The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-04
New Attempt Was on Gtandet Scale Than Any HeretO-
 fore Attempted
TEN FIRE SHIPS WERE
 SENT TOWARD TIE HARBOR
Torpedo Boats Were Backed Up By the Japanese Fleet in the Dis tance-Port Arthur
 Was Quiet.

Port Arthur May 3.-Another vicious attempt was made by the Japanese this morning to block the entrance to Port Arthur. At few minutes before o'clock the first shots were fired, awalS- ening the town with their thunderous noise The gunboats lying at the mouth of the harbor, joined in the cannonade of the batteries, the firing gradually in- creasing in volume until there was a con- tinuous crash of great guns
 Some of the enemys torpedo boats were discovered, but they were finally swallowed up in the darkness and tho batteries and warships after forty min- utes activity, were again shrouded in gloom, though the flashing searchlighs showed that the military was alive to the warning conveyed of the approach of the Japanese ships. Shortly before o'clock searchlght played from the, sea directly upon the entrance of tho harbor lighting 1t up 10 show the way for the t1reships. The Projector moved to the right from Liao 1ishan to Golden Hill. For quarter of an hour the light was watched with curiosity. and then second cannonade began, the heaviest fire being directed to the left of Golden Hill where the freshps were located.
 At about 1 o'clock the batteries ceased firing save for an occasional shot
 Strike Russian Torpedoes.
 Just about dawn the bark of the rapid fire guns an the cracking of the mftrail- leuse was heard from Golden Hili. ttcA casionally. there were sounds of explosi- ons as of mines going off. It was the enemys ships striking Russian torpedoes At this hour a magnificent sea picture was formed by the soft light of the wan ing moon, the orange flashes of the guns, the signal rockets and the several fires on the sea which would alternately light up and die out. The ships were ten in number and of about 5000 tons each. It Is said that two Japanese tropedo boats were sunk. the remainder withdrawing in a damaged condition.
 Eight fireships were sunk and very few of their crews were saved. Most of them were killed.
 In morning many dead bodies were seen floating about the harbor. These were col lected by the Russians who brought them ashore and buried them.
 The vigilance of the men in the watch towers and on the gunboats was astonishing. To their keen eyes was due the prompt sighting of the enemy.
 On Much Grander Scale.
 
 This new attempt of the Japanese was on a much grander scale than any here tofore made, but the moonlight aided in the discomforture of the discovered enemy
 The Japanese attacked brilliantly, with out seeming to notice the murderous fire directed at them. The Russians captured two officers and thirty men
 II is reported that twelve ships had been prepared by the Japanese, Dut Tor some unknown reason two of them never att tempted to approach the entrance. l. is stated that the crews of the hreships in- cuded number of Japanese cadets. who showed extraordinary bravery. especially when the ships were sinking. Several of the crew sat on the topmasts firing re- volvers and then plunged Into the sea It is believed that none of the cadets were saved. The attempt to close the mouth of the harbor failed.