The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-05-11
ADMIRAL 7oeo's REPORT.
Official Account of Last Attack
on Port Arthur.
Five Ships Inmmed Into the Inner Chan
mel and Sunk. ..Rarbor Entrance
Finally Islocked--Gnly Half the
Officers and Crews Escape.

Finally Blocked-.-Gniy Half the
Officers and Crews Escape.
Toxic, May Il =. m.-Vice Ad-
miral Togo's official recital of the
latest enga cement off Por5 Arthur,
which was received today, shows that
the Japanese have blocked the en-
trance to the harbor.
On Tuesday morning after the
blockading flotilla had been scattered
by a gale and the commander of the
hotilla had signalled in vain that the
attempt be abandoned pending the
moderation of the storm, the crews of
the separate ships. in no wise daunted
by the weather which isolated them
from their companions, proceeded to
the work on their own desperate initi-
ative. They forced their way in. the
face of the Russian fire, which was
more deadly than ever before as a re-
suIt of the improved Russian defences,
over the field of mines. Many Of
these exploded, yet five of the Japa-
nese hlockading ships, were jammed
into the inner channel, and now pre-
vent egress from the harbor to all
craft excepting small boats. This at
tack exceeded all it's predecessors in
desperation. and the courage display
ed by the volunteer crews is equal to
that shown in any event in the war
history of the world.
Although Vice Admiral Togo again
avoided damage to single one of his
vessels, the attack proved to be ex-
pensive in lives.
Commard der Hayashi, who was in
command of the expedition, observed
the impossibility OF keeping the fo-
tilla intact owing to the heavy seas,
and signs.lled it to- abandon the at
tack.
These signals we're repeated until 2
O'Clock in the morning, but they failed
to reach the vessels of the expedition,
which we're swept apart by the tenn
pestuous seas and proceeded separately
to the month of the harbor.
Lieut.. s,osa, who was in command
of the Mkiawa Maru, in the face OF
an incesssnJ fire, unnesi tatingly forced
his ship into the channel. rammed
his way through bcoms and reached
the centre of the inner entrance.
Here he anchored his vessel and then
blew her up. She sank Immediately.
Another steamer, supposed to be
the Sakura Maru, then came to an
chorn aear projecting rock at the
mouth of the harbor and sank. Fol
lowing the Sakura Maru came the
Toni Maru, Tchido Maru. Otarn
Maru, Sagami MarrI, Aioku Maru and
The Asagawo Maru. These six steam
ers advanced to the mouth of the
barbor. The Russian FIRE now became
highly effective, while number Of
sunken mines, which were struck by
the steamers, began to explode.
These explosions caused heavy casu.
alties among the Japanese on board
the blockading vessels. The Totmaia
collided with a boom. This turned
her stem to the eastward and she sank
athwart the passage, blocking nearly
one.half Of the entrance to the har-
Dor.
When the Yedo Maru reached the
mouth OF the passage a2d was lower
ing her anchor, her captain, Com
mander Takayangi, was shot through
the stomach and killed. Sub-Lieut.
Nagata succeeded to the command.
he anchored the Yedo Maru and sank
her.
Two other stone laden steamers be-
lieved to be the OJaru Maru and the
Sagami Maru, then entered the mouth
of the harbor ancl sank.
The Aikoku Maru then struck a
mine FIVE cable lengths from the mouth
of the passage, which exploded and
caused her to sink. The lieutenant of
this vessel, Uctida, Chief Engineer
Aoki and eight men are missing.
A steumer, thought to be the Asa
gawo A[aru, which appeared to have
had her rudder broken, blew herself
up at the foot of Golden Hill and sank
there.
Vice Admiral Togo, in his report,
says: =,
"This undertaking, compared with
the last two, resulted in greater casu-
alties to our side. Owing to the it,
clemency of the weather and the in
creased preparations for defence COM
pleted by the enemy, we could save
none of the officers or the crews of
the Chotaru Maru, the Sagami Maru,
the Sakura Maru or the Asagawo
Maru. 1t is to be regretted that
nothing particular could be learned
concerning their brave discharge Of
their duties, but the memory of their
exemplary conduct will remain long
IN the imperial navy.
''The destroyer and the torpedo boat
f1otillas. besides resisting the enemy
bravelr, fought against wind and
waves. The torpedo boat hotilla ap-
preached close to the mouth of the
harbor and rescued more than half the
men,
JAPS CONTROL SOUTHERN MAN
CQIJRTA