THE WAR.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11871, 19 April 1904, Page 7

THE WAR.

THE SEA FIGHT. ACCOUNT OF JAPANESE PLAN. > HOW IT WAS CARRIED OUT. RUSSIANS CAUGHT IN A TRAP. BOMBARDING PORT ARTHUR. RUSSIAN GUNS SILENCED RUMOURED JAPANESE LANDING. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received April 18th, 9.46 p.m.) LONDON, April 18. Admiral Togo, observing that the Russian fleet constantly left and re-entered Port Arthur on the same course, evidently in order to avoid her own mines, took bearings, and sent destroyers and torpedo boats, at midnight on the 12th hurt., to set several counter mines along the clear channel. The order -was executed without interference during heavy rain, the cloudy night interfering with the Russian searchlights. Next morning Admiral Dewa, commanding the unarmoured cruisers Chitose, Yosliino, Kasagi, and Takasago, decoyed the Russians into the open, fifteen mile* southeast of Port Arthur. The Bayan commenced action at nine o'clock, attacking Admiral Devra at long range. The Novik, Askold, Diana, Petropaulovsk, Pobieda, Poltava, and others soon assisting. Admiral Dewa kept tardily answering the Ru-ssian fire, at the same time retiring. I Meanwhile the first Japanese squadron, under Admiral Togo, comprising the Hatsuse, Mikasa, Shikishima, and Fuji, waited J thirty miles off, concealed in the fog, until Admiral Dewa's wireless signal to advance was received, when it dashed at lull speed for the entrance to Port Arthur. Recognising they were trapped, probably through discerning battleships on the horizon, the Russians precipitately retreated, and' were chased by the Japanese. ' The Russians reached the harbour entrance at 10.30 a..m., when the Petropaulovsk was destroyed. The whole squadron was thrown into confusion. Another ship, probably the Pobieda, touched a mine an 4 was disabled. The Russians for an hour fired wildly, mostly hitting the water. . THE LOSSES.