The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-14
REPORT OF THE FIGHT
FROM ADMIRAL TOGO

TOXIC, March 13-Admiral Togo's report
of the fourth attack on Port Arthur by the
Japanese fleet on March 10 reached Toxic
late Saturday afternoon. 1t is as follows
"Our squadron, as prearranged, attacked
the enemy at Port Arthur on March TO-
Our two torpedo flotillas reached the mouth
of the harbor at Port Arthur at o'clock
on the morning of the 10th. Finding no
enemy and waiting until dawn one flo
tilla engaged in sinking mines in the har-
Dor entrance. Notwithstanding the
enemy's fire our fiotilla succeeded i'll
sinking the mines. The other flo
tilla met the enemys torpedo flo
tilla, consisting of six boats, in the Lao
Thie-Shan channel, south of Port Arthur.
at 400 o'clock. A hot engagement oc-
Cured at close range for thirty minutes.
The enemy then took flight
Our fire greatly damaged the Russian
ships, one of which was badly crippled by
a shot through the boilers and another
was observed to be on fire. SO close were
the two fiOtillas to each other that our de-
stroyers, the Ashasho. kasumi and Akatsu-
XII nearly touched the enemy's ships and our
crews could even hear the cries of agony
of the injured men on them. We sustained
some damage and loss. The Akatsuh
had a steam pipe broken and four stok-
ers were killed thereby Our loss was
seven killed and eight wounded. Among
the latter is Chief Engineer Minamisawa.
of the kasumi
"Our fotilla. while leaving the harbor
entrance observed two Russian torpedo
boats coming from seward and immcdi-
ately engaged them, the battle lasting one
hour. After causing them severe damage
one of them effected its escape, but our
destroyer, the Sasanami, captured the
other boat, which proved to be the Stere-
guschtchi.
Notwithstanding the land batteries
pouring a heavy fire on our flotilla the
captured vessel was taken in tow. Owing
TO the high sea the tow line soon parted
and the Sasanami found IL necessary 10
take the crew of the Russian boat and
abandon the StereguSchtchi which finally
sank at 1890 o'clock
THE enemy's cruisers, the NOvik and the
Bayan, steamed out OF the entrance of the
barber toward us. but observing the APP
prOach of our cruiser squadron retired TO
the herbor. Our fiOtila suffered some
the Akatsuki had two sailors killed and
sub-Lieutenant Shima. of the Akatsuki and
three sailors were wounded.
Our main and cruiser squadrons ar
rived off Port Arthur at o'clock and the
cruisers Immediately advanced toward the
harbOr entrance 10 protect the torpedo
dotila. The main squadron advanced near
LaO-Thie-Shan and opened an indirect can
nonade against the inner harbOr from 10
o clock To lao. According TO the observa-
tons made by one OF our cruisers facing
the entrance the bOmbardment was re-
markably effective. During pur cannon
ade the enemy's land batteries fired, but
none OF our ships suffered any damage.
Another cruiser squadron went TO Ia
Lien-Wan and bombarded the enemy 5
fortress on Samshantao, damaging the
buildings thereon
THE o cruisers TakasagO and Chihaya
reconnoitered the west coast of the Port
Arthur peninsula but Cid not find the
enemy. The Russian torpedo boat destroy
er damaged in the third attack on Port
Arthur was found 10 be the Wnushiterinuy
which had sunk later. the mast only being
visible above the water.
"Our squadron stopped fighting at
o'clock and returned 10 the rendezvous"