The Logan Republican

Fleet Sunk.

Japs Destroy Whole Russian Fleet From Vantage Ground on Meter Hill.

Tokio, Dec. 12, 4 p.m.—The Japanese continue to batter the Port Arthur fleet, and there is little ground for expecting that it will ever again engage the Japanese. The battleship Sevastopol continues at anchor outside, but possibly returns to the harbor at night and anchors inside the outer boom, which protects her from torpedo boats. The recent heavy weather has given added protection to the vessel.

Naval experts are discarding the theory that the Russians themselves sank any of the ships. The fact that the vessels first showed lists while in exposed positions and the efforts made to save the Sevastopol are regarded as conclusive evidences against the theory of their being sunk by the Russians.

A majority of the sunken warships lie headed northward. They received the bulk of the fire across their port sides, and the fact that at least two of them showed lists to the starboard gives rise to the theory that Japanese shells exploded inside the ships and against the starboard armor, driving the armor outward and causing leaks.

To make sure of the destruction of the Russian warships continue to drop shells into the sunken hulks.

The whereabouts of the torpedo boat destroyers continues doubtful but it is thought they are sheltering outside the harbor.

The weather prevents a good observation being made but the Japanese are sending a searching fire into the nooks which are not observable from 203 Meter hill and other heights. The observers represent a number of tugs, launches, dredges and small craft anchored near the hospital ships in the west harbor, where they evidently have gone for the purpose of obtaining protection. It is suggested that the besiegers notify Lieut.-Gen. Stoessel to separate these vessels from the hospital ships or take the consequences.

The Japanese are exercising care to avoid hitting the hospital ships, which frequently are in direct line of fire.