The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-08-18
PORT ARTHUR B0MBARDED
--latest Reports Indicate That Japanese Have
Assaulted Russian Stronghold

| which confronted Admiral Togo re-
fused battle. II was stronger than
Admiral Togo's squadron in battle
ships and armOred cruisers, and had
it elected to fight, the result might
have altered the fortunes of war.
The strength Of the squadron which
confronted Admiral Togo compelled
him to draw vessels from the squad
ron under Vice Admiral Kamimura,
and this left the Japanese navy pow
erless to operate against the Russian
Vladivostock squadron and unable to
prevent the raids Of these vessels.
The raid conducted by the Vladi-
vostock squadron in July was ex
tremely expensive to the Japanese,
and not only was retaliation tempt
ing, but it was demanded by CONNER
cial interests. The navy, however,
grimly refused to make a diversion
and stuck to Port Arthur. 1t was
confident that the harbor soon would
be untenable for the Russian war
ships, that it would eventually get
fair fight in the open sea away from
the Russian land batteries, and that
the Japanese would win. These cal
culations of the navy were correct,
and the Russians, with the chances
even, have been hopelessly defeated.
Vice Admiral Kamimura, after
months OF weary and patient waiting,
finally got his chance at dawn today
off Tsu Island He sunk the Russian
cruiser Rurik and sent the cruisers
GrCnoboi and Rossia fleeing back
from the fight.
Japanese guns dominate the dock
yards at Port Arthur, and in view of
| this fact it would seem to be impos.
| sible again to make seaworthy or
| fightable the Russian battleships
which have returned to Port Arthur.
1t is probable that the Russian balLle-
ship Czarevitch will disarm at Using
| chou
The best possible naval force the
Russians can now concentrate at
! Vladivostock is four cruisers.
| In the fight of August 10 the squad
ron, under Admiral Togo, was prac.
tically uninjured. The battleship Mi
kasha suffered the most, but she con-
tinues on the fighting line.
The cruisers Yakumo, Misshini and
Kaugo were hit, but repairs have al
ready been made. Eleven wounded
officers and &c wounded men arrived
at Sasebo Sunday.
The steamer Gaelic, bound for
Shanghai, at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning, sighted a Russian cruiser,
evidently the Novik steering south.
east by east This course showed her
to be heading for Van Diemen Strait.
Van Diemen Strait is about 120
miles south of Nagasaki anC it would
be presumed from the Novik's going
in this direction that she proposes to
try and reach Vladivostock by the
east coast of Japan.
Bombdrdment for Four Days.
st. Petersburg, By Cable.-The E1c
peror has received the following dis
patch from Viceroy Alexieff, dated
August 18th:
According to a report from Port
Arthur, August 10, the Japanese at
tackled Taku and Siaohou Mountain
in enormous force during the night
of August 9th, and occupied them af
ter Is hours fighting on the night o
August 10TH During a heavy rain
storm, the Japanese attacked our cas-
front, but were repulsed at all points
They also attacked simultaneously
our whole front from VOLTS Hill tt
Taku Mountain, but everywhere were
driven back. The fortress has beer
bombarded from the east side for fou
days"