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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-04-08, Page 2Russians Sink Four Japanese Fireships® Russian Fleet Searches for Togo's Base of Supplies. I 'A St. Petersburg cable says: Under cover of darkness early to -day Vice- ! Admiral Togo made another desperate I, attempt to bottle up the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, but he failed again, and when after daylight Vice -Admiral Mak- 4 aroff steamed out to give battle the ' Japanese commander refused the chal- lenge and sailed. away. The Japanese practically repeated the • tactics of Feb. 24, by sending in four • ships, preceded by a torpedo flotilla, with the execption that the fire ships this time were armed with Hotchkiss guns for the purpose of keeping off the Russian torpedo boat destroyers. The enemy's attempt was discovered by means of shore searchlights, and a heavy fire was opened from the bat- teries and from two gunboats, which were guarding the entrance to the har- bor. The Russian torpedo-boat destroyer Silni.was outside on scouting duty, and to the dash and nerve of her com- mander, Lieut. Iirinizski, is chiefly due the complete defeat of the plans of the Japanese. He at once made straight for the oncoming ships, under a hail of fire from the Hotchkiss guns, and torpedoed the leading ship, which sheered off, followed by the others, three of them being piled up on shore, under Golden Hill, and one under the lighthouse. The Silni engaged the en- tire six torpedo boats of the enemy, coning out of a terrific fight with seven men killed and her commander and twelve other of her complement wounded. On the Japanese side only one boat's crew was saved. In addition —according to unofficial reports—it is believed that the -Japanese lost two tor- - pedo boats. The Japanese cruisers. which sup- ported the attack, exchanged shots with the batteries, and drew off after Vice -Admiral Makaroff took a steam laumch and examined the fire ships. Togo's fleet, canoe up from a; southern An hour later the Japanese torpedo- boat flotilla, followed. by Vice -Admiral L -erection. Just at daybreak, Vice -Admiral Mak- aroff, with his fleet, sailed out to engage the enemy, but after the ships and bat- teries had fired a few long distance shots 'vice Acheiral Togo decided to decline the Issue, and disappeared to the southward. Tho new, of the repulse of Vice -Ad- miral Togo's second attempt to block the harbor of Port .Arthur created much rejoicing in the Russian capital, ,and. among all classes the gallantry of the Silni and her conmurnder is given High praise; but, above all, the moral effect of Vice -Admiral Makaroff's willingness to engage the enemy, showing that he considered himself sarong enough to fight, produced a splendid impression. In high official circles this new effort to bottle up the Russian ileet is looked upon as meaning one thing, namely, that the Japanese, as stated some days ago, are preparing for a heavy landing of troops in the Gulf of Liao -Mang, either at New-Chwang or on the west eoast of the Manchurian neutral zone, to effect which in safety the immobility of Viee- Admiral Makaroff's fleet is absolutely essential while the transports are benig convoyed around the southern end of the peninsula. If the attempt to -clay had suc- ceeded it would have required several days at least to blow up the steamers and clear away the wreckage, during which time the Japanese would be assur- ed of non-interference in the carrying out of their purpose. The failure of the Jap- anese this morning may seriously hamp- er their plans, as the ice in the Liao Riv- er is going out, and when the river is free from ice, its mouth can easily be mined. The conviction continues to grow here that the Japanese have concluded that it is impossible to make an indirect frontal attack on Manchuria from Corea against the whole Russian army, and that it would be ,necessary to land a flanking column in the Gulf of Liao - Tung to divide the attention of the Russians, and if possiole to seize the railroad and rut off Port Arthur. The ground above New-Chwaug is perfectly familiar to the Japanese, who occupied it for a year during the Chino; Jaianes$ war. Some experts even go so far as t o express the belief that Vice -Admiral Torso was covering the movement of transports in the Gulf of Liao -Tung this morning*, and that, therefore, he was compelled to exercise great cau- tion and to decline the Russian offer of an engagement.. Another view of the Japanese 'G ice- Admiral's purpose which is less entertained, is he be- lieves that bombardments from Pigeon Bay would be disastrous to the Rus- sian fleet if it were compelled to re- main in the harbor, he having aseer- tained from observation that the Bus- sian ships always pass out during the ]nigh angle bombardments, and that a big shell aclropped on a battleship could easily pierce the, deck, and, explodiiitg, might co troy it. OFFICIAL eletelv sREPORTS. Story of the Attempt