Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-23

taken advantage OF by part OF the crew,
the transport was sunk by our guns.
shortly afterwards two more transports
were sighted to the southeast. They prov
ed to be the Hitachi and the Sado, the for
mer with troops and the latter carrying
coolies, horses and railway plant. These
transports refused to surrender, and at
the end of the period granted those on
board to take to the boats, the two vessels
were sunk by torpedoes and shells.
The losses on the three transports, the
tonnage of which aggregated about 1900
tons, consisted of a portion of the troops,
la-ge quantity Of war material and the
railway plant.
ION June 16 our squadron met the Brit
ish steamer Allanton which was proceed
ing south with a cargo of coal from the
port Of Mourorun. The lack OF clearness
IN her papers and the irregularity of her
log excited suspicion concerning the neu-
trality OF her cargo. The steamer there
fore was sent to Vladivostok in charge OF
detachment of soldiers. She has arrived
at Nladivostok where prize court will
consider her case"
The loss OF life on the Hitachi Maru is
supposed to be about 1000. Three British
were among the number, the captain,
chief officer and chief engineer. japanese
accounts agree that the Russians deliber-
ately butchered the ombatants and nom
combatants, whereas they showed much
elemency in the case OF the Sado Maru,
allowing a majority to leave before they
torpedoed the vessel. Moreover, when
asked for longer time limit, they replied,
regretting inability TO grant the request
inasmuch as consideration OF their own
safety forbade delay.
japanese accounts Of the Russian attack
on the transports show that at a. M,
June 10, the transports Hitachi Maru
and sado Maru were steaming 20 miles
from Moji, the former leading seven
miles. when they sighted three Russian
cruisers at distance OF 5000 metres, the
Rossia being ahead OF the other two.
Both transports forthwith put about
and steamed back at full speed. At 1000
metres the Russians opened fire on the
Hitachi Maru and continued until within
800 metres. Ten shells struck her, killing
many men and disabling the ship. Have
ing accomplished this the Russians passed
on and torpedoed the Sado Maru, which
was also disabled. Then they returned
and rained shrapnel on the Hitachi Maru
from a distance OF 200 metres for nearly
two hours, finally torpedoing and sinking
her at 3 p. m. The first discharge OF
shrapnel killed and " ounded over 200.
While the Russians were dealing with
the sado Maru, about SO of the crew of
the Hitachi Maru took TO the boats,
About so Of these proceeded 10 the Sado
Alaru; the remainder reached land. Ex-
cept these, all on board the Hitachi Maru
seem 10 have perished.
When the Sado Maru was disabled,
about 900 lowered boats and rowed away
The remaining 400 resolved TO perish
with the ship and were cheering and
preparing 10 commit suicide when they
observed the departure of the Russians,
who apparently dared not remain longer.
lhereupon the men remaining on board .
The Sado Maru, seeing a hope OF life,
tried TO stop the leaks ana construct a
raft The vessel drifted 20 hours, when
i was saved.
The Izumi Maru was also sunk by the
Russian cruisers. She was enroute from
1bina carrying sick and wounded and
lad no combatants on board