Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-27
The Port Arthur Channel.

promontorieS known as Golden Hill and
Man-tou- shan. on both of which are for
midable Notifications The actual channel
used by vessels drawing twenty-five feet of
water or more is about 500 yards wide. and
al a matter of protection. the Russians have
anchored booms projecting from either
shore, leaving a very narrow passage On
both sides of the booms mines are an
chored and so as to obstruct the entrance
of an enemy from the outside. The first at
tempt as l have said, was a failure, and
the five vessels were scuttled and sunk out
side of the passage The second attempt
was more successful, but still left portion
Of the channel clear. The third attempt was
completely successful. Three steamers the
Yedo Q.724 tons), the O6aru (2.547 tons)
and the Sagami Q.926 tons). were sunk in
such way to close the entrance en-
tirely to vessels of heavy draft. Torpedo
boats and deStroyerS drawing not more
than twelve fourteen feet have been able
to pass in and out, but 1t took three months
of blasting to clear way for cruisers and
battle ships Even then they had to be
navgated with the greatest care along a
channel marked with buoys, and could not
pass in the night
The success of the third attempt was the
more remarkable because it was made in
gale of wind. The sea was so heavy that
an open boat could scarcely survive, which
IS doubtless one reason for the large NOR
tslity and the weather was so thick that
the commanders of the cooperating vessels
other.
Stories Of Heroism.
The Yedo, Odara and Sagami lie side by
side bows pointing In. at the very center
of the channel. at the exact place named
in the instructions to their comma nders,
where they were coolly scuttled by their
own crews. The Totami. which was lead
ing the squadron, passed In between the
booms. struck contact mine and sank
broa6sde across the channel. just beyond
the narrowest part. The Mikawa went by
her and was blown up by her own crew
most of whom escaped. She went down
lengthwise almost In the center of the
channel. The Asagao was disabled by the
guns of the Russian Notifications and
drifted aground before reaching the en-
| trance. The Sakura struck an electric SUBJ
marine mine before reaching the narrow
place. and every soul on bOard-Commander
Shiraishi and nineteen men-were lost
While the Yedo was backing and filling
| In order to find the exact position where
| she was to be sunk. as indicated on the
chart, she was hit by shell from a fort
| on Golden Hill. which killed her command
er. Lieut.. Takayagi. Sublieut. Nogata
| boy twenty years old. took command. and
| under torrent of shot and shell from for
| titications on both sides of the channel he
proceeded to carry out his orders as cOoily
| rs III he were maneuvering In peaceful
harbor He held In his hand the chart
which had fallen from the grasp of his su-
| perior officer. whose mangled body lay at
| his feet. and gave orders to the helmsman
| and the engineer. When he had found his
| place he ordered the anchor to be dropped
| scuttled his ship. took to his boats and
| managed to reach torpedo boat which
was lying for the purpose of rescue In the
| darkness outside. He brought In all Of his
| men but two, one of them being his COM
mander. and twelve of the eighteen were
uninjured. 1t was a miraculous escape.
The Odara and Sagami were sunk In the
same way at the same time alongside of
/ the Yedo but hOar h0th Of
| them was lost Some of them are supposed
to have reached the land, and from rumOrs
| brought out by Chinese coolies from Port
4 Arthur 1t Is believed that they fought their
4 oaptors until they themselves were killed.
/ There have been several accounts from
Russian authorities and from refugees but
I they diner In important particulars.
The Aikoku. like the 6akura. struck q