Japan's Success.

Hastings Standard, Volume VIII, Issue 4152, 11 February 1904, Page 3

Japan's Success.

Received February 10, 9.45 p.m. London, February 10. The Japanese adron, with lights I out, approached Port Arthur between 11 and 12 at night. A Russian despatch boat signalled their approach. The Japanese scjuadron was commanded by Vice-Admiral Togo. The cruisers Chito.se (47jKO tons-), Kasagi (5116 tons), Takaeago (1160 tons), and Yoshino (1180 tons) circled outside, drawing the Russian fire and then joined the main body, all participating in the attack on the Russian armored cruisers. The Japanese squadron consisted of two divisions. The first included the flagship Mikasa (15,200 tons), and the battlesiiip Fuii (12.320 tons, Asahi (15,200 tons). Yasiiima (12,320 tons). Shikishima (11,850 tons), Hjatsuse (15,000 tons). ai<i Tabu ma. The second comprise;! the Idsumo (9750> which is Admiral Kamimuras dajgship, Yakurno (9850 tons), As aim a (97,30 toils), and, lwate (0750 tons). Received February 10, 10.30 p.m. A Reuters message states that Admiral Alexieff telegraphs that the Japanese fleet, bombarded Port Ar-t-nur oil the 9th instant. The battleship Poltava (10,900 tons), and the cruisers Diana (6500 tons), Askold (6500 tons), and Novik tons), were damaged at the waterline. Received February 10, 10.48 .p.m. Sydney, February 10. Admiral Be a umont lias received the following cablegram from Kong Kong :—'''An English steamer which has arrived from Cliefoo states that during the uighl 0 i the Bth and SHI. the Japanese attacked the Russian battleships in Port- Arthur, and torpedoed two battleships and one cruiser, which were run ashore. An engagement took place on the morning of the 9th, four Russian ships being injured. None ai the Japanese vessels were damaged. The steamer which brought the news witnessed the engagement. An hour's engagement also took place between lie Japanese escorting wguadron and the Russian cruiser Yaryag (fiiOo tons) and the gun vessel Coreetz outside Chemulplio on the afternoon oi the 9tli. The ships named shelteicd in port. The Yaryag was placed hors-<le-com-bat and the Coreetz sank."' Received February 11, 1.5 a.m. Loi»:lon, February 10. The steamer Columbia, which has reached Chefoo, reports that while she was lying in the roadstead at Port Arthur on Monday f'.ie port was surrounded by fourteen Japanese war ships. Shortly before midnigh't those on the Columbia felt a severe shock, apparently of a torpedo explosion. The Russians immediately used sear-» chiights. and opened fire seawards for a short. time. At 1 o'clock there were more - shocks and firing recommenced. The Japanese lleet not returning, at 2 o'clock two Russian battleships and a little later a cruiser were beached across the entrance of the harbor. None of them appeared to be damaged above the waterline. There were more shocks early in the morning, then all was quiet.. Later on the forts fired on the Japanese fleet at a distance of three miles. The " Japanese returnee* the (ire, and some of their shells hit' the Russian ships and forts, which were slightly damaged. The Russian fire fell short. Later on Russian cruisers put to sea. The Japanese Vessels then disappeared, apparently unhurt, in the direction of Dalny. The it'olt ontbia s officers state 1 - that me .at- ; lacking force numbered li ships, 'tho- | ugh oniv 16 were afterwards seen oil' J PiK-hoii. consisting of (i battleships, 1 j first-class cruisers, and K others. The, t'lv.-l'O'i telegram adds that the Japanese intercepted the Russian cruiser Var>ug and the torpedo gunboat Coreetz at Chemulpho. Received February 11, 1.23 a.m. Loftlon, February 10. Admiral Alexieff telegraphed that three Russian warships have had holes knocked in them, but the degree of seriousness of the damage done lias not been ascertained, The New York Herald s correspondent telegraphs that the Russians were not expecting an attack lor se\era! days, and were keeping a poor look-out. occasionally using searchlights. Three -torpedo boats were patrolling, the outskirts of the ft'eet lying in the open roadstead. All other torpedo boats were inside 4ho basin. At ? 1 >'» i».:n. t.iree muilled txplosi' us were heard. aiani.ng the lleet and mu.-iiig a display „f si.,rcii-h-hts. A hot. nriei Jire coi'ina-i^vd. A little later the Reivisau and TsareMti-h. two of the most powerful battleships, and the first-class cruiser Palladia, .intended to destroy Japanese commerce. tried to enter tlu" harbor. The Retvi.san was torpedoed forward. «uil the Tsarevitcb ait