The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-03-24
British Correspondent Describes
the Battle Between the Tor
pedO Boats March 9.
The JAPANESE THE BETTER SHOTS
Russians Fought With Desperation
and the Japanese With Confidence
Born of Their Past Victories.
Thirty Russians on Board the stere.
gusehtehi Were Terribly Mutilated
BY Shell From the Jap's Gun
"A Sickenina Siaht.

A Sickening Sight.
London, March 21.-Nothing ha!
reached here to confirm the report tha
battle has taken place on the Yal,
In which the Russians captured / 500
prisoners.
dispatch from st. Petersburg dat
ed Sunday says there has been nc
change in the situation and that all IL
quiet on both land and sea between
the Russian line from Ping Yang To
the ialu river and the japanese line
TO Gensan. There have been slight
skirmishes between scouts, but no bat.
tie has taken place, as the distance
between the opposing armies is great.
The bulk of the Russian forces, the dis.
patch adds, has not yet passed the va
lu river.
correspondent of the Times at
New Chwang cables as follows: Ac.
cording TO Information received here
the reason the Vladivostok forts did
not reply to the bombardment by the
japanese was because the batteries
were not provided with guns. Since
the bombardment. parties have been
working night and day to place guns
In position. The Russian losses were
slight because the batteries were de.
serted
"A correspondent of the Times with
the Japanese forces, by wireless tele.
graphy via WeiHai.Wei under date
OF March 90. sends over column of
matter which is mostly a description
OF the torpedo fight between the Rus.
slams and the Japanese on March 9.
He confirms the fierceness of the
contest The vessels were so close
that the Russians threw charges of ex.
plosives on to the bridge of one of the
Japanese torpedo boat destroyers
These, however, failed to detonate. All
the vessels engaged we're more or less
damaged. The japanese losses were
six killed and eight wounded. That
the Russians were defeated. in spite
or the superir' numbers. is due to the
better shooting of the japanese and
the fact that the Russian vessels were
armed with 3-pound guns while the
armament of the Japanese ships was
made up of 6.pounders.
In reference to the fight of three
hours which occurred later. the CORE.
spondent says the Russians fought
with desperation and the Japanese
with confidence born of their past vic.
tories. One Russian commander was
Killed early in the fight. A lieutenant
then took command only to fall, shot
N both legs. The command devolved
upon the sub.lieutenant, who also was
killed after taking the wheel himself
when the coxswain fell this vessel was
'aptured by the japanese. The other
Russian vessels escaped On the jap
inese side one destroyer was hit on
he water line. two of her compart.
nents were flooded and her quickfiring
ammunition was wetted This vessel
etired from the action. Her officers
escaped narrowly from a 12.pound shot
which struck the platform in front of
he bridge. killing one man and sweep.
ng the bridge with splinters. The
anne vessel received a 3.pound shot ,
through the hull, but the damage was {
epa!red within four days.
A Japanese lieutenant who boarded |
he stereguschtchi said he had never {
cen a more sickening sight Thirty ,
'odies, terribly mutilated by a shell, |
we're lying on deck AS the Japanese {
approached. two Russian blue Jackets
ushed from the coming tower, locked (
themselves in the cabin aft. and re. |
used 10 come out. Two stokers lump. ,
d overheard, and were picked up. [
'hese. with two wounded men. were
he only survivors of a crew of IS.
When the Stereguschtchi sank the men
rho were locked in the cabin sank Z
nth her.
The japanese concentrated their fire J
rst on the Russians l2-pounder, and '
ut 1t out OF action early in the fight, G
saying her with only her 3.pounders J
gainst their own 12.pounders and 6. :
ound guns. The Japanese had three Q
illed and four wounded.
Describing the bombardment of Port
rthur on the same day, the CORE. .
pondent asserts that more than 10 :
hells fell In the town. The effect of .
ne great shells from the l2-inch guns :
lust have been appalling. !.
A correspondent who has just visited !.
ort Arthur telegraphed Friday from :
Iukden as follows:
Despite the various bombardments
Port Arthur the external aspect of
lie city remains unchanged, although c
le enemy fired an enormous number O
projectiles. The marine monsters o
the harbor look like enormous black z
llls and the battleships and cruisers d
ear the marks of the fighting. The p
ack clouds OF smoke from their
acks overhang the town.
Near the entrance of the harbor
IN be seen the charred wrecks of the =
Ipanese fire ships. Aboard one of =,
70 farthest out was found the body =
Japanese officer who had shot =,
mself" -
'str1aster General Payne's Condition.
Washington, March 21.-The condi.
On OF Postmaster General Payne, who =,
rs been confined to the house for -
me days. continues favorable. Satur. -
" night ha slant tan hnuro and ouoi, W