The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-25
REVERSE FOR THE JAPANESE
ATTEMPT TO BOTTLE UP PORT
 ARTHUR 4 FAILURE.

Tho Crippled RetzIyan Reported to Have Destroyed Two steamers-was fhe First to Observe the Torped Boats The Japs sun PatroiIing the En- trance to the Harbor.
 St. Petersburg. Feb. 25, 2:45 a. m.- A telegram from yiceroy Alexieff to the czar gays:
 About quarter before three in the morning of February 24 numerous Japanese torpedo boats attempted to at- tack the battleshipRetvizan and sink large steamers loaded with inflanl- 1nables. The Retvizan was the first to observe the torpedo boats and opened fire on them. She was supported by the land batteries. She destroyed two steamers near the entrance of the har- bor: they were coming dirctly towards hec. One of them went on the rocks near the lighthouse on Tiger peninsula and the other sank under Golden Hill. The Retvizan observed four steamers in q sinking condition and eight torpedo boats departing slowly to rejoin the waiting Japanese warships. A portion of the crews of the Japanese vessels was drowned. The grounded steamer is still burning. The enemy is observed in the offing of Port Arthur in two lines."
 St. Petersburg, Feb. 25.-Reports of Russian victory at Port Arthur were current late yesterday afternoon and early in the evening, and about mid- night they seemed to have been defi- nitely confirmed; but, in tn absnce of an official announcement which is mo- mentarily expected, the stories of the dimensions of this victory were most conflicting and confusing in character.
 The most circumstantial report was that the Japanese had attempted to bottle up Admiral Stark's fleet in Port Arthur by sinking two stone laden ves- sels at the entrance of the harbor, en- ploying the tactics which were consid- cred, but not executed, by the late Ad- 1niral Sampson. U. $. N., with the Merrimac at Santiago during the Span- ish-American war. According to this account two Japanese ships appeared off the harbor with a Japanese fleet be- hind them and ostensibly in pursuit. The Russians, however, suspected the rusc. and their ships steamed out, sank the stone laden vessels, engaged and defeated the enemy and drove them off. The reports of the loss inflicted, how ever, are conflicting.
 All the stories include the feature of the vessels loaded with stones, but, ac- cording to some versions, the Japanese
 
 purpose of effecting a landing at Pig con Bay, and after the failure of this preliminary manoeuvre the Russians played havoc with both the Japanese warships and the transports, sinking four of the former and two of the lat ter. One account even gives the name of the battleship Retvizan as the ves- sel which particularly distinguished herself during the action by ramming and sinking one of the Japanese bat tleships.
 Rumors of this victory were spread far and wide over the city during the early part of the evening and the crowds ewhich had gathered in tn streets in spite of the severe cold to discuss the news were greatly excited. One newspaper printed an extra relat ing the victory, based on meagre tele- gram from London, but as the night wore on without official confirmation the crowds disappeared except from around the newspaper offices. These remained tlronged with officers and others who were resolved to await the official announcement.
 The news of victory was accompanied by two stories, one that after the first decisive Russian victory the emperor would offer peace, and the other that Japan had deposed the emperor of Corea and formally annexed that coun- try. Both of these reports are without confirmation and that are given simply as examples of the stories which circu- lated among the excited crowds.
 St. Petersburg, Feb. 25.-Instead of diminishing, the crowds at the admir- atty and newspaper and telegraph agen- cy offices kept increasing and the ex- citenent attained the fever point when it became known definitely that the eTn- peror had received a telegram giving more details and showing that the Rus sian victory was even greater than at first reported. Newspaper messengers waited at the admiralty with fast horses ready to carry away the news which it was known was being pre- pared. When the sheets were finally distributed at 2:30 o'clock this morning a rush was made for the exits and the assembled officers cheered wildly and repeatedly.
 The crowds showed no inclination to disperse, hoping that further news would be received, showing the exact extent of the Russian victory.
 It must be observed that in his dis patch viceroy Alexieff does not mem tion the number of steamers the Japan csc tried to sink or drive upon the Rus sian ships and it is not yet known whether the four vessels the captain of the Retvizan observed going down. in addition to the two destroyed, were also laden with infammables or wheth- CT they were warshDs.
 The greatest praise is given to the commander of the Retvizan and the splendid action of this American built vessel places her name foremost on the roll of the Russian navy.
 Viceroy Alexieff's dispatch was an ex-