The concluding operation of the first stage of the war was reported as
follows by Admiral Togo:—
On the 11th our combined fleet commenced, as previously
planned, the eighth attack upon Port Arthur. The fourth
and the fifth destroyer flotillas, the fourteenth
torpedo flotilla, and the Koryo-maru reached the mouth
of Port Arthur at midnight of the 12th, and effected the
laying of mines at several points outside the port,
defying the enemy’s searchlight.
The second destroyer flotilla discovered, at dawn of
the 13th, one Russian destroyer trying to enter the
harbour, and, after ten minutes’ attack, sank her.
Another Russian destroyer was discovered coming from
the direction of Liau-tie-shan. We attacked her, but
she managed to flee into the harbour.
There were no casualties on our side, except two seamen
in the Ikazuchi slightly wounded. There was no time
to rescue the enemy’s drowning crew, as the Bayan
approached.
The third fleet reached outside of Port Arthur at
8 a.m., when the Bayan came out and opened fire.
Immediately the Novik, Askold, Diana, Petropavlovsk,
Pobieda, and Poltava came out and made offensive attack
upon us.
Our third fleet, tardily answering and gradually
retiring, enticed the enemy fifteen miles south-east of
the port, when our first fleet, being informed through
wireless telegraphy from the third fleet, suddenly
appeared before the enemy and attacked them.
While the enemy was trying to regain the port, a
battleship of the Petropavlovsk type struck mines laid
by us in the previous evening, and sank at 10.32 a.m.
Another ship was observed to have lost freedom of
movement, but the confusion of enemy’s ships prevented
us from identifying her. They finally managed to regain
the port.
Our third fleet suffered no damage.
The enemy’s damage was, besides the above-mentioned,
probably slight also.
Our first fleet did not reach firing distance. Our
fleets retired at 1 p.m., prepared for another attack
On the 14th our fleet resailed towards Port Arthur. The
second, the fourth, and the fifth destroyer flotillas
and the ninth torpedo flotilla joined at 3 a.m., and
the third fleet at 7 a.m. No enemy’s ship was seen
outside the port.
Our first fleet arrived there at 9 a.m., and,
discovering three mines laid by the enemy, destroyed
them all.
The Kasuga and the Nisshin were despatched to the west
of Liau-tie-shan. They made an indirect bombardment for
two hours, this being their first action. The new forts
at Liau-tie-shan were finally silenced.
Our forces retired at 1.30 p.m.