T HE war news this week has not disclosed any very
great or stirring events. On Tuesday night, or early on Wednesday, the Japanese Fleet made their usual weekly attack on Port Arthur. On this occasion their object was to seal up the Russians in the harbour,—to put a cork, that is, into the neck of the bottle, just as the Americans attempted to cork up the entrance to Santiago. Accordingly, Admiral Togo sent two or four merchant steamers—the number is variously stated—filled with explosives under escort of a body of torpedo-boats. The torpedo-boats kept under the lee of the steamers, which, manned by crews whose courage cannot be too highly praised, proceeded to their voluntary destruction. So far, the story of the attack is plain. What we do not accurately know is the result. The Russians allege that the ships were set on fire by the fire of the Retvisan '—the Russian battleship which was beached to avoid her sinking after she was torpedoed by the Japanese—and that they then drifted ashore on either side-of the entrance to the harbour, leaving the channel free. On the other hand, there seems an impression that the channel may have been blocked, or at any rate made dangerous and difficult for large vessels. Another small attack, presumably by torpedo-boats, is also reported from St. Petersburg to have taken place on Thursday, and to have been "repulsed all along the line."