as Told in Rus- sian Bulletins. Ste Petersburg cable: The follow - lowing official despatch has been re- ceived from (3en. Smyrnef1: - Y"Port Arthur, March 27. --Last •night After moonrise the Japanese attempted to block the entrance to the harbor. "Font fire ships were sent toward the port, conveyed by a torpedo flotilla. Toward 2.15 the approach of the en- emy's ships was perceived by the guardships and batteries, which simul- taneously opened tipon thein heavily. "The fire ships were preceded by tor, pedo boats, and were followed at a con- siderable distance by larger ships, which opened on the forts, supporting the ac- tion of the fire ships and torpedo boats, "Owing to the heaviness of our artil- lery fire and the boldness of our torpedo boats, the fire ships did not reach the entrance of the barber. Two of them grounded on a reef under Golden Hill, another sank behind the first turn of the channel, struck by a torpedo from our boats, and the fourth sank, its bows touching a Japanese steamer sunk in the previous attempt off Majatschnaja Dor- oda "The entrance to the harbor remains clear. "A Hotchkiss one -inch calibre quick - firer was found aboard one of the sunk steamers, from which a fire had been kept up on Torpedo boats. "A boat left each of the sunken ships, carrying their crews. One of these is be- lieved to have been picked. up. "Towards 4 a. in., the enemy's torpedo boats retired, and the bombardment ceased. Vice -Admiral Makaroff at once pro- ceeded iu a steam launch to inspect the .enemy's sunken steamers. "The enemy's torpedo boats reappear- ed at 5 o'clock this morning. They were sighted south of Port Arthur, and the batteries reopened on then]. Toward 6 o'clock the enemy's squadron appeared on the horizon, and ours steamed out to meet it. At 0.30 the batteries opened fire. Our ships' batteries son ceased, the Jap- anese drawing off to the southeast, evi- dently declining an engagement. At 10 o'clock they disappeared below the hori- zon.'" Vice -Admiral Makaroff, commanding the Rnsi ui naval foi ces at.. Port Ar- thur, has sent tire following telegram to the Emperor: "1 beg most hninbly to report that at 2 o'clock this morning the enemy made a second attempt to block the en- trance to the inner roadstead. For this purpose they despatched four large i erehant steamers. convoyed by . six 'torpedo boats, to the entrance. "The enemy's ships were promptly discovered by the searchlights, and were bombarded by the batteries. and by the guardships Bohr` and Otv tiny. Fear- ing the enemy's ships ruiglit break through, Lieut. hrinizki, commanding the guard torpedo boat Stilni, ati asked the enemy and destroyed the bow of the foremost Japanese steamer with a torpedo. This steamer turned to the right and was followed by two others. with the result that the three 'were' stranded to the right of the entrance. A fourth steamer went to the right of the enemy's ships. and likewise sank to the side of the fair way. The `tihii Hien battled with the enemy's six tor- pedo boats. Engineer Artificer Swyer - elf and •six seamen were killed, and the commander acid twelve seamen were wounded. "..1t daybreak the enemy's battleship and eruiser squadrons appeared. and I proceeded with the fleetendear my charge to -uect the enemy. "The second attempt of the .Tapanese to block the entrance: to Port Arthur has £ailed, thanks to the energeti defence by sea ami land forces, who acted as they diel during the first at- tempt. "The herbor remains perfectly clear,': A further telegram to the Emperor, from Vice -Admiral Makaroff, says: "I respectfully report that the en- emy, haying withdrawn, I returned to the harbor with the fleet. "The torpedo-boat destroyer Sitni, which stranded on a reef, in consequence of damage caused to her engines by one of the enemy's shells. was floated "dur- ing the course of the night. and entered the harbor, thanks to the energy of her crew. Her commander, Lieut. ].rinizki, who was slightly ]wounded in the arm, did not quit his post. "On the fire ships were infernal ma chines, the wires connected with which were cut by Lieut. Kedroff and Ensign Pilsoudsky; of the irregulars, whom '1 despatched on this task. They bombard- ed one of the steamers as soon as it stopped, cut the electric wire, and ex- tinguished the fire, which would have lit up the entrance of the harbor to the ene- my in the roadstead. "In the morning a floating .mine was found bearing an infernal machine, but the latter was successfully removed. "Inspection made showed that the steamers utilized as fire ships were not old. They were each of about 2.000 tons, and they were armed with light calibre guns." Ale ieff's Report. Vice -Admiral Alcxicff, in a report to the Emperor from 1'fukden, says: BEAUTIFUL FREE Wf1TON WITH CHAIN AND rHARN1 Arun FOR SELLING a a�s®'BLUING It costs yon nothing to own this ndeome,gttamnteod'tntcti,with nu els rt, gold antshedebnin and Phalle his watch has aanesaver 11 Ached nickel naso American movement, strong and wen