The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-12
TWO ACCOUNTS
OF THE BATTLE
Japanese Officer Tells of the
attack on Port Arthur Feb. 9.
STORY FROM RUSSIAN PAPER
SHELLS FROM THE FORT WERE
EFFECTIVE.

chicago, March 11.-Captain Matsu-
mura, who acted as signal officer on
the Mikasa, Admiral Togo's flagship.
during the attack on Port Arthur on
FEB. 3. gives a graphic story Of the
light in the Jill shimpo, Japan's most
widely circulated newspaper, Of the
date Of Feb. 10. Copies OF the paper
nave just been received by Shezaburo
Shiinizu, japanese consul for Chicago
ne account by Captain Matsumura is
the first from a japanese eyewitness.
The captain was wounded in the foot
as ne stood on the bridge of the Full by
a shell from one Of the Port Arthur
batteries
Captain Matsumura's story reveals
the fact that the japanese battIeslifp
tuji was badly damaged, but not dis
abled. by Russian shells. while two OF
its officers, Commander NalSayama and
Lieutenant Miura were killed by a sin
gle shell while standing on the bridge.
Description Of the Battle.
Captain Matsumura's description Of
the naval battle and the events lead
ing up to it is as follows:
Admiral Togo called the captains Of
the allied fleet to his flagship in Sasebo
harbor Feb. 8. Plans were discussed,
but OF course, were not revealed. At
. o'clock that afternoon the fleet left
the harbor.
AT a. m. on Feb. Z smoke was no.
ticed on the horizon. The Tsukuba. was
dispatched TO investigate. and discov-
cred the Russian steamer Rossia, which
was captured.
Shortly after this prize was taken
Rear Admiral Uriu and one of the dfVis-
ions Of the fleet started for Chemulpo.
Admiral Togo directed the hosting OF
signal flags that read:
Attack the enemy's boats az soon
Late that day a Russian torpedo
boat chaser was seen and shots were
exchanged at a distance Of about 5000
meters.
The second-class cruiser Chitose
and two other smaller vessels We're dis
patched at 9 a. m. on Feb. Q toward
Port Arthur to reconnoiter. They re-
ported sighting five of the enemys
boats, who fired on them. The fortress
did not fire, 50 Admiral Togo signalled:
Order to Attack.
Attack the main fleet at once.'
AS the japanese fleet proceeded to-
ward Port Arthur there they met COM
ing out of the harbOr a Japanese and
a Russian merchantmen, the Manchu-
ia. The Russian vessel was captured
without firing a shot.
At IL a m. at q distance OF ten knots
from Port Arthur. one Of the enemy's
scout boats was sighted and two shots
sent after it. 1t returned TO the harbOr
Then the japanese fleet formed in
fighting line and approached the har-
Dor. We saw the Russian men, of-war
trying to get back under shelter of the
fort guns. The Mikasa fired first and
then raised the attacking flag, the en-
envy answered and the engagement be-
came general. The Russian shells fell
short but the fire from the fortress
damaged the feet slightly.
our men behaved splendidly. They
showed no excitement but great en-
thusiasm in their work at the guns. We
wished to continue the fire but the
shells from the shore batteries were be-
coming aIarTningly close and we feared
the torpedo boats, 80 the signal was
given 10 retire
"Our casualties in this first attack on
Port Arthur were: Killed, two officers
three non-commissioned officers. one
man. seriously wounded. two officers
one non commissioned officer, four mid
shipmen and eighteen men; slightly
nuDded. four officers. five non-com-
ili1sioned officers and twenty-five
me..'