How Port Arthur was Attacked.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7790, 15 March 1904, Page 5

How Port Arthur was Attacked.

last Thursday Morning

Japanese Account of the Fight

SYDNEY, March 14

The Japanese Consul has received the following official report of Admiral Togo's attack on the 10th inst. :—

" Our destroyer squadron which attacked Port Arthur consisted of two divisions, which reached the outside port about midnight on the 9th. There were no signs oj; tho enemy at dawn on the 10th. " Division 'B,' notwithstanding prompt attacks from the forts, succeeded in placing several special mechanical mines in the vicinity without receiving any damage. " Division 'A' encountered six of the enemy* destroyers south cl" Laoteshan. " There was severe fighting If or .about twenty minutes. The A/ashima, Kasumi, and the Akatsuvi got close enough to the enemy's ships to touch ' them and made a furious attack. The enemy received great damage, some of the vessels having their engines destroyed while others took fire. " They then retreated. " Our ships received more or less damage,, the casualties being '• — Killed, seven non-commissioned officers ; wounded, Lieut. Minamisawa and eight others. " The auxiliary steam pipe of the Akatsuki was destroyed and four firemen were killed on the spot, but all our siMps are still 'fit for navigation and service. '•'At 7 a.m. .division '■ B,' whioh was retiring outside the port to get two of the enemies' destroyers, which-wore malting for the harbour, attacked them and prevented them entering. One narrowly escaped hut the" other, the St.-Reguschtchin, was disabled and captured by the Sazanmi. An- attempt was made to tow her, but she was leaking so fast and the sea wasfso rough that the tow-lirre was cut. The Sazanami took the prisoners aboard and abandoned the prize, which sank.

"Tbe damage to the ' B ' division was slight. Two men were killed, and Second Lieutariaint Shima- and three others were wounded. During the engagemant the Russian ships Novik a»d Bayan cam? out of the harbour and pro-

ceesied towards division. B, but seeing our cruisers -approaching-they retreated inside the 'harbour.

•" At 8 a.m. our main. squadron and the cruiser squadron proceeded outside the port.

j " Thdn the cruiser squadron made for «ie enti-anco to protect the ""•stroyers, while the main 'Squadron, steamed to the tvicinity of Laoteshan, and kept up a continuqus fire on the enemy's forts from 10. a.m. to 1.40 p.m. ' " The enemy's batteries responded now and then, but without inflicting $he slightest damage on our ships. A detachment of cruisers went outside Talien Bay and attacked and destroyed the enemy's l'orts on the Sanzants Island."

LONDON, March 13. Admiral Togo's account of the bombardment of Port Arthur on the 10th is similar to that ?oi--warded to the Japanese Consul at bydnoy.

He adds, however, that the cruisers bombarded ;the fortress ,of Sainshantoo, near Palmy, a nd destroyed some buildings.