made. uatantoed Every Watch ti You else become it eintestnnt for our extra Cash Prizes, the 1st of whtchis010.00. wrlieatonce and we will moil you 'postpaid 20 n0k- ages of Marvel ft asiling Glue, the grant washday help, to sell at 10 Conti n Voltage, Wo send ktlnd sumo Gold -finished Semi' Ping and ' ilrooclies to give away With ,the B1 ting. Orn ry Ludy nootln bhang, 1Vher sold telturti us the money, 112.00 anti we will imfnedinicly for- - ward eel theavace, and mot ands ,gym r1'CP, 0100 a catfh r i teat i'OA1 we take book. all Tel cunt sell 'Write ow, Address. WOcII Deep sea mono co. "During an attack by the enemy's ships on March 27, on the torpedo boat Salm, one of the :latter's steam piles and her steering gear•, were damaged, in con- segnence-of which she was beached near Golden Hill, but since then she has been refloated. The number of men killed and wounded on the torpedo boat has not yet been learned. • "Shortly before 2.45 this mornnig the enemy's torpedo boats were sighted to the south of Port Arthur, and the bat- teries opened fire upon them. Towards 6 o'clock the enemy's squadron appeared on the horizon. Thirty batteries pn the Tiger Peninsula opened fire, and our fleet steamed oat of the harbor, the Bayan and the Askold leading, and also fired at the enemy. Our fire, however, ceased im- mediately, in view of the great distance of the enemy'stsanadron. "At 9.15 o'clock our entire squadron lined up in the roadstead. The Japan- ese squadron: drew off in a south- easterly direction, evidently in order to avoid giving battle, end towards 10 o'clock it disappeared below the hori- zon." ori- zoll " 1 • SAW RUSSIAN SQUADRON. London Times Man Also Encountered Japanese Fleet. • London cable: A wireless des- patch from the Times' steamer, dated off Port Arthur, 213th, and transmitted by wireless telegraph to Wei-HaieWei, says that while the vessel was steer- ing towards Chefoo on Saturday morning she sighted five Russian bat- tleships and cruisers just uorth of Hwangj-Ching-Taus and island thirty. miles southwest of Port Arthur, They, were steaming toward Port Arthur. The exposed flank of the squadron was protected by a flotilla of torpedo-boat destroyers in line, The Ruseians, ac- cording to the correspondent, are evi- dently patrolling the entrance to the Gulf of Pechili systematically. An- other despatch to the Times, dated at sea, March 27, says that the Times' steamer picked up tee Japanese fleet after the attack on Sunday morning in two divisions, with a flotilla of torpedo boats, twenty miles southeast of Port Arthnr. They were steaming slowly to the eastward. The fleet overhauled the steamer, and a close examination with glasses showed no effects of hard usage. Comparing the fleets. the correspon- dent says that the Russians, are using Japanese coal, and the smoke from their warships can he seen fifteen or twenty miles away. The .Tapanese are burning Welsh coal, which snakes very little smoke. FLEET LEFT PORT ARTHUR. Russians Cruised the Neighborhood. for Japanese Base. St. Petersburg cable: The Emper- or has received the following telegram from Vice-Adniir l Mnlcarotf, under date of Port Arthur. Moat lat: '•I have the honor to report to your Majesty that 1. left Port Arthur to -day with battleships, cruisers and torpedo bents, in order to make a reconnaissance of some adjacent islands;" For the first time since the war began the Russian squadron left Port Arthur and the protection of its guns. The pub- lished statement. announces that the ob- ject of \ire -Admiral Makaroff was to examine several neighboring islands, There Rae been considerable doubt ns to where the Japanese fleet maintains its base. The admiralty had found by a close consideration of the reports of the appearance of the .Tapanese fleet off Port Arthur and elsewhere, that no sufficient time had elapsed for it to reach Japan, or even Corea. and therefore it was con- cluded that the Japanese must have a base in the vieinity of the Russian fort- ress, perhaps in neutral Chinese terri- tory, which would be a violation of the pledge of the powers. It was also sug- gested that the Elliott islands, 50 miles northeast of Port Arthur, might be the location of the Japanese base, and this group Vice -Admiral Makaroff is believed to have examined. The fact that no bom- bardment was reported indicates that the Russians slid not find the enemy's base, and the search for it will probably be continued until it is crowned with suc- cess- Satisfnction is expressed with Vice - Admiral Makarofl's daring. not only be- cause it - has established the fact `that the Itusian fleet is intact, save for the battleship ('xare'itoch, and is ready to fight, if necessary, but also because it is certain to encourage the personnel of the Russian forces, and cause the Japan- ese to believe that the Russians may not, after all, remain on the defensive..While the •]apauese fleet. is reported to be off Chefoo, there is no question but that Vice -Admiral Togo will keep Bort Arthur under