FLEET DESTROYED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 10228, 10 December 1904, Page 3

FLEET DESTROYED.

PORT ARTHUR SHIPS SUNK. BOMBARDMENTFROM METRE HILL. • BAD OUTLOOK FOR ROZHJESTVENSKI. (Press Assn. — By Telegraph. — Copyright.) LONDON, December 9. It is officially stated' tliat the Peresviet was certainly sunk. Her condition is now similar to that of the Poltava's. The Pallada has a slight list, and! is now being hotly cannonaded. Tlie Japanese Legation announces tliat the actual state of the Russians' ships on Thursday afternoon was : — Tlie Peresviet was sunk up to the stern walk. The Poltava, Retvizan, and Pobieda were all sunk up to tine upper deck. Tlie Pallada was beetling to port. The Bayan was ablaze. The Seyastapool was lying m the east. harbor with only the masts visible. Thursday's bombardment was principally against tlie three latter vessels. General Nogi is arranging to try and prevent Russians retreating to Liaolshnn. The Times says that the Russian battleships are helpless as hulks, unable to move or fire another shot—an inglorious end). Niuchwaug reports that four Japanese battleships, three cruisers, and 10 torpedo boats were outside Port Arthur yesterday. Tlie Novoe Vreyma reports that coal from the Fuschan. mines is sufficient for the needs of an army of a .million. Metro Hill presents a terrible scene of carnage. Tlie advantfe works on the crest of the hill liave been destroyed!, and the slopes are covered with debris, the trenches being smashed. Two hundred dead Russians were found m a single trench 100 yds m length, terribly mangled by dynamite and band grenades. Fieldl-Marshal Ovama. reports thai -on the morning of the Bth the Russians were twice repulsed) at Shahopu after several hours' fighting. (Received December 10, 7.46 a.m.) ' LONDON, December 9. It is surmised at St. Petersburg that the destruction of the fleet implies a slacking resistance by the Russians. The Japanese are unable to mount siege guns at Metre Hill) if the adjoining forts are capable of exerting their whole strength. , • , It is feared tliat ammunition is failing the garrisons, and that the death agony lias begun. The Daily Telegraph's Port Arthur cor^ respondent states that the gunboats Greyak and Fusacmeck were also sunk. Only the torpedo-boats are intact. It is reported from Shanghai that since the Clunese guardship has been withdrawn the Askold is replacing her machinery and coaling, hoping to join the Baltic fleet. (Received December 10. 8.34 a.m.) General, Nogi's surviving son was killed at Metre Hill. His elder son was killed at the battle of Nanshan, and he is now childless. The torpedo transport. Amur sank at .Port Arthur. Excitement and! bewilderment prevails at St. Petersburg, at the loss of the battleships. There is an agitation to recall Admiral Rozhjestvenski's fleet, which when it arrives, will 1 be without a base, Vladivostock being frozen. (Received! December 10, 8.54 a.in.) ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 9. The Czar lias presented Generals Sakarakoff and! BiWefling with golden swords, set with brilliants, and) inscribed "For Valor." •