BATTLE OF PORT ARTHUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 37, 12 February 1904, Page 5

BATTLE OF PORT ARTHUR.

A LATER ACCOUNT. WHY JAPAN DECIDED TO AITACK. LONDON, February 11. In the second light at Port Arthur, the Russian torpedo-boats gallantly' dashed for the Japanese fleet, but experienced such a terrific fire that they retreated behind the battleshis. A hall-hour's furious fighting followed, the shor? batteries ji>ming in the tiring. A shell disabled the Russian battleship Poltava almost immediately after the engagement ww eommeneed. while i a shot from a fort disabled the Russian I protected cruiser Diana. Then the Novik and the Askold. both I protected cruisers, became too venturesome, and were severely punished, and retreated seriously damaged. The Novik and Poltava were beached. The Japanese fleet are coaling at sea., and are expected shortly to return to Port Arthur. The immediate eausf of the Japanese attack on Port Arthur is made evident, in a reliable account, which spates thai a Japanese commander, disguised as a menial, accompanied the Japanese Consul, who was sent to remove tie Japanese residents from Port Arthur. He noted the exact position of the Russian ships, ana. tha- they were not under steam or watebral. He signalled to Admiral Togo, in command of the Japanese tieet. who was on his way to Chefoo. with the result that an attack was made, for which the Russians were quite unprepared. RUSSIAN MOBILISATIONQUESTION OF A COMMANDER. (Received 10.47 a.ni.i LONDON, February 11. The mobilisation of the Russian traope in Manchuria is proceeding with the utmost rapidity. The question of a rniLrtarr commaader-in-chief has not yet been'settled. The soldiers in the Russo-Manehurian towns of Dalny and Port Arthur are. however, clamouring for the appointment of the Secretary for War. General Eouropatkin.