The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-30

the Russian Aeot On June - made its first
attempt 70 break through the blockading
line and get away. Six battlaships, i've
cruisers and fourteen deatroyers sailed out
Of tho harbor in the early morning. They
found the enemy waiting, and after short
engagement were forced to put back
for safety under the guns Of the fortress.
Tho battleship Peresviet was sunk. the
Sevastopol badly damaged and the cruiser
Diana torn by she'll that struck amid
ships.
Tho next attempt was moro successful.
On Aug. II the remaining ships Of the feet
again sailed out. The Bayan, which was
leading, struck . mine and was 90 badly
damaged that She had to put back. The
battleship Tsarevitoh, next In line, became
the target for Japanese shells. Admiral
Wittsoeft was struck by one and beheaded.
The ship was badly damaged but man
aged to escape and reach Tsingtau. the
port Of the German Chinese concession Of
Kiaochau. The cruisers Askold and Novs
also stopped there but continued next
day to the southwark. The Askold stopped
at Shanghai. The Novik kept on In an at
tempt to reach vladivostok. but after a
notable trip was sunk of Sakhaln Island
Dy hAmtmuras squadron.
Several torpedo boat destroyers also
reached Chinese ports. One, the Retshi-
telny, took refuge In Chefoo harbor and
disarmed, as the others had done, to secure
tho protection Of a neutral government.
The Japanese, however, in this case took
decisive action. They followed the Ret
shitelny into port, sent a boarding party to
search her. and after fight with her officers
| and crew towed her away to Japan. For
this action Japan received general criticism.
About this time the Vladvostok squad
ron made another OF its raids. Admiral
Kamimura, who had been severely criti-
cized at home for failing to catch and en-
gage them in battle on previous occasions,
was more successful now. On the morning
Of Aug. IA he overhauled the cruisers Rurik,
Rossia and Gromovoi north Of Tsu Shima
Island. After five hour battle he sank the
Rurik and sent the other two ships back to
Vladivostok in damaged condition.
SURRENDER OF PORT ARTHUR.
Gen. Nogi was now in charge OF the land
siege Of Port Arthur. He had served with
Field Marshal Oyama when the Japanese
captured the fortress from the Chinese
and was we'll fitted for the work. His forces
had been slowly closing in since the occu-
patton Of Dalny, but against the stubborn
resistance Of the Russians, fighting bravely
behind their strong defences. 1t was deadly
work. Even the capture Of the outer works
proved costly to the besiegers. Hundreds
were killed in groups by the explosion
OF land mines over which they charged to
reach the entertainments. Many more
died trying to hold captured positions
~ - - s,t,
forts still held by the Russians. At times
the troops came to hand-to-hand conflict,
and Russian and Japanese dead were
piled up together in the trenches. After
i've months Of this sort Of fighting it be-
came plain that the Japanese had under
taken an enormous task and that the skill
OF the Russian engineers who planned the
defences Of a naturally strong position
was Of high order.
But II human life alone was to be the
price OF taking Port Arthur the Japanese
were ready to pay in full. They continued
to press on, charging where there seemed
chances Of success and building trenches
and tunnels to approach the stronger posi-
tions. 1t was not until Nov. 20 that the
strong inner line OF forts was actually
pierced. On that day the japanese
captured 2O3 Metre Hill, one OF the western
forts. from which their big guns could
sweep the new town and the harbor. Shells
were soon dropping on the remnant OF
the war fleet in the harbor and the big
ships were rendered useless.
On Dec. 10 the important eastern forts
Of Sungshushan and Kikwanshan were
captured, breaches having been made by
explosives planted in tunnels made by the
beeiegers. Ten days later Birmingham
fort fell, and this was the end. On the
first day Of the new year Gen. Stoessel
sent his notice Of surrender to Gen. Nogi,
saying: Further resistance is useless"
Commissioners met between the lines
next day and quickly agreed on terms
Officers were allowed to retain their side
arms and to 60 home II they gave parole
not to take further part in the war. Many
Of them refused and went to Japan as pris-
oners with the troops. The number Of
prisoners transferred was 24.soe. All Gov
eminent property at Port Arthur was
turned over to the japanese. The cap
tured guns numbered sac. The ships in
the harbor had been sunk previous to sur
render, but some OF them have been raised
and repaired. Others will be recovered.
Con. Stoessel declared that the surrender
was due partly to the exhaustion Of the
troops and the inability to care for the
many sick and wounded Ammunition
Was also getting scarce. The garrison
had not suffered as much as had been re-
ported from lack Of food, except fresh
meat. Horse flesh had been eaten. News
from tho outside world had not been re-
oeived for some time. The garrison did not
know Of Gen. Kuropatkin's decisive defeat
at Laoyang, and still hoped for relief from
him or the Baltic feet. which they knew
had started for the Far East.
WHEN THE BALTIC FLEET FIRED ON BRITISH
SHIPS.
This Baltic feet developed new phase
OF the war during October. Starting for
the Far East, with fear that they would be
attacked early in the trip by Japanese war
ships, the commanders became panic
stricken In the North Sea and fired on a
feet Of British fishing boats. sinking one
and killing several. men. Great Britain
made prompt demands for apology and
PREPARATION. The Russian officers declared
that Japanese torpedo boats were with