MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5213, 1 March 1904, Page 5

MOVEMENTS OF WARSHIPS.

THE JAPANESE STILL HOVERING ABOUT. (Received February 29, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 29. Tiio sending of Russian cruisers out of Port Arthur on Thursday morning failed to cntico tiio Japanese fleet within shorter range. Tho latter fleet is still hovering outside tho harbour. RUSSIA’S CRIPPLE© FLEET. (Received February 29, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, February 29. There is a rent forty foot long in tho battleship Retsivan. Attempts to patch her up have failed, and hopes of raising her abandoned. . Tho battleship Czarevitch is kept afloat by constant pumping. Tho cruiser Pallada has been docked. [These tbreo vessels wore disabled in tho attack on Port Arthur on tho Bth and 9th ult. A cablegram tho other day said as the Retsivan and Czarevitch could not bo repaired except at Vladivostok they were to bo used as coastguard skips. 3 < A JAPANESE BOAT DAMAGED. LONDON, February 28. Tho "St. James’s Gazette” Chefoo correspondent states that a Japanese gunboat was badly damaged in the attack on Port Arthur, and sank outside Obetoo. Sc vara I boatloads of her crew were landed. ADVENTURES OtF A BAND OF SAILORS. (Received February 29. 9.50 p.mO LONDON, February 29. Tho crews of tho hwc two vessels sunk by tho Japanese at Port Arthur, with a view -to blocking tho entrance to tho harbour, ignited fuses and then escaped in boats. In escaping, they tvcto compelled oy Russian fire and searchlights to skirt tho coast. After indescribable hardships they succeeded in rejoining tho fleet. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. SYDNEY, February 29. Tiio Japanese Consul bore received an official cablegram, dated the 26th, which, after giving further details ot tho sinking of tho fire-ships, says: “On Wednesday night last the torpedo boats reconnoitred Port Arthur and- Talienwan and Pigeon Bays. Shelled tho three places. On Thursday morning the Japanese main squadron advanced towards Port Arthur, and shelled tho enemy’s ships and forts at Ion" distances. Tho Russian ships NoAskold, and Bayarin retreated into tho inner harbour. “ Seeing tho harbour entrance was it was thought tho intended blockading was ineffective. Then the squadron shelled tho inner harbour for fifteen minutes, and after witnessing a c-re-at Hama retired. , “ Meanwhile tho squadron cruisers in tho neighbourhood, of Rootetsuzan destroyed one Russian torpedo boat., , “Our squadron sustained no injury and no casualties.”