Mower County transcript., 1904-03-30
JAPANESE ATTEMPT TO BOTTLE
UP PORT ARTHUR PROVES A
TOTAL FAILURE.
ONE OF THE MERCHANT VESSELS
BLOWN UP AND THE PLAN
FRUSTRATED.
JAPANESE SAID TO HAVE LOST
TWO TORPEDO BOATS IN
THE ATTACK.

st. Petersburg, March 28.-An off,
cial dispatch from Port Arthur to the
emperor says that at o'clock Sunday
morning the Russian searchlightS dis
closed four large merchant steamers
making for the entrance to the har-
Dor, supported by six torpedo boats.
A heavy fire was opened on them by
the batteries and some warships.
The torpedo boat Stilni, command
ed by Lieutenant Krinizki, turned the
merchant vessels from their course
by blowing up the PROV of the first
and then boldly attacked the enemy S
torpedo boats. IN the fierce fight
which followed, Chief Engineer Swyer-
Elf of the Stiini and six marines were
killed and the commander and twelve
men We're injured.
The Japanese plan to block up the
entrance to Fort Arthur was frustrat-
ed, however, and the channel Is still
clear.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding
the Russian naval forces at Port Al
thur, has sent the following telegram
to the emperor, dated March 27:
Il beg most humbly to report that
at 3 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 were promptly
discovered by the searchlights and
were bombarded by the batteries and
by the guardships BOhr and Otvajny.
Attacked the Japanese Boats.
Fearing the enemy's ships might
break through, Lieutenant krinizki,
Stilni, attacked the enemy and de-
stroyed the bow of the foremost
Japanese steamer with a torpedo. This
steamer turned TO the right and was
followed by two others with the result
that the three were stranded to the
right of the entrance. A fourth
steamer went to the right CT the
enemy's ships and likewise sank to
the side of the fair way. The Stilni
then battled with the enemy's six tor
pedo boats. Engineer Artifcer Swyer-
eff and six seamen were killed and the
commander and twelve seamen were
wounded.
"At daybreak the enemy's battle
ship and cruiser squadron appeared
and I proceeded with the fleet under
my charge to meet the enemy.
"The second attempt Of the Japa-
nese to block the entrance to Port Ar
thur has failed, thanks to the ener-
getic defense by the sea and land
forces who acted as they did during
the first attempt. The harbor re-
mains perfectly cleana
A further telegram to the emperor
from Vice Admiral Makaroff says:
II respectfully report that the
enemy having withdrawn, returned
to the harbor with the fleet.
Stranded Destroyer Relocated.
'The torpedo boat destroyer Stilni,
which stranded in consequence Of dam
age caused to her engines by one of
the course OF the night and entered
the harbor, thanks to the energy of her
crew. Her commander, lieutenant
kriaizki, who was slightly wounded In
the arm, did not quit his boat
"On the fireships were internal ma
chimes, the wires connected with
which were cut by Lieutenant Ked.
rolf and Ensign Pilsoudsky, of tho ir-
regulars, whom l dispatched on this
task. They boarded one of the steam
ers as soon as it stopped, cut the elec-
trio wire and extinguished the fire,
which would have lit up the entrance
of the harbor to the enemy in the road
stead.
In the morning floating mine was
found bearing an Internal machine,
but the latter was successfully re-
moved.
"The inspection made showed that
the steamers utilized as fireships were
net old. They we're each of about
1000 tons and they were armed with
light calibre guns
According to unofficial reports, it is
believed the Japanese lost two torpe.
do boats, and saved enryy "6Her ~boat
crew from the fireships. ,.s