Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1904 — FIRE ON STRONGHOLD [ARTICLE]

FIRE ON STRONGHOLD

JAPANESE FLEET IN BOMBARDMENT OF VLADIVOSTOK. Mikado's Bojti Jtirect Gnns Against Czar’s Northern Stronghold for 55 Miuntes—Land Batteries Fail to Reply—Five Persona Are Slain. A fleet of five Japanese battleships and two cruisers appeared off Vladivostok at 1:25 o’clock Sunday afternoon and bombarded the town and shore batteries for fifty-five-minutes. The fleet approached from tiie direction of Askold island, at the eastern entrance to Usnri bay, about thirty-two miles southeast of Vladivostok. Entering Usuri bay the enemy formed in line »f battle, but did not approach to a closer range than a mile and one-third. They directed their fire against the shore batteries and the town, but no damage resulted, as most of the 2(X) lyddite shells failed to burst. The Russian batteries, commanded by Gens. Veronetz and Artamouoff, did not reply, awaiting closer approach of the enemy. . ■ The Japanese fire censed at 2:20 p. ni., and the enemy retired in the direction of Askold island. Simultaneously two torpedo boat destroyers appeared near Askold island and two more near Cape Maidel. The Japanese ships were covered with ice. The attack resulted in no loss to the Russians, hut cost the enemy 200.000 rubles ($100,000) in ammunition. Most of the projectiles were six and twelveinch shells. The population of Vladivostok was warned in the morning of the presence on the horizon of a hostile fleet and the prospect of attack during the day, but it remained tranquil. First dispatches from Vladivostok to St. Petersburg denied any losses to the Russian forces from the Japanese bombardment. Later in the evening it was admitted that perhaps a few Chinamen had been hit. Later at night private dispatches were received to the effect that five Russians were killed, four sailors and tiie wife of an engineer. It is apparent the Japanese were afraid to risk exposing their ships to the plunging fire of the land batteries and it is considered probable that tiie attack was really for tiie purpose of drawing the fire.of the Russian forts, compelling the Russians to disclose tiie position and caliber of their guns, and also for the purpose of ascertaining whether the Russian squadron is in port. If this was the object of the Japanese it is believed to have failed signally, as the batteries did not fire a shot, and if the squadron is in port it could not be seen from tiie Japanese position in the bay of Usuri on account of the high land which rises from the coast on that side, obstructing the view of the harbor.