Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-04-18
BOMBARDING.
Rain Of Shell Being Fired at
Port Arthur.
Sinking Of a Japanese Torpedo Boat
Lacks Confirmation.
Mikado's Troops in Corea Ravaged by
Various Diseases.

Tien Tsin, April 16.-A report has
been received here that Port Arthur
was bombarded all day. yesterday. Fri
| day, and that the action is being con-
| tinued. today.
No detailed or official account of the
destruction of the Petropavlovsk or the
damaging at Port Arthur of the Po-
bieda has been received here. but 1t is
not believed that either one of these
| Russian warships retreated or with
drew from the action OF the 18th, which
undoubtedly was the most important
of the war. 1t is declared here that
one Japanese torpedo boat was sunk
in this engagement, but this statement
lacks confirmation.
st. Petersburg. April 11.-"Notwith-
standing Vice Admiral Togo's claim
that mines laid by his vessels were
responsible for the disaster to the Pet
ropavlovsk" said high naval authors
ty who is in position to have access
to all governments reports to the Az
sociated Press Il am more than ever
convinced that the Petropavlovsk and
the Pobeda did not strike Japancse
mines. Each ship was struck under
the hull amidships. while mine would
have exploded on first contact near the
bows. The fact that in both cases the
ships were struck amidships might
warrant the acceptance of the theory
regarding submarine vessels. although
personally | do not hold that idea. The
Pobieda probably escaped the fate. OF
the Petropavlovsk because she carried
coal in her bunkers between the bottom
and the boilers. which moreover are OF
,, the Belleville type. whereas the boilers
of the Petropavlovsk were OF Scotch
type and were not protected by her
bunkers''
One of the shrewdest naval attaches
at st. Petersburg, however, told The
Associated Press that he believed the
Japanese laid the mines which were
responsible for the disaster. pointing
out that this was one OF the oldest
systems of blockading when ships did
not dare to run the risk Of entering
under an enemy's guns. The attache
said he thought they would do this
when he noticed that the Japanese
fleet always made a wide detour Of the
entrance. 1t is also significant that
Chinese junks have been reported as
cruising off the harbor and 1t is con-
sidered possible that the Japanese kept
their junks there Systematically in Or
der to throw the Russians off their
guard if they were seen when the actu-
al time arrived to Sow the mines.
Captain Crown. who went down with
the Petropavlovsk. Joined that ship on
The previous day. having succeeded in
getting through from Shanghai, where
he left his vessel, the gunboat Mand-
jur Captain Crown was descendant
Of a Scotchman who fought with Rus
sia in the war with Sweden when ne
captured the first Retvizan.
ST. Petersburg. April 17.-According
to the reports of spies, the Japanese
troops in Corea have been ravaged by
various diseases. One Of these dis
eases. called 'imbion," is kind of in
termittent typhus. Another, called
"souda." which has not yet been studied
By European doctors, produces prema
ture senility. The patients lose their
teeth. become extremely weak and the
nails are twisted back on the fingers
Dysentery is very prevalent among
the Russians at Harbin.
st. Petersburg. April IA: despatch
from Port Arthur says several eye
witnesses assert that japanese cr,ris-
CT was lost outside Port Arthur April
II by striking one Of it's own floating
mines.
Toxic. April 11.--Vice Admiral Yamo-
moto, minister Of marine, today sent
the following congratulatory message
to Vice Admiral Aogo: ..I
Il am delighted at the SUCCESS of the
eighth attack on Port Arthur. The re-
suit was splendid and while 1t was
attributable to the emperor's illustri-
Gus virtues the loyal and gallant ac-
tion Of the officers and men played a
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