Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-02-12

night attack with torpedoes the ia
panese had damaged the Russian bat
tleships, Retvisan and Czarevitch, and
the cruiser Pallada- Later the viceroy
reported that two officers had been
wounded in the fleet, and that nine
men had been killed and Al wounded
One man had been killed on the shore
batteries and three had been wounded.
There were holes in the battleships
Poltavo and the cruiser Novik.
While the fighting was going on at
Port Arthur as described, a Japanese
fleet came upon two Russian vessels
in the harbor Of Chemulpo. Ihey
were the Koveitz and the Variag.
The Japanese admiral sent word to the
Russians that he would give them a
certain time In which to come out ana
fight, else he would come into the har-
Dor after them. The Russians came
out and a fierce battle ensued. The
Russian ships got the worst Of the Sit
uation, and took refuge among the
adjoining islands. The battle was re-
sumed on Tuesday morning and even
tuated in the blowing up Of the koreitz
and the sinking Of the Variag. The
Variag was one Of Russia's most ef-
fective fighting ships and the Koreitz
was considered to be peculiarly DAN
gerous adversary.
The crews Of the two ships strug-
gled in the water until most of them
were picked up by the French cruiser
Paschal, which witnessed the terrific
battle. The Koreitz. it seems was
blown up as the result Of the explosion
of a shell in her magazine, and the
Variag went down as the result or
terrific battering that was received on
her gun turrets, and damage inflicted
on her steering gear.
During Wednesday, the japanese
captured three Russian transports
loaded with 1000 soldiers. The pris-
oners were taken to Chemulpo.
It cannot be said that the great mass
Of the Russian people were very much
interested in the quarrel with Japan
before Monday. The Russian idea was
to quit quarreling and leave the situa-
ton to develop. in the hope and belief
that Japan would not attack. The
news of the affair at Port Arthur
seems to have astonished the whole
nation. The people are indignant al
what they are pleased to characterize
the treachery of the japanese, and
their patriotism has been aroused to
high pitch. 1t Is said that the Rus
sian people, even to the poor classes,
are disposed to give officers and SOL
diers anything they want without
charge. and all able e-bodied people are
anxious to get to the front and have
show at the impudent Asiatics, VINO
have presumed to attack Imperial
Russia. e.
The Japanese are wild with enthu-
siasm over their successes Of the first
twenty-four hours, and the whole ma
ton seems to be heart and soul In the
bloody business it has in hand. They
were claiming on Wednesday that up
to that time not single Japanese SOL
dier or sailor had been hurt.
The dispatches published this morn
ing give additional information as to
the situation in and around Port Ar
thur. It seems that the operations de-
scribed above were the beginning OF
combined naval and land attack on
this stronghold. After the fighting OF
Monday and Tuesday, the Russian
ships all retired into the harbor, and
the Japanese fleet took up position
outside. Japanese raiders, disguised
as Cinnamon, made their way around
Port Arthur and blew up the railroad
bridge that connects the city with the
mainland. Some thirty or more Rus
slams were killed by the explosion. Al
ter the destruction of the bridge, the
japanese army sought to effect land
ing behind the city, with view to at
tacking the Russians in the rear and
driving their ships out to sea, where
they could be gotten at by the Japan
ese fleet. The attempted landing fall
ed, however, the Japs being repulsed
with great slaughter, after they had
inflicted about equal damage on the
Russians. When the Japanese retired
they decided to make another effort to
effect landing higher up, but the re-
suit has not yet been made known.
1t Is understood that both the Rus
slams and Japs have large armies IN
Korea, and the first important land
engagement is expected to take place
there within the next day or two. II 1t
has not already occurred.
The Latest.
BY Telegraph to The Enquirer.
CHARLOTTE, Feb. IL, Las p. m.-There
has been no fresh war news up to this
hour. The reports received simply
give additional particulars Of the first
fight. The number of men killed on
the Russian cruiser Variag, which was
sunk by the Japanese few days ago.
was about 200.
EVENING CHRONICLE.