Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-14
MOST EFFECTIVE.
Vice Admiral Togo's Fourth Attack on
Port Arthur.

TOXIC March 13.-Official and private
reports both indicate that Vice Admiral
TogoS fourth attack on Port Arthur on
the 10th inst, was the most effective
since the first assault of a month ago.
one Russian torpedo boat destroyer
WAS sunk and several Russian torpedo
boat deStroyerS seriously damaged. The
fortiiications and city We're subjected
to Il heavy bombardment lasting nearly
four hours. Naval bombardments of
land works have generally been inef-
fective, yet the peculiar typographical
conditions of Polt Arthur make immu
nifty from serious loss from lombard
ment almost impossible. Vice Admiral
TOgo'S torpedo fiotilla opened the action
by boldly Steamng in under the bat
terieS and successfully placing a num-
Der of mechanical mines at the mouth
of the harbor. Following that there
was Il desperate bow to bow encounter
between the torpedo boat destrOyers in
which the japanese appear to have
scored Il clean victory. Then followed
Il long range duel between the cruisers,
ending in the retirement of the Novik
and Bayan, the only Russians engaged.
The closing action was the lombard
anese battleships. The latter took
position southwest of Pert Arthur and
used only Pinch guns. There were "A
12inch guns in the squadron of six
| battleshlps and each gun was fired five
ROUNDS, making Il total of 120 huge pro-
jectles that We're fired at the city. The
bumbardment was deliberate and care
fully planned. In order to aid in per-
fa..ti lon Tri1 A
stationed the cruisers in a position due
| east of the entrance to the harbor and
at right angle to the battleships. The
cruisers observed the range and effect
of the firing and reported the result and
| suggestions by wireless biography
| These observations and reports greatly
| aided the gunners in their efforts to
make every shot count.
Vice Admiral Togo was unable to
| definitely learn the result of the bonn
| hardmcnt, but later private reports in
dictate that much destruction was
! caused in the city, where q series of
| fires broke out. There also was DANA ge
| to batteries.
Captain Shokiro Asat, commanding
the llotNa of torpedo boat destrOyers.
which engaged the Russian destroyers.
| is the hero of the attack. He had only
| three destroyerS, but attacked the six
| Russian destroyers ordering the craft to
close with the enemy. He steamed SO
close to the enemy's destroyers that
they almost touched and Il most deS-
peratc conflict ensued from which the
| Russians retired badly disabled.
Engineer MinamisaWa of the destroy
| er EaSumi, received Il small wound. The
| engineer participated in the first tor
pedo attack OIL Port Arthur as well as
| in the attempt to bottle up the harbor
| by sinking commercial steamers. He
| WAS commended both times for gallant
Iry
! The japanese flotila which sunk the
| mines at the mouth of the harbor, later
| engaged two russian deStroyerS. This
| tlotilla was commanded by Command
| er Tsuchiya
Vice Admiral Togo's object in send
| ing cruisers to fallen Wan bay was to
encompass the destruction of a signal
station mine depot at Samshantao. This
object was achieved and the buildings
were demolished.
Rear Admrals Dewa and eUriu par
| ticipated in the operations under Vice
| Admiral Togo, the details of whose OPP
| erations became known in Japan only
today. and the news created intense en-
| thuSiasm.
Vice Admiral Togos report came, last
night, but it was withheld until shown
to tho Emperor.
The admiral is permanently num-
| bered among the heroes of the en-
| pire.
The latest reports place the japanese
loss at nine killed, five seriously wound
ed ana Il slightly hurt. The japanese
| feet was not damaged in the fighting