The San Francisco call., 1904-03-17
Tremendous Havoc
Is Wrought at
Port Arthur.
Scores Are Killed
by Japanese
Shells.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LONDON, March IA cablegram to
the Daily Mail from Shanghai says:
The Norwegian steamships Brand.
Argo and Seirstad left Port Arthur on
Sunday night and arrived here to-day.
Before sailing the captains were taken
into the port and compelled to swear
not to reveal what had occurred. I
have. however. obtained these authentic
particulars from members OF the crews
of the vessels, which had been char
tered by the Russian Admiralty to
transport coal. OF what occurred during
the last bombardment:
LAS the Argo lay alongside the Ret
vizan In the harbor a Japanese she'll
exploded on the deck Of the Russian
battleship, killing nineteen officers and
men. The crews of the merchantmen
in the harbor deserted and fed to the
promontory.
THE greatest damage inflicted by the
japanese bombardment was in the new
town, where the shells played great
havoc. Practically all the business
buildings on the main street were de-
molshed and scarcely a residence was
left unharmed. The Japanese fire was
marvelously accurate.
NON-COMBATANTS PERISH.
1.-The inhabitants were panic-stricken.
Many took shelter in rude bomb proofs.
A shell exploded in the midst Of
throng of spectators on a hill, who
were watching the enemy, and killed
twenty-five persons. Three Govern
ment clerks were killed while fleeing
from the port admhars office.
The highest fort at the entrance to
the harbor was the worst damaged.
There was one tremendous explosion
at the Tribunda, blowing up the. maga-
zine and arsenal The sailors were un-
certain as to it's location.
"A two-funneled cruiser anchored
near the Retvizan, probably the Diana,
was struck on the water line and set
aflre. Eight on board perished.
THE Russians sank five old steam
ships at the entrance to the channel in
line with the lighthouse. reducing the
navigable way to the channel to less
than 300 feet. The channel is marked
out by buoys.
During the enga gagement desperate
work was executed under Japanese fire.
The day after the bombardment five
warships steamed out of the harbor to
scout for the Japanese fleet. 1t had
been rumored that twenty-five Japa-
nese warships were steaming to Port
Arthur to deliver a last attack. The
consequent panic was allayed when the
scouts returned and reported that the
coast was clear.
The food supply is abundant and
there are no signs of an evacuation.
DASH FOR VLADIVOSTOK.
"One thousand five hundred Cossacks
have been arriving daily since the
bombardment and Viceroy Alexieff and
Admiral Makaroff have issued en-
couraging proclamations. There has
been a marked Improvement in the dis
cipIine at Port Arthur since Makaroff's
arrival. The repairs to the damaged
warships have been carried on with
speed. The Retvizan and Cesarevitch
are reported to be hopeless wrecks.
"The Norwegians insist that before
they sailed the Russians steamed out
to make a dash for Vladivostok. leav-
ing in the harbor only the Retvizan.
the Cesarevitch and the Sevastopol.
The latter is in the dock, having been
damaged by two shells.
During the bombardment the Rus
slams did not return the Japanese fire,
except the cruisers Novik and Bayan,
which steamed out, with bands playing,
in an attempt to rescue the Russian
torpedo-boats. The crews cheered as
the forlorn hope steamed out The
cruisers returned an hour later un-
damaged.
when the Norwegians left the only
vessels in the harbor were two trans
ports, four small merchantmen, one
whaler and the hospital ship Mongolia
Japanese shells hit the Mongolia, kill
ing six persons. The Japanese carefully
aimed to damage the docks"