Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1904 — FLEET IS WIPED OUT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FLEET IS WIPED OUT.

RUSSIAN WAR VESSELS AT PORT ARTHUR DESTROYED. .- v f* f: —; . i, ■ Japanese Fire from 203-Meter Hill Sweeps the Harbor While Toko Guards the Exit -Mikado’s Gnus W’-Hl Shell the Inner Forts. ;. _ . The Russian squadron at Port Arthur has been wiped out. Under the deadly fire of tlie Japanese naval guns mounted on 203-Meter Hill, ship after ship was destroyed until the once formidable fleet has been reduced to a lot of bulks. Official documents made public in St. Petersburg indicated that the Port Arthur squadron, consisted of five battleships, two cruisers and fifteen minor craft, gunboats, destroyers aud the like. According to special dispatches from Tokio and Shanghai, giving unofficial reports, the crews of all the Russian war vessels at Port Arthur were landed and apparently no effort was made to move the ships. The Japanese next turned their attention to the torpedo boat destroyers-and when these bad been destroyed the guns were directed agairfst steamers and transports in the harbor. Passing steamers report that the most powerful ships of Togo’s fleet hrave been lying off the harbor, effectually preventing any attempt at flight on the part of the Russian sailors-during the bombardment. With the fleet out of the way, it Is evident that the next move by Nogi will be to turn the deadly naval guns on the forts lower than 203-Meter Hill, paving the way for the. occupation of the city. Mail advices to Japan describing the capture of 203-Meten Hilt state that the Japanese drenched the timber works of the trenches with kerosene and started

a furious fire, which was' fanned by a strong gale. The Japanese advance was very slow. They were obliged to make £oads with bags of earth. It was a sudden decision to make a night attack that brought victory to the Japanese. Nothing is officially known as to the extent of the Japanese casual ties.

THE LAST SORTIE FROM FORT ARTHUR.