The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-15
JAP VICTORY
 IS COMPLETE 't S g
Twelve Vessels Destroyed and Eight Captured at
 Port Arthur.

Hagasaki, Feb. M.-According to advices received. the engagement at Port Arthur commenced at { o'clock on the morning or the 9th.. altogether 12 vessels were de- stroyed and eight captured. The captured vessels are expected at Sasebo today. The Emneror has congratulated Admiral Togo, commanding the fleet, for his splendid victory. It Is considered significant that the rigid censorship regarding the move' ments of the Japanese fleet is withdrawn
 Six Norwegian vessels chartered by a Russian contractor have been captured The vessels are the Lena, Active, Sentis, Soistadt. Argo and Hemis. They carried coal cargoes. The Hermis arrived here today under convoy of @ cruiser. It Is rumored that 1.s0o Japanese soldiers have been killed, presumably by the sinking of a transport. Disturbances are reported at Seoul
 The survivors from the Varig and the Korietz. the Russisn cruisers that were sunk by the Japanese fleet at ChemuIp,, last Tuesday. still remain on board tho British cruiser Talbot. the italian cruiser Elba and the French cruiser Pascal The situation is becominf acute as the Japan csc have made two demands on the com manders of the three vessels that the Russians be surrendered as prisoners of war.
 The captain of the Talbot being the senior naval officer, zach time replied that he was awaiting instructions from hls Government. None of the Russians is on board the American @unboat vicksburg. whose commander believes the Japanese are right In their demand as the Rus sians took advantage of the clemency of the Japanese in returning to the harbor. then taking refuge on the foreign vessels and refusing to surrender whereas the Japanese fleet refrained from sinking them in the open sea, as they could have done. = 7 :, Bravery of Russians.
 A magnificent episode in the battle was the second sortie of the two Russian cruisers. With bands playing the nation al anthem, the international fleet loudly cheering the bravery and gallantry of faced the Japanese fleet in what was cer- tain death. 'f3i .sy,. ...t The position of the ,wrecks appear to be such that it will be easy 10 recover the guns. The Russian losses; will be one ofliear and forty men killed and tel woafdGh -.., a. .s S ss'45- ','@' +' "A dispatch from chemuIpo gives the following account of the destruction of the cruiser Variag and gunboat KorietS.
 'The Japanese fleet. commanded by Ad- nniral Uria, on the flagship Admuma, arr rived at noon and sent wireless tele- gram to the Japanese cruiser Chigoda, which was lying at anchor between the Variag and Korietz, to join the fleet out side. :.
 The Russians Trapped.
 The Russians found themselves trap ped. Admiral Uria then signalled. giving the Russians five minutes in which to surrender. The Russians ignored the de- mand to surrender and the Japanese opened fire. brisk engagement, lasting two hours, followed.
 The Russian vessels. getting the worst of an encounter in which the odds werc overwhelmingly against them. steamed back into tho harbor. The Varlag, which was badly damaged. listed heavily. Two hours later the Russians attempted to break through the Japanese fleet, whlcn was encountered four miles from the in- ner harbor. The Korietz was blown ur. presumably by it's owh crew, in order t1 escape capture. A portion of the crew was rescued by the French and Italian vessels In the harbor.
 The Variag tried to escape but suddenly an explosion was heard and the Variag was seen to sink. Whether she sunk by Japanese shell or by her own crew i5 not known.
 The United States gunboat Vicksburg and the British cruiser Talbot witnessed the battle.