The San Francisco call., 1904-04-18
SEA TRIUMPH
SPURS TOXIC
TO REJOICING
japanese Minister of Marine
Sends Congratulations to
Vice Admiral Togo.
Counter Mines Laid During
a Stormy Night by the
DeStrOyerS.

TOXIC. April l., p. m.-The Jap
anese are elated over the successes
they have won at Port Arthur. They
are also proud Of the achievements OF
Vice Admiral Togo. particularly of his
newest strategy Of countermining the
enemys harbor anl decoying him
across this field Of mines TO an equally
dangerous flank attack
Admiral Baron YamsmOto. the Min
lister OF Marine, sent the following con-
gratulatory message TO Vice Admiral
Togo to-day:
i am delighted over the success OF
The eighth attack on Port Arthur. The
result was splendid. and while il is at
tributable TO the EmperOrs illustrious
virtue. the loyal and gallant action of
the officers and men Of the feet played
8 conspicuous part Their behavior
leaves nothing TO regret. / tender my
congratulations TO you and TO the Off
GERS and men in your command, and .
hope that the same noble discharge OF
duties viii be continued while the pres
ent great national problem lies before
US.
The goal'is yet distant. Take the
best care Of yourselves IN order that
you all may be enabled TO finish the
great work expected of you"
The success Of the system OF placing
deadly counterrnines is due largely TO
a series Of careful observations made
by the Japanese during their previous
attac'-e on Port Arthur. The japanese
saw the Russian feet leave the harboi
and return 10 il several times and they
discovered that the Russian warships
followed an identical course every time
they came out or went in, evidently
for the purpose OF avoiding their own
mines. The Japanese took bearings
on this course.
When the destroyer divisions of the
Japa nese torpedo fotilla laid the coun-
1913. they placed them along this
course. The laying Of these counter
mines was exceedingly perilous be-
cause il any japanese boat with mines
on board had been struck by lucky
Russian shot, she would have been an
initiated.
The weather OF the night of April
1918 favored the work There was a
heavy rain. the night was dark and
cloudy and the Russian searchlights
playing over the channel failed TO re-
veal the presence Of the japanese de-
stroyers.
Rear Admiral Dewa was in command
Of the japanese squadron which decoy-
I'd the Russian ships over the field OF
mines. His squadron consisted of the
cruisers Chitose, Yoshino. Kasagt and
TakasagO. all unarmored vessels
which presented a tempting bait fol
The heavier Russian ships.
Vice Admiral Togo directed the fianl
attack. He had the battleships Hat.
suse. Mikasa, Asahi, Shikishima, va
shima and Fuji. He waited thirty
miles out at sea until Rear Admira
Dewa signaled him by wireless telegra-
ply TO come in. His vessels theT
dashed at full speed toward the en-
trance of the harbor. All the battle
ships under Vice Admiral Togo arr
capable of a speed of eighteen knots
and they quickly covered the distance
II is not clear what warned the Rus
slams that they had been trapped, bu
they probably discerned the battleshil
squadron on the horizon and retreateS
precipitately to the harbOr Vice Ad
miral Togo did not succeed in prevent
ing the Russians from re-entering, bu
he did force them to a disastrous re
treat which ended in the destruction
OF the Petropavlovsk and the disabling
Of the Pobieda.
After these occurrences the cruiser
Nisshin and Kasuga were used to bonn
bard Port Arthur. They possess TIL
highest angled guns in the feet, capa
bic OF throwing shells to the elevated
Russian land works, which are beyon'
attainment by the average nava
weapon.
Vice Admiral Togo calls this attacl
on Port Arthur the eighth, wherea
here IL is numbered the seventh.
probable explanation is that Vice Ad
miral Togo regards the latest opera
tfon as two distinct attacks.
Expressions of regret at the death o
Vice Admiral Makaroff are genera
here. Speaking for the naval stan
Commander Ogasawara has publishes
q lengthy statement in which he la
nlents the death Of the Russian vic
admiral and DrOnounces IL to be a los
10 the navies of the world Command
er Ogasawara reviews the life. prOfes
sional career and the personal attri
butes of Vice Admiral Makaroff, an
declares that he is entitled to b
classed with the best admirals in tn
world.