Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1904 — TORPEDO BOATS SUNK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TORPEDO BOATS SUNK.

Russia and Japan Lose One Vessel Knell in Battle. One Russian torpedo boat destroyer and one Japanese torpedo boat were sunk in a fierce engagement off Port

Arthur when Admiral Marakoff sailed out to give the enemy battle. The Russian torpedoboat flotilla left Port Arthur at daylight Thur sd a y morning and attacked the Japanese fleet. Each side lost a boat iu the engagement. Admiral Marakoff inaugurated his assumption of the command of the

Russian fleet by a complete change of (Jactirs. As soon as lie appeared lie ordered the removal of the battleship Uetviznn, which was stranded at the mouth of the harbor, and burred the channel nt certain stages of the tide, making the egress of battleships impossible. Then he directed a sortie of the torpedo-boat liotilla, supported by a part of the Russian squadron, against the Japanese squadron. This is the first time torpedo bcfiits have engaged each other at sea. Although the odds were ngainst the Russians, as the Japanese flotilla was supported by the cruiser squadron, the Russians made a lteroic dash for the foe and apparently had the better of the combat, sinking a Japanese torpedo boat, until the cruisers got within range nnd -one of the lntter's shells crippled the Btereguschtehi. Not much importance is attached to the bombardment, oil account of the great distance of the enemy from the batteries.

ADM. MAKAROFF.