During the night of February 23-24, the approach of the enemy was signalled from Liaotishan, and at about half-past three the forts opened fire. One of the approaching vessels, an old transport, the _Tenshin Maru_, was sunk by shots from Golden Hill, and went down in deep water about three miles to the south-west of the harbour entrance. Thereupon the other vessels steered out, and, exhibited by the search-lights from Golden Hill were followed by a heavy cannonade, and were repeatedly struck. One, the _Bushu Maru_, ran aground and was made a wreck by the Russian shells, and apparently blew to pieces from the explosion of boilers, or of her magazine. The third vessel came in towards the entrance, but was sunk outside by shots from the grounded _Retvizan_, whose turret guns were used continuously. Two other vessels, the _Hokoku_ and the _Jinsin_, came further into the channel, but were sunk by the Russian shells from the _Retvizan_ and forts, or by their crews. Both went down in the entrance to the harbour outside the guardship and the _Retvizan_. Some bodies were washed ashore the next morning, but the crews seemed to have escaped in the torpedo boats which accompanied the flotilla of fire ships with which the Japanese had intended to block the navigable channel to the harbour. The expedition failed. The steamers did not sink in the channel, and there was a fair way still open for the egress of the Russian fleet. Later that day the town sustained a heavy bombardment directed upon the harbour. The _Retvizan_ was struck, and some damage was done to the town and forts, but the loss of life was slight. The next night Japanese torpedo boats were seen approaching the entrance, and were fired upon. Two were struck and appeared to sink, the others went seaward, escaping in the darkness; a thick dull atmosphere, presaging a snowstorm, covered harbour, hills and sea. That morning two torpedo boats returned to harbour; a third was cut off by the Japanese, and headed south, rounding Liaotishan and reaching Pigeon Bay, where she was sunk by the enemy. The following day General Stoessel ordered all British and American residents to leave Port Arthur at once. Several did so and were caught in a terrible blizzard which raged all over South Manchuria for thirty-six hours. The next week there was a respite from active warfare; the town again recovered from the excitement, shock and disorder occasioned by the heavy bombardment. At the end of the week the railway line was blocked by a military train which had left the rails. The town people believed that land communication had been destroyed by the Japanese, but the arrival of the usual daily train on Sunday restored public confidence.