Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-04-01
JAPSTRYAGA|AfOR REPORT |
RUSSIANS SINK SEVERAL OF JAP.
ANEsE MERCHANT SHIPS.
Two of Their Fire Ships Grounded
Harbor Is still Clear-One Russian
Torpedo Boat Said to Have Been
Sunk, but May Be Refloated-Togo's
Squadron Retires.

St. Petersburg. March 2S.-An Of
fetal dispatch from Port Arthur to the
emperor says that at l o'clock a. m.
the Russian searchltghts made out
four large merchant steamers making
for the entrance of .the, harbor. sup
ported by six torpedo toats. A heavy
fire was opened on them by the batter
les and some warships. The torpedo
boat Stilni, commanded by Lieutenant
Krinzki, turned the merchant vessels
from their course by blowing up the
prov of the first and then boldly at
lacking the enemy's torpedo boats. In
the fierce fight which followed Chief
Engineer Swyereff of the Stilni and six
marines we're killed and the command.
er and - men were injured. The Jap:
anese plan to block up the entrance to
Port Arthur was frustrated and the
channel is still Gear.
Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding
the Russian naval forces at Port
Arthur, has sent the followimng tele.
gram to the czar:
81 beg most humbly to report that
the enemy has made second attempt
to block the entrance to the inner road.
stead. For this purpose they dispatch
ed four large merchant steamers, con-
voyed by six torpedo boats to the en-
trance. The enemy's ships were
promptly discovered by the search
lights and were bombarded by the bat
teries anu by lie guardships Bohr and
Otvajey.
Fearing that the enemy might break
through, Lieutenant Krinzki, command
ing the guard torpedo boat Stilni, at
tackled the enemy and destroyed the
bow of the foremost Japanese steamer
with torpedo. This steamer turned
to the right and was followed by two
others, with the result that the three
were stranded to the right of the en-
trance. "A fourth steamer went to,the
side of the taiJway. The Stilni then
battled with lne enemy's six torpedo
boats. Engineer Artlncer Swyeren
and six seamen were killed and the
commander and IL seamen wounded
At daybreak the enemy's battlesnAp
and cruiser squadron appeared and
proceeded with the fleet under my
charge to meet the enemy.
1.-THE second attempt of the Japan
ese to block the entrance to Port ar
thur has failed, thanks to the ener-
Jofo h1t hn on6 land
forces, who acted as they did during
the first attempt.
1.-THE harbor remains perfectly
clear.'
1t is stated that one Russian tor
pedo boat was sunk in the en-
gagement, but it is thought the vessel
can be relocated.
In an official dispatch General Smir-
neff at Port Arthur tells Of the second
appearance of the Japanese squadron,
the Russian squadron going out to
meet it and the japanese retiring.
"a Hotchkiss one inch caliber quick
firer was found aboard one of the
sunken steamers, from which a fire
had been kept up on our torpedo
boats" said the general, telegraphing
the result of the first engagement. "A
boat left each of the sunken ships,
carrying their crews. One of these Is
believed to have been picked up. To
wards 4 o'clock this morning the en-
emy's torpedo Doats retired and the
bombardment ceased.
"Vice admiral Makaroff at once pro-
ceeded in steam launch to inspect the
enemy's sunken steamers. The en-
emy's torpedo boats reappeared at b
o'clock this morning. They were sight
ed south of fort arthur and the bat
teries reopened on them. Towards
5 O'Clock the enemys squadron ap-
peared on the horizon and our ships
steamed out to meet it. At $3.50 the
batteries opened fire. Our ships bat
teries soon ceased, the Japanese draw
ing off to the soutneast, evldently de-
clining another engagement. At 10
o'clock they disappeared"