Port Arthur Again.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6206, 29 February 1904, Page 2

Port Arthur Again.

Japan's Official Reports*

Russian Statements.

Torpedo Boat Skirmisfces.

London, Feh 2?

Official reports from Tokio state that their own crews blew up the transports. One sank below the lighthouse,, another outside the lighthouse, and three- others side by side at Fort LiaotiHill. The accompanying torpedo destroyers saved-all the crews of the transports*

On the night of February 24th matters remained quiet. On February 25 the main fleet discovered the Russian cruisers Bayan, Novik, and Askold outside Port Arthur. The Japanese bombarded them with heavy guns, and drove them into the harbour in half an hour, thus showing that the entrance was not blocked. The Japanese then bombarded the inner port for a quarter of an hour, causing immense columns off smoke, to rise. , •

Japanese cruisers pursued two Russian torpedo destroyers, and sank one in Pijeyn Bay. The Japanese ships escaped without damage, and did not lose a single man, Admiral A lexieff reports that after tie moon sec in the early morning, on February 25, the battleship Retvizan repelled several attacks of torpedo boats, two of which ar« believed to have been sunk in open sea. The Russian torpedo boats pursued the flotilla until they sighted the Japanese squadron, whereupon the Diana, Askold and Novik left the harbour to escort, the torpedoboats home. Admiral Alexieff adds that the Japanese shells mostly fell short. He states also that eight torpedo boats, with seventeen warships, were engaged in the attack, and twelve torpedo boats assisted in the iattempt to block the entrance to Port Arthur.