The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-28
OFFICIAL REPORTS
FROM THE RUSSIANS

ST. PETERSBURG. March 27-An Off
ciaI dispatch rom Port Arthur to the EN-
peror says that at l o'clock this morning
the Russian searchlights disclosed four
large merchant steamers making for the
entrance to the harbor, supported by six
torpedo boats heavy fire was opened
on them by the batteries and some war
ships The torpedo boat SLIM, commanded
by Lieutenant Krinzikni, turned the mer-
chant vessels from their course by blowing
up the PROV OF the first and then boldly
attacked the enemys torpedo boats. In
the fierce fight which followed Chief Engl-
neer Swyerer, of the Stilma, and six ma
rines were killed, and the commander and
| twelve men were injured The japanese
plan to block up the entrance of Port Ar
thur was frustrated, however. and the
channel is still clear.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding the
| Russian naval forces at Port Arthur, has
sent the following telegram to the Ehl-
| peror:
II beg most humbly to report that at 2
| o'clock this morning the enemy made a
second attempt to block the entrance to
the inner roadstead. For this purpose they
| dispatched four large merchant steamers,
conveyed by six torpedo boats, to the en-
/ trance The enemy's ships were promptly
discovered by searchlights, and were bonn
barded by the batteries and guardships
Bohr and Otvajny.
Fearing the enemy's ships might break
through, Lieutenant Krnzikni, command
ing the guard torpedo boat SLIM, attacked
the enemy and destroyed the bow of the
| foremost Japanese steamer with a torpedo
| This steamer turned to the right, and was
followed by two others, with the result
that the three were stranded to the right
of the entrance. A fourth steamer went
| to the right of the enemy's ships, and like
wise sank. to the right of Fairway The
| SLIM then battled with the enemy's six
| torpedo boats Engineer Artifcer Swyereff
and six seamen were killed and the COM
| mander and twelve seamen were wounded.
AT daybreak the enemy's battleship and
cruiser squadrons appeared. and pro-
ceeded with the fleet under my charge to
meet the enemy.
THE second attempt of the japanese to
block the entrance to Port Arthur has
failed. thanks to the energetic defense by
the sea and land forces, who acted as they
did during the first attempt. The harbor
remains perfectly clear"
GENERAL SMIRNOFFS REPORT.
| The following dispatch has been received
from General Smrnoff. under date of Port
Arthur. March "a:
Last night after moonrise the Japanese
attempted TO block the entrance to the
harbor. Four fireships sent toward
the port, conveyed by a torpedo fiotila
| Toward 2:15 a. m. the approach of the en-
emys ships was perceived by the guard
| ships and batteries which simultaneously
| opened upon them heavily.
The fireships were preceded by torpedo
boats and followed at considerable dis
| tance by larger ships. which opened on the
| forts, supporting the action of the fireships
ana torpedo boats.
Owing to the heaviness of our artillery
fire and TIE bodness of our torpedo boats
| the fireshps did not reach the entrance to
| the harbor. Two of them grounded on a
reef under Golden Hill, another sank be-
| hind the first turn OF the channel struck
by torpedo from one of our boats. and
the fourth sank. its bows touching a Jap
anese steamer sunk in the previous at
tempt off Majatschnaja Goroda. The en-
trance to the harbor remains clear
/ fire gun was found aboard one of the sunk
en- steamers. from which fire had been
kept up our torpedo boats
"A boat left each of the sunken ships
carrying their crews. One of them is be-
lievcd to have been picked up.
Towards o'clock "A. m. the enemy's tor
ceased. Vice Admiral Makaron at once
proceeded in "A steam launch To inspect the
| enemys sunken steamers.
THE enemy's torpedo boats reappeared
| at ) O'Clock this morning. They were sight
| ed south of Port Arthur, and the batteries
reopened on them Towards o'clock the
enemy's squadron appeared on the horizon
and ours steamed out TO meet IL. AT 6: 80
clock the batteries opened fire. Our ships
batteries soon ceased. the japanese draw
| ing off to the southeast. evidently declining
an engagement. AT 10 o'clock they dsap-
| peared below the horizon.
INTERNAL MACHINES.
further telegram to the. Emperor from
Vice Admiral Makaroff says:
II respectfully report that the enemy
having withdrawn l returned TO the harbor
with the fleet.
.@rhe torpedo boat destroyer Silni which
stranded on reef in consequence OF dam
f, age caused to her engines by one Of the
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