observation, and that his cruisers, as fast as possible, will communicate to liitn news of the departure end return of the Russian fleet cad. its strength. The authorities approve .Vice -Admi- ral Mak-aroff's iuwestigation in force, but it is assumed by then'. that he will not depart from the plan to preserve his command in full strength until the Baltic squadron arrives. ICE ON BAII{AL SOFTENING. Temporary Railroad Across the' Lake Must Soon be Abandoned. Paris cable: The correspondent at St. Petersburg of the I'lekio de Paris has had art interview with Oen. Ivanoff, an assistant of Prince Khilkoff, who is re- turning to St. Petersburg, after having seen that the construction of the railroad around Lake Baikal is in such shape that he can relinquish personal supervision of it. Gen. Dranofl' says that the sun's heat, despite the low temperature, is affecting the surface of the ice on Lake Baikal, and that consequently the rails of the railroad will soon be removed and sledge transportation resumed until the ferry capable of bearing a whole train is able , to work, with the asistance of the ice Address breakers, which will be the early part of a IN THE iNILDH CF.LABRADOR. A Harrowing Tale of Slow Starvation, How Leonidas:Hubbard Met His Death. Started Upon a Reckless Quest Without Knowledge,, New ork, April" 4. --The Morning Telegraph says: The story of the death by starvation of Leonidas Hubbard, jun., the explorer, in Central Labrador, on or about Oct. 13 last, is told in a letter received yesterday from A. Dillon Wallace, a lawyer, of this city, who, with a Cree Indian guide, Geo. "Elson, accompanied Hubbard on the jour- ney , The letcr was received by Wallace's sister, Miss A. D. Wallace. Hubbard un- dertook the exploring trip for Outing last July. The letter is in part as follows: Northwest River, Labrador, Dee. 3, 1903.—The story of our awful experience is too long to go into a letter. I will merely say that we plunged madly into the interior of an unknown codntry,into regions never before trod by white man, with almost no provisions. For our tri we should have had at least 550 pounds of flour we had. 120 pounds; we should have taken 120 pounds of bacon or pork —we had 25 nounds; and so on down the line. Lived on Cariboo Meat. "On July 15 we left Northwest River and on August 1 .were practically out of provisions. On August 3 we killed four geese, on August 12 a big stag cariboo; from that forward we lived on the cari- boo meat, .wliieh•We hacl'dried, but which was soon gone, and at long intervals a goose or duck or grouse WC succeeded in killing with our rifles or pistols, and fish we caught with our pods. "Early in September the weather grew too cold. for the fish to bite. Until then we did very well, but after that we often were without anything to eat. and our meals were simply tea. Our salt and sugar were gone early, and we ate every- thing boiled, and drank the water our food was boiled in. Birds, like grouse, ducks, etc.. were eaten wholly—heads, entails, feet, and everything but the fea- thers—and every part of the fish. At length, about the middle of fieptember, or a little earlier, we reached some large lake away in the interior. Walking Skeletons. "From a high, barren hill the great lake we had been aiming for could be seen—Lake 7liehakanlan. The wind was blowing a gale from the clay we reached there, and we were wind bound, unable to mgve. Then the time for 'the cariboo migration 'vas past, and re- luctantly we turned. homeward over our old trail inland, not having seen an Indian or any human being since leav- ing Northwest River. Winter was upon us, and before September was gone the temperature dropped to ten degrees above zero. Then we broke our ther- mometer and could get no record. • "Before we began our retreat from the big lake I lost thirteen inches in waist measure. Our bones were stick- ing through the skin. We had not shaved or cut our hair, and our ap- pearance must have been pitiable. I know the others looked, especially bard, and George and I should go , on the neat morning to the flour bag we• had abandoned, hoping to find some - flour in it, "I sat up nearly all night keeping the fire going to warm Hubbard, and the next morning after getting some wood and `wrapping Hubbard in my blankets, George and 1 started. (Hubbard was - able to walk' about camp.) -Before, going I read the fourteenth chapter of` John, and, at his' request, my favorite chapter, thirteen, of I. Corinthians. From the Diary. "I somehow felt that I would never see him alive again, and it *as very hard to go. We had grown very close' to each other in the summer, and dur- ing our severe hardships, and endeav- ored always to lighten 'each other's• load, and I felt toward him as a bro- ther, "I tried to. turn to bim several times to say good-bye, bat felt each ,time' myself breaking, down, and for a long time sat with my back to him. Then George said we must start. I turned to say to him what I felt was the last farewell, and in spite of my efforts broke down. His entry in bis diary will tell of our parting, and I quote: "'October 18, 1903.