Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-28
UNSUCCESSFUL.
Japanese Attempt to Bottle Up
Russian Fleet.
At Port Arthur at Three O'clock,
Sunday Morning.
Russian Fleet Has Been Active Under
New Commander.

Che Foo March FL p. Mat 3
o'clock, this morning, another attempt
was made by the Japanese to block the
entrance to Port Arthur and bottle up
me russian iieet by sinking four stone
Laden steamers i'll the entrance to the
harbor which Were conveyed by light
torpedo boats.
As the japanese feet, consisting of
l6 SHIPS, neared Port Arthur. they We're
soon discovered by the Russian torpedo
boats acting as scouts. While the four
steamers Approached the harbor they
were sunk by the guns Of the forts and
the Russian ships lying in the outer
| harbor, which opened n terrific fire.
The japanese fleet remained off Port
Arthur till daylight when the Russian
fleet weighed anchor and sailed out of
| the hurbCr
The fate of the crews on the steamers
is unknown. Since the arrival OF Adj
mira! Makarof, the Russian fleet has
| been far more active.
, St Petersburg. March PA further
telegram to the Emperor from Vice Ad-
rniral Makaroff says:
| Il respectfully report that the enemy
| having withdrawn. | returned to the
harbor with the fleet
The torpedo boat destroyer SLIM,
which stranded on n reef in conse-
ouence Of damage caused to her en-
sineS by one of the enemyS shells. was
| foated during the course of the night
| and entered the harbor. thanks to the
| energy of her crew. Her commander,
Lieut.. krniZki. who was slightly
wounded in the arm. did not quit his
! post.
''On the fire ships were Internal ma
chimes, the wires connected with which
were cut by Lieut. Kedroff and Ensign
Pilousky OF the regulars. whom | dis
patched on this task. They boarded
| one Of the steamers as soon as it
stopped the electric Wire and eXtin-
guiEhed the fire which would have lit
up the entrance of the harbor to the
ron dstead.
In the morning floating mine was
found bearing an Internal machine but
the latter WAS successfully removed
"InGpection made showed that the
steamers utilized as fire ships were not
old. They were each Of about 1000 tons
ana they We're armed with light calbrc
guns"
st. Petersburg. March 27-The news %
the repulsc Of Vice Admiral Togo's second
attempt to block Port Arthur created
much rejoicing in the Russian capital
and among all classes the galantry Of
nj he nd ic
Of high praise: but. above all. the moral
effect of Vice Admiral MakaroT's willing
Less 10 engage the enemy. showing that
he considered himself strong enough to
fight. produced Il big impression.
In high official circles this now effort to
bottle up the Russian fleet is looked upon
as meaning only one thing. namely that
the Japanese, as stated by The Associated
Press on March u. are preparing for
heavy landing of troops in the Gulf OF
I.iao-Tung either at New Chwang or on
the west coast OF the Manchuran neutral
zone, to effect which in safety the immo-
bility- of Vice Admiral Makaroff's fleet
is absolutely essential while the trans
ports are being conveyed around the
southern end of the peninsula. If the at
tempt had succeeded il would have re-
1uired several days at least to blow up
the steamers and clear away the wreck
age. during which time the Japanese
would be assured Of non-interference In
the carrying out of their purpose. The
failure of the japanese, this morning. may
seriously hamper their plans. as the ice
in the Lao river is going out and when
the river Is free from Ice its mouth can
he easily mined.
The conviction continues to grow here
that the Japanese have concluded 1t in
advisable to make a frontal attack on
Manchuria from Corea against the whole
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