The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-03-17
Such News As Is Available Net
Definate
ACTIVE ROSTILITIES HAVE BEGUN
Sharp Fighting Reported Between
the Forces of Russia and Japan
News lndefinate.

st. Petersburg, BY Cable.-The En-
reror received message from Viceroy
j AleXieff which says:
'Admiran Marakoff. commanding the
feet, reports from Port Arthur under
| date of March ~ as follows:
six torpedo boats which went out to
sea the night of March 10, four Of them
being under the command Of Capt.
Mattoussevitch, encountered the enc
nys torpedo boats followed by cruis-
erY. A hot action ensued in which the
torpedo boat destroyer Vlaslini dis
charged a Whitehead torpedo and sunk
cne of the enemy's torpedo boats. On
the way back the torpedo boat destroy
er Stereguschtchi, commanded by Lieu
tenant Sergueieff, sustained damages;
her engine was disabled and she be-
gan to founder. By s o'clock in the
morning five of our torpedo boat de-
stroyers and returned. When the crit
ical position Of the Stereguschitchi be-
came evident hoisted my flag on the
cruiser Novik and wen; with the Novik
and the cruiser Boyarin to the rescue.
But as five of the enemy's cruisers sur
founded our destroyer and as their bat
tieShip squadron was approaching,
cid not succeed in saving the Steregus-
chichi, which foundered. Part Of the
crew was made prisoners and part was
drowned.
"On the ships which participated in
the night attack, one officer was seri-
Cusly and three other were slightly
| wounded, two soldiers were killed and
eighteen were wounded.
AT 9 o'clock fourteen of the enc
my's ships assembled before Port Ar
thur and a bombardment was begun
with the heavy guns Of their battle
ship squadron at long range.
This lasted until ! O'Clock in the
afternoon. 1t is estimated that the
enemy fired 154 twelve-inch shells. The
damage to our vessels was insignifi-
can't. and they are again ready for
battle. Our losses were one officer
slightly wounded and one soldier killed
and four soldiers wounded.
The iilumatior of the sea at night
by the searchlights mounted at our
batteries was most satisfactory, and
several times isolated shots from our
batteries forced the enemy's torpedo
boats to retire.
with the commencement Of the
bombardment at dawn the guns Of the
fortress replied to the enemys fire.
THE crews of all the ships engaged
gave proof of remarkable GOODNESS in
action.
"A bombardment at such distance
must be considered ineffective, but the
Japanese cruiser Takasago is reported
to have been seen to suffer serious
damage, the extent ef which, however,
II was impossible to ascertain at
distance of five miles. Many shells
were fired at a rance Of ~ miles.
II have the honor to report the fore
going to your Majesty.
CSigned) LlEAEFF.
Toxic. BY Cable.-Official and pri-
avte reports both indicate that Admiral
Togos fourth attack on Port Arthur on
the 10th instant was the most effective
since the first assault of month ago.
One Russian torpedo boat destroyer
was sunk and several Russian torpedo
boats seriously damaged. The fortif-
cations and city were submitted to
heavy bombardment lasting nearly
four hours. The naval bombardments
OF the land works have generally been
ineffective. yet the peculiar topograph-
ical conditions of Port Arthur make
immunity from serious loss from bom-
bardment almost impossible. Admiral
Togos torpedo flotilla opened the ac-
ton by boldly steaming in under the
batteries of mechanical mines in the
harbor.
The closing action was the lombard
nent of the inner harbor by the Japan
csc battleships. The latter took po-
sition southwest Of Port Arthur and
used only their twelve-inch guns.
There were twenty-four twelve-inch