The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-08

BURNS MUCH POWDER
Japanese Fleet BombardS Via
livestock at a Distance.
SHELLS Do NOT EXPLODE
No Damage Is Done to the
City or Forts.

Vladivostock, March A feet of fv,
japanese battleships and two cruiser:
appeared off this place at :35 O'Clock Sun
day afternoon and bombarded the towT
and shore batteries for ffty-five minutes
The feet approached from the direction
Of Askold island. at the east entrance tC
/ Ussuri bay, and about thirty-two miles
southeast of Vladivostock. Enetering Us
surf bay. the enemy formed a line of bat
tie but did not approach to a closer range
than a mile and one-third. They directed
their fire against the shore batteries and
the town, but no damage resulted, as
most of their 200 lyddite shells failed to
! burst
! The Russian batteries, commanded by
| Generals Vcronetz and Artmnoff. did not
/ reply. awaiting a closer approach of the
! enemy.
! The Japanese fire ceased at 2:30 p. M.
and the enemy retired in the direction of
Askold island. simultaneously, two tor
pedo boat destroyers appeared near AS
kold island and two more near Cape Mai
del. The japanese SHIPS were covered
with ice.
The attack resulted in no loss to the
Russians, but cost the enemy 100000 ru-
bles $4,000 in ammunition Most of the
projectles were six and twelve-inch shells
The population of Vladivostock was
warned Sunday morning of the presence
on the horizon of a hostile fleet and the
prospect of attack during the day but
it remained tranquil
Outside of killing woman and wound
ing a few men yesterdays bombardment
of Vladivostock by the Japanese fleet
did no material damage The wooden
cottage of an artisan was the only build
ing wholly destroyed. 1t was pierced
by shell from u inch gun, which af-
ter .traversing the roof and wall, fell
in the yard. killing the woman previous
ly referred to-
In the quarter of the city called the
Dirty Corner a shell fell on the house
of Colonel Shuffoff without exploding II
traverssd a bed room, destroying stove.
and penetrated the wall. 1t finally burst
near the regimental safe, which was
standing in the court yard. A sentry
guarding the safe was covered with mud
and was not injured. Evidently fearing
an outbreak Of fire the sentry shouted:
Help. Save the regimental colors.'
which were in the house These Ultimate
ly were brought out by the colonel's
wife and the soldiers.
Five sailors were slightly wounded by
the explosion of a she'll in the court yard
of the Siberian naval barracks
Outside of these casualties no one was
killed or injured and there was no out
break of fire anywhere in the city The
fact that the Russian batteries did not
reply to the Japanese bombardment was
due partially to the slight chance of hit |
ting the enemy's warships at such long
range and partially to desire not to
betray the position of the batteries 1t
is now thought that the attacking squad
roB consisted of bat;leship. four armor- !
ed cruisers and two unprotected cruisers. !
st. Petersburg. March Although the /
prevailing opinion in military circles con- |
tinues to be that the bombardment of |
Sunday was for the pur-
pose of locating the guns of the Russian |
batteries and to ascertain whether the /
Russian squadron was in port. some
shrewd observants believe t indicates a
move by land and sea against the city
The NovCe Vreyma advances the theory
that the bombardment was ordered for
political effect on the Japanese diet. 1t
is considered here especially fortunate
that the Japanese did not go close enough
20 Nladivostock to establish the identity
II their ships leaving the question wheth-
I they were a division Of the Port Ar
i.ur feet. in doubt 1t is not believed.
cwever, the japanese would dare divide
ne latter which would involve the risk
# sortie by the Russians by ther play
ne havoc with the Japanese transport
'otilIa.
The Japanese fleet has not been sight
II ON Port Arthur for over a week and
'cssibly is trying to lure the Russians
'Lts:de.