The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-01
JAP FLEET
AT IT AGAIN
Admiral Tagos Hammers at
Port Arthur.
RUSSIAN SHIPS ENGAGED
But Are Defeated and Forced to
Retreat in a Battered
Condition.
RUSSIAN SHIPS ENGAGED

LONDON, March Ia dispatch from
Yinkow says:
Fifteen Japanese warships furiOusly
bombarded Port Arthur from 10 until
T. o'clock noSl yesterday. The Russian
cruisers Novik, Askold and Bayan, ac
companied by four torpedo boats
steamed out to meet the attack. They
were. however forced to retire. The
Askold was in a sinking condition. The
Noyik was badly damaged, and a tor
pedo boat was sunk. The Russian bat
tleship Retyizan was again damaged
The japanese withdrew in good order"
A Tokyo report says the first shots
of the war on land have been eX
changed at Pingyang. 4 small detach-
ment of Russian infantry, evidently
scouts, appeared to the northward of
the town. The Japanese outposts open
ed fire from range Of LOO meters,
and the Russians retired.
1t is presumed that there were no
losses on account of the small number
Of men engaged and the distance sepa-
rating the opposing armies.
In northern Korea the Russians are
scouting over an extended area close to
the japanese positions, but general
engagement is not expected. to occur
for some time. as the Russian force
south of the Yalu river is inconsidera-
bic, its greatest strength seeming TO be
in the vicinity of Win. North Of the
Yalu the Russian army is constantly
increasing in numbers and is being
mobllized, but the Chances Of ii as
suming the offensive are slight.
The japanese are constantly strength
enlng their position and increasing
their forces in Korea.
A report from Iiaoyahg. Manchuria,
says that the japanese feet has re-
ceived orders TO attack and capture
Port Arthur today at all costs.
A Port Arthur dispatch says that
General Stoessel. commander Of the
garrison, has issued u general order di-
recting the attention of the troops and
, inhabitants to the fact that the Japa-
nese intend to land and seize the for
tress
The general declares the Japanese
consider the seizure of Port Arthur to
be question of national honor, and
from their obstinate attacks and bonn
bardments of the fortress and bays lie
can only conclude that the enemy will
make every effort TO capture the for
tress, failing which the Japanese will
destroy the railroad and withdraw.
| A japanese major, Togo Tazusiro,
and FIVE men, captured by Cossacks at
Win, are prisoners at Liaoyang.
The concentration Of Chinese troops
westward of Mukden. in the district of
Gubantsa, is not relished by the Rus
slams. War material is being brought
up, and the militia posts are being
strengthened. The people at several
points refuse to sell produce to the
| Russians.
Snowstorms are raging here, and the
/ frost is intense.
1t is reported from Hakodate that
Vladivostok is blockaded by japanese
vessels. During the Japanese land
| Ing operations IN Korea the Russian
warships to the north were constant
menace, and blockading them would
be the most effective means Of secur-
ing noninterference.
| II is the belief that the Japanese
have commenced important land and
sea operations against Port Arthur,
| with view to its immediate fall.
The pause in the war operations In
the far east has been broken by an
other Japanese attack on Port Arthur,
Of which only the foregoing brief ac-
count is yet to hand. This report, how
ever, shows a repetition of the now ia"
miliar tactics of Japan.
1t is presumed that this attack was
made in bad weather, previous tele-
graphic advlces having reported Sc
we're gale raging at Port Arthur AS
usual the japanese did not remain
long enough off the harbor to enable
the gunners at the forts to get their
range. Again also the same three
cruisers the Bayan, the Askold and
the Novik-came out to meet the at
tack, aud this suggests that either they
were the only effective ships there or
that the larger battleships were una
hle to get out.
The Russians are transferring the