River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-31
JAP ANESE PLANS
ARE FRUSTRATED
FAILURE OF ATTEMPT TO BLOCK
PORT ARTHUR HARBoR.
RESISTED BY A SCOUT BOAT
Brave Action of Commander of the
Silni-Togo Declines Challenge
to Fight by Vice Admiral
Makaroff.

st. Petersburg, March 2S.-Under
cover of darkness Sunday morning Vice
Admiral Togo made another desperate
attempt to bottle up the Russian feet
in Port Arthur, but he failed again, and
when, after daylight, Vice Admiral
Makaroff steamed out to give battle the
japanese commander refused the chat
lenge and sailed away. The Japanese
practically repeated the tactics of Feb
ruary "a by sending in four fireships,
preceded by torpedo boat flotilla, with
the exception that the fireships this time
were armed with Hotchkiss guns for
the purpose of keeping off the Russian
torpedo boat destroyers. The enemy's
attempt was discovered by means of
the shore searchlights, and a heavy
fire was opened from the batteries and
from two gunboats which were guard
ing the entrance to the harbor.
A Brave Commander.
The Russian torpedo boat destroyer
SLIM was outside on scouting duty, and
to the dash and nerve of her COM
mander, Lieut.. Krinizki, is chiefly due
the complete defeat of the plans of the
Japanese. He at once made straight
for the oncoming ships, under hail of
fire from the Hotchkiss guns, and tor
pedoed the leading ship, which sheered
Off, followed by the others, three of
them being piled up on the shore under
Golden Hill and one under the light
house.
The Losses.
The SLIM then engaged the entire Six
torpedo boats of the enemy, coming
out from terrific fight with seven
killed and her commander and II of
her complement wounded but on the
japanese side only one boats crew was
saved. In addition, according to unoG-
fetal reports, it is believed that the
Japanese lost two torpedo boats.
Japs Declined to Fight.
The Japanese cruisers which sup
ported the attack exchanged shots with
the batteries, and then drew off, after
which Vice Admiral Makaroff took a
steam launch and examined the fire.
ships. An hour later the Japanese tor
pedo flotilla, followed by Vice Admiral
Togo's fleet, came up from a southeriy
direction. Just at daybreak Vice Ad-
miral Makaroff, with his fleet, sailed
out to engage the enemy, but after the
ships and batteries had fired few long
distance shots Vice Admiral Togo de-
cided to decline the issue and disap-
peared to the southwark. The news of
the repulse of Vice Admiral Togo's sec
ond attempt to block Port Arthur Gre
ated much rejoicing in the Russian
capital, and among all classes the gal
lantry of the SLIM and her commander
above all, the moral effect of Vice Ad-
miral Makaroff's willingness to engage
the enemy, showing that he considered
himself strong enough to fight, pro-
duced splendid impression.
May Hamper Japanese Plans.
In high official circles this new effort
to bottle up the Russian fleet is looked
upon as meaning only one thing, name
~, that the Japanese are preparing for
a heavy landing of troops in the gulf
of Lao Tung, either at New-Chwang or
on the west coast of the Manchurian
neutral zone, to effect which in safety
the immobility of Vice Admiral Maka-
roff's fleet is absolutely essential while
the transports are being conveyed
around the southern end of the PENN
sula. If the attempt had succeeded it
would have required several days at
least to blow up the steamers and clear
away the wreckage, during which time
the Japanese would be assured of nom
interference in the carrying out of their
purposes. The failure of the Japanese
Sunday morning may seriously hamper
their plans, as the ice in the Lao river
is going out and when the river is
free from ice it's mouth can be easily
mined.
Makaroff's Report.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding