The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-26
RUSSIANS PRAISE THE
BATTLESHIP RETVIZAN

ST. PETERSBURG. Feb. 25,-No further
details were. available this morning of the
unsuccessful attempt of the japanese to
bottle up the Russian fleet at Port Ar
I thur by sinking big merchantmen at the
mouth OF the harbOr. The brief details con-
tanned in the official dispatches indicate that
the coup was planned. according to the us
ual Japanese tactics, to take place during
the night, that it was desperately pushed
and backed by eight torpedo boats, which
continued fighting until daylight, but that it
failed completely Great praise is given
to the Russian battleship Retvizan, Which
lay outside the harbor entrance, for her
gallant work in beating off the enemy. Her
part in the action shows that the reports
of the injuries which she is said to have
sustained in the attack of Jan. s were
grossly exaggerated. The official dispatches
do not make clear the exact number of
ships sent in for the purpose of blockading
the throat OF the harbOr, or whether me
four vessels destroyed were beached by the
fire from the shore batteries or by the fire
from the Retvizan. Consequently all the
unknown additional details are expected
from Viceroy Alexieff in the course of the
day. As he is at Mukden the report of
the commander at Port Arthur first goes
to him and thence is forwarded TO the Car.
The report that after daylight floating tor
pedOes were seen in the roadstead causes
anxiety.
The battleships Retvizan and Czarevitch
Will be temporarily employed at Port Ar
thur as guardshipS, in which capacity IL
has been decided their formidable guns can
be utilized TO good advantage. 1t has Deen
found that the necessary repairs to these
ships can only be fully made in the dock
at VladivOstok, so the vessels will be tenn
porarily patched up and remain at Port
Arthur until circumstances Will permit OF
their being sent to NladiYOStOk.
The news of the japanese repulse was
received here with great rejoicing, and was
looked upon as partially wlping out the
score against the enemy. The official bulie-
tins were given out too late for editorial
comment, but the news of the initial sue
of the Russian arms was prominently
displayed. Not one of the newspapers mere
has yet received special dispatches giving
news of the Japanese repulse.
The Car has telegraphed warm congrat-
ulations TO Viceroy AleXien and the ehtire
Russian squadron at Port Arthur on the
able manner in which they repulSed the
latest attack of the japanese.
1t is now said that the Russian Baluc
squadron, comprising eight battleshlps, TWO
armored cruisers, three protected cruisers,
two large transports and thirty torpeao
boats, will leave for the far East at the
end of June 1t is added that II will be
commanded by Rear Admiral Rojestvensky.
According TO Information received py
well-informed military men, the RUSSIAN
army which is Intended to operate IN 10
rea will consist of an advance guard or
two regiments of Siberian sharp shooters,
a vanguard of sixteen regiments or IN
fantry, with nlneJy-SlX qulCh-lTlhs Suh9'
three batteries of mounted guns and a, cor
responding force of cavalry. The main body
will consist of forty regiments, including
COssack cavalry with SEQ guns. IL is added
that no important military operations will
be possible before the melting of the ice and
that the present operations will be confined
to necessary prepare tons.
Major General BlagoeschenSky, quarter
master general of the Kieff military dis
trict has been appointed to the important
post of inspector general of the Manchu-
rian army. The general fought in the Rus
soTurkish war and since that time his
advancement in the army has been steady.
Russia's views of the question of contra
band of war will shortly be laid before the
powers The technical committee OF the
Foreign Office is now considering the mat
ter