Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1904 — LAUNCH BLOWN UP. [ARTICLE]

LAUNCH BLOWN UP.

Twenty-One Russians Killed While Laying; Mines ut Port Arthur. Twenty-one men were killed when a Russian launch struck a Russian mine in Port Arthur harbor Friday. The launch Avas, 'engaged in placing mines. The news of this latest fatal carelessness on the part of the defenders of the stronghold was conveyed in the following dispatch from Viceroy Alexieff to the Czar: “I respectfully report to your majesty that during the placing of mines by some steam launches Lieut. Pell and twenty men were killed through a mine exploding prematurely under ths, stern of one of the launches.” *rhis announcement has ndtlld to the gloom which has prevailed since the disaster to the Petropavlovsk. "We are paying the price of carelessness.” said a member of the admiralty, “and previous disasters seeqj to teach nothing.”

The war commission suppressed part of the viceroy's dispatch, which showed where the mines were being laid. It is believed the launches were employed in mining the entrance to the harbor in order to prevent the Japanese from forcing an entrance and attempting to destroy the remaining ships. It is evident from the closing of the entrance that Viceroy Alexieff has no intention of letting his ships go to sea again even against nn inferior force, though this may not be the policy of Vice Admiral Rkrydloff. who will determine on a plan of operation when be assumes command.