Gilpin observer., 1904-03-17
SHELL POK IN ARTHUR
8oMsARDMENT le TELLING ON
RUSSIAN STRONGHOLD.

.Jokio Gets Otftctal Report OF Engage
ment-Great Suffering In Manchu-
ria-Russians Have Seized All Sup
plies and Natives Flee.
Toxic, March 14.-Oficial and pri-
yate reports both indicate that Admi-
raj Togo's fourth attack on Port Ar
thur on the 10th inst. was the most
effective since the first assault of a
month ago. One Russian torpedo boat
destroyer was sunk and several Rus
sian torpedo boat destroyers serious
ly damaged. The Notifications Of the
city were subjected to heavy bonn
bardment lasting nearly four hours.
Admiral Togo was unable to definitely
learn the results of the bombardment.
but later private reports indicate
that much destruction was caused in
the city, where a series of fire broke
out. There also was damage to the
batteries. Admiral Togo's report Is
az follows:
Our squadron, as prearranged, at
tackled the enemy at Port Arthur on
March 10. Our two TORPEDO fiotillas
reached the mouth of the harbor at
Port Arthur at 1 o'clock on the morn
ing of the 10th. Finding no enemy
and waiting until dawn. one flotilla
succeeded in sinking the mines. The
other f1otilla met the enemys torpedo
Aotilla, consisting of six boats. in the
Lao THE Shan Shi channel, south OF
Port Arthur at 4:30. A hot engage
ment occurred at close range for thir-
ty minutes. The enemy then took
flight. Our fire greatly damaged the
Russian ships, one of which was badly
crippled by shot through the boilers
and another was observed to be on
IRE. So close were the two fotillas
to each other that our destroyers. the
Asashio. Kasumi and Akatsumi. near
ly touched the enemy's ships and our
crews could hear the cries of agony Of
the injured men on them. We sus-
tained some damage and loss. The
Akatsumi had steam pipe broken
and four stokers were killed thereby.
Our loss was seven killed and eight
wounded. Among the latter is Chief
Engineer Minamisawa of the Kasugi.
Our other flotilla, while leaving the
harbor entrance, observed two Rus
sian torpedo boats coming from sea-
ward and Immediately engaged them.
the battle lasting one hour. After
causing them severe damage. one Of
them made its escape, but our de-
stroyer the Sasamani, captured the
other boat, which proved to be the
Stereguschtschi. Notwithstanding the
land batteries pouring heavy fire on
our hotilla, the captured vessel was
taken in tow. Owing to the high sea
the towline soon parted, and the Sasa-
mani found 1t necessary to take the
crew from the Russian boat and aban-
don the Stereguschtchi. which finally
sank at 10:3O o'clock. The enemy's
cruisers. the Novik and the Bayan.
steamed out of the entrance OF the
harbor toward us, but observing the
approach of our cruiser squadron. re-
tired to the harbor. Our flotilla suf-
fered some. but not heavy. The Sasa-
mani and the Akutsi had two sailors
killed and sub-lieutenant of the
Akatsi ard two sailors were wounded.
Our main cruiser squadron arrived on
Port Arthur at o'clock and the
cruisers Immediately advanced toward
the harbor entrance to protect the tor
pedo fiotilla. The main squadron ad-
vanced toward and near Tha Thi Shan
and opened an indirect cannonade
against the inner harbor from 10
O'Clock to 1:4O. According to the OBJ
servations made by one of our cruisers
facing the entrance. the bombardment
was remarkably effective. During our
cannonade the enemy's land batteries
fired, but none OF our ships suffered
any damage. Another cruiser squad.
ron went to Talien Wan and lombard
ed the enemy's fortress on Sam Tao.
damaging the buildings thereon. The
cruisers Takasago and Chihaya recon-
noitered the west coast of the Port Ar
thur peninsula. but did not find the
enemy. The Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyer damaged In the third attack
on Port Arthur was found to be the
wnushiterinuy. which had been CON-
pletely sunk, the mast only being visi-
BILE above the water. Our squadron
stopped fighting at o'clock and re-
turned to the rendezvous"