Expenditures of the Russo-Japanese war / by Gotaro Ogawa.

INTRODUCTION

I7

in Port Arthur and set about carrying out the program on the
night of February 23. In this attempt, five special steamers
provided with devices for blowing them up and manned
by brave and picked crews proceeded, under heavy enemy
fire, right to the entrance of the harbor and sank themselves
on reaching their allotted positions. By this enterprise the
blockade of part of the entrance to PortArthurwas completed.
On February 25, five of the Russian ships were sighted maneuvering outside Port Arthur and our fleet made an attack
upon them. One of the enemy ships was sunk and the rest
went back into the harbor. The next day, the Japanese
fleet dispatched four warships and took possession of Haiyang Island, which occupies an important position in the
Yellow Sea.
Meanwhile, the Russian squadron at Vladivostok tried to
relieve the pressure of the Japanese Navy upon Port Arthur
by attracting our fleet northward, and for this purpose the
Russian ships made several excursions into the Sea of Japan,
attacking our merchantmen. The steamship service on the
Sea of Japan was, consequently, interrupted for a time. But
when the Russian squadron at Port Arthur lay concealed in
the harbor and the Japanese naval force had only to watch
them, seven of our ships were set apart to form the second
squadron, which was detailed to keep watch over Vladivostok
waters. This second squadron, under the command of Vice
Admiral Kakimura, made on March 6 and 7 a reconnoitering
cruise along the coast of Vladivostok. The squadron bombarded the port, but, as the enemy made no reply, it returned
to its temporary anchorage.
The Russian ships that had sustained heavy damage were
undergoing repairs in Port Arthur. On March Io the Japanese fleet sent a squadron of destroyers to reconnoiter the
enemy and to lay mines at important points. Our destroyers met a squadron of eight enemy destroyers coming out
of the harbor, and sank one and inflicted heavy injury upon
the others. During this engagement, our main force opened
fire upon the Russians to cover our destroyer squadron, break3