Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-18

| conspicuous part. Their behavior leaves
| nothing to regret.
"Tender my congratulations 10 your
officers and men. | hope the same noble
discharge of duties will be continued
while the present great national prop
lem lies before US. The goal is yet as
tant. Take the best care OF yourselves
that all may be- enabled to finish the
great work expected
Lao Yang, April lS.-A correspondent
writes rs follows:
From Golden Hill on which l was
standing through the blackneSs, the
searchligntS of the fortificitionS flashed
over the inky waters of the roadstead
| and far out to the haZy horizon.
al IL o'clock heard firing at sea
and counted seven shots, but could see
nothing At daybreak | made out
through the light haze to the south
ward about five miles from shore six
torpedo boats strung out in line, all
firing In the lead ana outStripping the
others was a boat heading at full speed
directly for the entrance of the harbor.
The last in line was ShrOuded in steam
and tagging She had evidently been
hit. 1t was difficult to distinguish our
boats. but finally through my glass |
saw that the leader and the lagSard
We're Russian and that the four others
We're Japanese. The flash of the guns
and the splash of the nrojectiles as
they struck the water showed the in
tenSity of the conflict.
The torpedo boat from which steam
was escaping was firing viciously. The
four center craft drew together, con-
centrating their fire upon her, but the
crippled destroyer poured out her fire
and was successfully keeping off her
aSSaiantS.
''rhe signal station flashed the news
to the men of the batteries that the
vessel WAS the Strashni.
The unequal combat was observed
with brcathless interest. but the net
drew close around the doomed boat.
| The four Japanese vessels formed Il
semi-circle and poured in n deadly fire.
| The steam from the Strashni grew
denscr covering her like a white pail
| still she fought like q desperately
wounded animal brought to bay.
Cunning straight for the adversary
barring her way to safety she passed
the .IIlGtiitSt 1Sttln anu llftu 1T tlitlil
AT this stage Vice Admiral Maka-
ref. who had been observing the pro-
-r.ss Of the conflict through a tele-
sconc. signalled To the cruiser Bayan
living in the inner harbor to weigh an
chor and go out to the rescue.
9TH" Japanese destrOyers chung to
| their victim like hounds in n chase.
They lad become separated. but again
| resumed close formation. Small jets of
flame and smoke were Suprting from
| the light rapid fires varied by denscr
clouds as torpcdpes We're discharged
against the Strashni.
1T was the end. The stricken boat
| loosed Il final round. but it was rs if
Il volley hal been fired over her own
| grave. tor she disappeared beneath the
waves. only n little cloud Of steam
| marking the plac" where she went
| down.
Satisfied with what they had ac-
| complish"d. the Japanese torpedo
boats turned and mad" off at full
| speed. followed by the Iayan. To their
support came six of the cnemy's cruis-
rrs still the RHyan went on seeming
lily inviting certain destruction. She
soon ported her helm to bring 4 broad
| eide to bear upon the foe which W."
advancing in line Of battle. She opened
up on them ana then turned quickly
land stood on into the hail of the enc
Imys hroadsidcs. The Japanese
steamed at n slight angle. enabling all
| their guns to bear and projectileS
rained around the Bayan. raising col
unns of water as they burst. but none
struck her To the eastward suddenly
appeared five more of our torpedo boats
returning to the harbor under forced
draught Two Of the japanese cruis-
ers We're Immediately detached to cut
them off. but the Bayan. noticing the
moI ement was effective. The japanese
cruisers slowed down ana the TORPEDO
boats slipped through into the harhor
Meantime in accordance with Vice
| Admiral Makaroffiis order the battle
ships and cruisers in the inner harboI
slipped anchor. Majestically the Pet
ropavlovsll. flying the admiral's fiaa
steamed through the entrance. ON her
appearance the more formidable enemy
of the japanese cruisers turned and
hed. The admiral signalled the Rayan
to return. Then n stream Of vari-Color-
ed signal flags fiuttered out" Brave
| Bayan."
BY this time the entire Russia squad
ron was in the outer harb,S. Besides
the Petropaviovsk, | saw the battle
ships Perosviet, Poltava. Pobieda and
Sevastopol. the cruisers Novik. Diana
and Askold. and the torpedo boats. The
flags announcing the admiral's appro-
bdtion of the Bayan We're hauled down
and, replaced by another signal I'M
me6nftely the torpedo boats dashed
ahead and the heavier ships began tc
spread out.
Seeing the flight of the Japanesf
cruisers. the Petropavlovsk opened fire
with her great guns but the enemy
was out OF range and soon disappeared
Our squadron continued the chase
finally fading from view.
II waited anXiOusly for its reappear-
ance and in about an hour it came il
sight. Far beyond it the Number points
from which smoke arose announced TIL.
presence of the enemy. Nearer ant
nearer came the vessels. and at last
made out behind our squadron fee