--I saw it was probably hopeless for me to try to go, further with i4ile boys, so we con- sulted last night, and decided that they would take merely half a blanket each, cups, etc., and go on. They will try to reach the flour tamorow. Then Wallace will bring a little and come back to me. George will gon on to Grand Lake, if he can, and 'send or lead help to us. "I want to say here that they are two of the best, bravest and grandest men I ever knew, and if I die it will not be because they did not put forth their best efforts. Our past two days have been trying ones. I have not written in my diary because so very weak. Yesterday at an old camp we found the end we had cut from a flour bag. It had a bit of flour sticking to it. We boiled it with our old cariboo bones, and it thickened the broth a little. "'We also found a can of mustard we had thrown away. 1 sat and held it in my hand' a long time, thinking how it came from home. *lien I took a, bite of it, and it was very good. We mixedsomo in our bone soup, and it sewed to stimu- late us. We had a bit of Cariboo skin in that same pot. It swelled up thick, and was very good. Last night' 1 fell asleep while the boys were reading to me. Af- ter the boys left I thank a cup of strong tea and some bone broth. I also ate some of the really delicious rawhide boiled with bones, and it made me stronger -- strong to write this. The boys, have only tea and one-half pound of pea meal. "'Our partincr 'urns most. affecting. I did not feel so bad. George said: "The Lord help us, Hubbard, with His help Pll save you if I can get out." Then he cried. so did Wallace. Wallace stooped and kissed my cheek with his poor. sunken, bearded lips—several times—I kissed his. George did the same, and 1 kissed his cheek. Then they went away. God bless and .•'in them. To Eat Moccasins. "To -night or to -morrow perhaps the weather will improve so I can build a fire, cat the rest of my moccasins, and.a pair of cowhide mittens. They ought to help some. I am not suffering. The acute pangs of hunger have given way to in- difference. 1 am sleepy. I think death from starvation is not so bad. J3ut let no one suppose I expect it. I am prepared,. that is all. 1 think the boys will be able, with the Lord's help, to save ma" Wallace then tells ]low he and the guide George trudged to the flour bag, rutty to find that it was full of green, mouldy lumps. George went on toward Grand Lake, and Wallace started on the way back to Hubbard. He soon became very weak and drowsy, and finally his stupefied brain made bit hear "a wo- man's voice puite plainly, tellling him how to avenge his bed of boughs." IIe soon lost all record of time, became' unable to walk, and finally to gather Hubbard like walking skeletons We p sticks for a fire. Then a rescue party of were so 'weak at length that we could trappers, brought by the Cree,,,George,, not sit down without falling. All along the route we had left portions of our outfit until it was reduced to absolute necessaries. Where Hubbard Gave Out. "At length, one clay Hubbard could not carry his little pack into camp, and 1 ]Wade him put it down and follow without any load. I returned and got his pack. The next day, October 17, was the same. He could go no farther. We pitched our; tent, made him lie down, and George (the guide) and I got together wood for a fire. We were eighty miles from Northwest River, but at the head of Grand. Lake, forty miles away, we ]loped to find some trappers and food. found Wallace. Two of them, Alen Gandy and Donald 131ake, went on for Hubbard_ They found him dead in a sleeping pos- ture. Wallace says that Hubbard evi- dently died just after making the entry quoted from his diary. AVERAGED 17 KNOTS. Five British Cruisers Lost Speed Froin Bermuda to London. London, April 4. — S'iv'o ' cruisers belonging to the British West India. squadron have arrived in England teem Bermuda, ening at the htJhest speed in order to test their stoanling powers and coal consumption. They- "At hey "On the way up, some twelve miles ! had to sail as a. squadron. The aver - below where Hubbard gave out, we 1 be 1 age ed of the voyage waswas1? knots. had left a beg with some remnants of j wet flour in it. We hoped to got some It would huvo teen higher but the help from that. After making camp ' s _ued o 1 eves fog . e 1 to reCuce speed, . and lighting our fire we had a consul-) it bang early revelled that '-]lies ot" tation, and it was decided that we ; the veseel.,, a p';cially the D.'n:•gal, should leave our 'eariboo bones (which ; « •crap such heavy coal consumers, tha t. we carried to make soap) and some they 'would 'not have a ft 'dont pieces of flour bag I found (thrown supply to last through the voyage away on the way up) with some lumps if their engines were kept at tole of mouldy flour sticking to it (fot Hub- speed. 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