Source: Official History of the Russian-Japanese War: A Vivid Panorama of Land and Naval Battles, J. Martin Miller, 1905, p. 304-305. Russian Fleet Taken by Surprise On Feb. 9th and 10th the press dispatches brought sensational news regarding the attack of the Japanese torpedo boats upon the Russian naval fleet anchored in the roads just outside the entrance of Port Arthur harbor.  The attack was made by the swift Japanese torpedo boats during the dark night of Monday, Feb. 8th.  They fairly hugged the coast as they approached the entrance and when in close range of that part of the fleet anchored just outside the entrance to the harbor the Japs discharged several torpedoes toward their enemy's fleet. Several men-of-war, including the Cesarevitch, Retvizan and Pallada, were disabled.  The crippled fighting ships of the Czar limped toward Port Arthur and almost at its very entrance were beached. Influence of the Japanese Victory This was a staggering blow to proud and powerful Russia.  The news of the daring feat of the fearless Japs amazed the world.

 

The Cesarevitch during happier times

Source: Official History of the Russian-Japanese War: A Vivid Panorama of Land and Naval Battles, J. Martin Miller, 1905

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#388
Title or Description	Great Naval Battle of Port Arthur – A Desperate Warship Hit by One of Our Torpedoes (Ryojun daikaisen ni waga suirai kan funsen no zu 旅順大海戰我水雷艦奮戰之図)* 「旅順港外大海戦に我が水雷艇奮戦の図」
Artist	Unread
Signature	This signature has been read as ōju 應需 (by special request)  Gyokuhō (玉寳 or 王寶). The June 2020 Hara Shobo catalog (p. 50, item 435) identifies the artist as 王宝 OHO, by which I assume they mean Ōhō.  No artist can be identified by either of these two names who worked during this period.
Seal	none
Publication Date	February 16, 1904 (Meiji 37)
Publisher	山本益次郎 Yamamoto Masujirō? (unknown publisher) address: 麻布區飯倉町四丁目一番地
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	fair - wrinkling and soiling, full-size separate sheets; not backed
Genre	ukiyo-e; senso-e (Russo-Japanese War)
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban triptych
H x W Paper	14 1/2 x  9 1/2 in. (36.8 x 24.1 cm) each sheet
Literature
Collections This Print	Meiji University Museum 目録番号 6B-153

* My thanks to Guy Pepermans for the print's title and its translation.