really for the purpos
of drawing the fire of the Russian fort:
I fr 1 n
position and caliber of their guns an
for the purpose of ascertaining whethe
the Russian squadron is in port.
If this was the object of the Japanes,
It is believed to have failed signal,
as the batteries did not fire a shot an
II the squadron is in port 1t could nc
be seen from the Japanese position /
the bay of Ussuri on account of til
high land which rises from the coas
on that side obstructing the view {
the harbor.
EVACUATION OF NEWCHW ANG
Yinkow. March THE removal ,
the furniture of the police and mil
tary quarters at Newchwang. the will
drawal of unnecessary rolling stoJ
and equipment from the NewchWar
railway terminus and the removal
silver from the bank indicates an il
tended evacuation of Newchwang. tt
bank authorities have arranged
leave French and German agents
charge of their interests.
large force of cavalry is expect,
to return to Newchwang before II
river opens for the purpose of mai
tanning patrols between the main RAJ
way and the sea, and of reconnoite
ing the coast.
Russian private letters disclose II
fact that, in the recent engagement
between the Yalu river and Ping Ya1
the Russians. with superior number
defeated the japanese, but lost heavil
Refugees arriving here say tn
Port Arthur has not been attack
since February 26, but that stores N
ammunition are still arriving. Wo
on the mud dock in which it is expec
ed to repair the battleship Czarevit,
has been abandoned for the past thr