Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-05-19
RUSSIAN TORPEDO
TRUE TO MARK
The First Russian Naval Sue
cess OF War Recorded
May 10.
IT WAS A DARING ATTEMPT
Armored Japanese Cruiser Put Out
Of Commission Small Naphtha
Launch Managed by Russian Officer
and Three Jackies Did the Damage

.duHCn Managed Of nuSSidn 0HlCe'
and Three Jackies Did the Damage
Lao Yang, May 1.-THE Russian
fleet scored it's first distinct naval
success Of the war on May 10 by the
torpedoing and Gripping, though not
the sinking, of an armored japanese
cruiser in Tailen Wan bay.
The Russian attack was carefully
planned on May 10 while the Japan
csc squadron was concentrated out
side Dalny, devoting its whole atten.
ton to Tailen Wan bay, and was car
ried out the same night.
The attacking force was not reg
ular torpedo. but was only small
naphtha launch in command of a
young naval officer who had with him
three jackies. The launch mounted a
small machine gun and carried three
torpedoes.
When darkness fell the launch
crept out of Port Arthur, hugging the
shore with no lights aboard and no
glow from the engines to betray her
presence. 1t was late when she gain
ed the outer line of the Japanese
squadron. Slipping through the tor
pedo boat pickets, and selecting the
nearest warship, a big armored cruis-
er, she stole toward her and succeed
ing in exploding against her side a
single torpedo. A deafening roar fol-
lowed the explosion which echoed far
ashore. Immediately flames envelop-
ed the cruiser, which evidently was
badly crippled.
The crew Of the cruiser was seen
to be fighting the fire, which they at
last sccceeded in extinguishing. A
sister ship took the damaged vessel
in tow and disappeared to the socth-
east
The lacnch escaped the hot fire
directed against her by the Japanese
ships, but being unable to return to
Port Arthur or to get into Dalny, she
was beached not far from Dalny.
Only a few of the higher officers
were aware Of the plan, the success
Of which depended upon secrecy. The
achievement raised the spirits of the
Russians afloat and ashore and the
young naval officer who was the hero
of the exploit was feted and recon-
IlShuSu lOI JllS CIOoS vi 81. HSOlSC
The Russians on May II, appre-
hending that the presence of JAP
anese squadron meant an attempt to
capture Dalny, blew up the piers and
quietly evacuated the place.
Two thousand Japanese have reoc-
cupied the road to Sanchilipu, again
cutting off Port Arthur A strong
force is advancing against Polandien.
st. Petersburg, May 16.-Disquiet,
ing news regarding the Chinese is
contained in dispatches from officers
at the front issued by the general
staff In addition to giving further
details of the cutting off of Port Ar
thur and confirming the report of the
japanese advance upon Lao Yang
these dispatches state specifically
that the Chinese have commenced hos
tilities against the Russians. Major
General Karkevitch reports that the
Chinese attacked his outposts on the
Feng Wang Cheng road leading tC
Saimatsi. General Plug telegraphs
that according to reports Of patrols
and missionaries, the Chinese at Tap
adziatsi, 100 miles northwest of Muk
| den and just outside the Russian
sphere of influence, are preparing tC
rise against the Russians and Chris
tians generally.
The hostile attitude of the Chinese
! is attributed to the action of the Jap
anese in spreading reports Of theil
successes and magnifying their vic
tories at Port Arthur and on the Yalu
This propaganda has been active re
Gently in all parts of China.
So far as the railway Is concerned
while it Is admitted here that a Chi
nese outbreak will be new source
of danger, preparations have beer
perfected by General Kuropatkin t.
insure the protection of this artery
which is vital to the supply Of thu
! army.
1t is a matter of satisfaction to tn,
authorities that the Koreans are prov
ing more friendly than the Chinese
as is shown by reports of the de
struction of the telegraph wires use'
by the Japanese in northern Korea
London. May ia dispatch from
Paris says a rumor is current Their
that Port Arthur has fallen and 1000
men were killed during the engage
ment Nothing confrmatory is OF
tainable in London.
The above rumor is probably false
Neither st. Petersburg nor Toki
have had any intimation of the begir
ming Of an attack on Port Arthur.
Paris, May 1.-THE correspondent
in st, Petersburg of the Echo d
Paris gives a high staff officers r.
sumo of the situation in the far cas-
as follows: 1.-THE Japanese are az
vancing towards the Russian pos
lions along three routes. Kuroki
army is marching upon Lao Yam
from Feng Wang Cheng, Oku's fore
has left Bagux for YIN Kow, follow