The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-19
YICTOR Y FOR JAPS.
Panic Seized the Russians az they
Saw Torpedo Boats
ATTACK THEIR SHIPS OF WAR.

ATTACK THEIR SHIPS OF WAR.
Az Russian War ships Dashed
from Harbor They We're Shot
to Pieces by tho
Japanese Fleet.
A copyrighted special dispatch to
the Atlanta Journal from London
says Japan has won her FIRST great
IS naval Victory. A dispatch from ST..
Petersburg says that an attack has
been made by a Japanese torpedo fleet
on the Russian battleships and cruis-
ers lying at anchor at the entrance of
the harbor Of Port Arti ar, and that
bne DaJJleships CzarwitcL and Renn7i-
= zan and the cruiser Pallada were tor
pedoed and wrecked.
Shortly before midnight on Monday
. large Japanese fleet, presumably that
which left Sacho early Saturday, was
reported off Port Arthur. The Rus
sian fleet, which had been anchored
s nttss!ae the harbor, bad been warned
Z and had returned Within the harbor
entrance. The Russians felt that
their torpedo system would protect
them, but even then took no chances,
but kept their searchlights working
4 both from ships and shore batteries,
particularly from that portion of the
land called T iger's Tail.
The Japanese fleet outside did some
maneuyering and then apparently
went Off to the southwark, 80 many
thought to join the remainder Of the
Japanese fleet known to be In the
neighborhood OF Wei Hal Wei.
At lao a. M, Sunday, s.s watchers
and searchiighJs were becoming lag
gard and the alarm at the first felt, was
about dying out, q black streak was
observed crossing the haroor mouth
|. by one OF the lookoutS on the Czare.
witch. He gave the alarro, dozen
Il Bearchlights flashed out ard the stGht
paralvzed the Russians
THE RUSSIANS ATTACKED.
According to dispatches sseat to St.
Peterburg, a half dozen}to. pedo boats
were making thejS'Wa way toward the
meet. Before an, ymove cou d be made,
4 e torpedo wgatiaunched from one of
the Japan9,se boats at the gzarewitch
I ala sssas!tss1fking her, explod ID, tearing
her apart, at almost the same mo-
ment another torpedo WIS fired at
her and hit the Retvlzar the most
modern ship in the Russian navy and
made a wreck of her.
The deadly missile struck tie Ret
ylzan just forward nt her forward tur-
ret on the port side and tore gaping
y hole In her side. Corsterna oion among
the Russians had now increased to q
panic and hardly any attempt was
q made to,repel the attack being made.
,Tfie Paliada a. fine cruiser; was lying
inside Bf both battlssfips, and to her
the. torpedo boats rext turned their
attention. The Pallada's crew had
eo6 ho-i. rapid fire guns TO work and
were trying to hit the Japanese.
The latter then launched half a
( dozen torpcdoes at the Russian cruiser
before one took effect. 1t left the
Russian cruiser hopeless wreck. BY
this time several Russia torpedo
e Doats had got into the fight and the
Japanese, finding affairs becoming
complicated and more critical than
they cared to meet, Withdrew as they
came.
Attempts were made from the shore
70 flre the mines In the entrance to
the harbor. Some did explode, but
not while any torpedo boats were
Aar, while Others failed utterly to
FeE- TO the electric spark. BY
me the Russians had gotten
heir CONSERVATION and got into
IN to fight, the Japanese had
= Cred. by daylight there we're
hese in sight.
& "A MOTHERS JAP VICTORY.
s }5yrighted special dispatch to
# 81 tlanta Journal from London
official Japanese telegram to
Hayashi, the Japanese minis
s.sa..1 Jlere, gives details OF the sea bat
tie between the Japanese and Russian
squadron in which the cruiser Variag
and the torpedo gunboat Koreitz were
destroyed. The battle took place near
the Polynesian Islands In the Yellow
Sea. 1t began ON February 9Th In
the afternoon. The Russian warshtps,
after some hours of hghCing, taking
refuge among the island Tuesday
morning, the battle was resumed and
continued until the Variag was sunk
and KOreitz blown up. According to
the Official Japanese report the Rus
Z Sian losses are said to reach hundreds.
The survivors from the Russian
warships took refuge on the French
cruiser Paschal. AS the Japanese squa-
dron was escorting the prisoners from
Nagasaki to the Korean harbor OF
Chemulpo, near the Polynesian islands,
the squadron encountered the Variag,
one Of Russia's most effective fighting
ships, and the Koreitz particularly
dangerous adversary because II two
! tor Sedo tubes ia addition tG her usual
]. ly heavy arma mnnt -
RUSSIANS TRY TORPEpoEs.
The Koreitz was in advance of the
b Varlag; both warships had been lying
of Chemulpo. AS soon as the Koreitz
sight was within effective range of
the Japanese squadron she launched
two torpedo tubes. The Japanese
Immediately opened heavy fire on the
Koreitz. The Variag hu 'rled up to
the aid of the torpedo ...gnnboat and
both warships returned IT .e Japanese
fire. The battle lasted 70 some time
with slight damage to ither side,
when gthe Russian warsh ps retired,
perceptfbly taking refuge n the har-