Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-08-17

against the vladivostok squadron as
would insure victory beyond doubt.
Kamimura Directs the Attack.
When Kamimura received wireless
fash telling him of the Port Arthur
squadron's dash for freedom August 10
ne redoubled his vigilance in watching
for the Vladivostok ships. AS dawn was
breaking over the blue strait between
Tsushima island and the Japanese coast
he sighted three ominous looking vessels
steaming down from the north. His
decks were already clear for action. He
gave orders to prepare for battle.
With patriotic fervor sailors sprung to
their places and the men to the guns.
Full speed ahead" was Kamimura's
next order as he directed his warships
straight toward the oncoming foes, whose
none other than the dashing Skrydloff,
chief Of the Russian navy in the Orient.
Decks Slippery with Blood.
Within few minutes the cannon of
the opposing fleets We're belching solid
shot and shell. In the coming tower OF
his flagship stood Kamimura shells
screeching ove- his head and under his
feet. Russian shot raked his decks,
which soon were slippery with the blood
of slain japanese. But with his naked
eye he could see that the japanese shots
were striking home. Splashing water all
around the Russian cruisers and the sight
of men falling on their decks showed that
the japanese gunners had the range.
Closer and closer together came the
opposing forces. Then the Russian yes
sells veered and hurled broadsides at the
japanese. Kamimura's men responded
with one broadside after another.
Sinking of the Rurik.
"Banzai! Banzai.'' suddenly rose the
cry on the deck of Kamimura's fagshir.
Inc Rurlk had been hit in vital spot
and she was seen to be settling at one
end. But the fire of the Japanese never
slackened
In the bowels of Mamimura's ships
were deft marksmen mad for revenge.
Those Russian cruisers In the FRAY had
inflicted untold loss on Japanese COM
merce in raid of the Pacific. 1t was
JapanS turn now.
While cannon roared and marines grew
faint and deaf with the awful conclusion
Of the firing. the Rurik settled fast and
soon she heaved up on end and plunged
INTO the sea. her Russian complement
hghting valiantly and defying the Japa-
nese to the last
Surviving Russians Run Away.
After the Rurik sank the Gromoboi
and Rossia continued an unequal battle.
BY skillful maneuvering, by broadsides
and by long-range firing they sought to
strike kamimura a death blow. But the
Japanese Unanswered equally we'll, their
hre was more accurate and after a total
of five hours the Russians turned north
and steamed away at the fastest possible
speed. Both, however, had been struck
" ho1l -
they were badly damaged
Then began the pursuit, whose result
Japan IS awaiting with feverish excite
ment, though there is no doubt what the
news will be.
Kamimura Now Hero.
Already Kamimura is the hero of the
hour. A week ago he was in disgrace.
The public blamed him for allowing the
Nladivostok squadron to raid the Pacific
and he was urged to commit hara-kiri
He has more than redeemed himself by
his victory and now comes out the scorer
Of his inability to prevent the Russian
raid On commerce.
The Russian squadron which formerly
confronted Admiral Togo at Port Arthur
was stronger than Togo's squadron in
battleships and armored cruisers, and
had 1t elected to fight early in the war
the result might have altered the fortunes
OF the cOmbatantS. The strength of the
squadron which opposed Admiral Togo
compelled him to draw vessels from the
squadron under Vice Admiral Kamimura
and this left the japanese navy power
less to operate against the Russian Vladi-
vostok squadron and unable to prevent
the raids of those vessels
The raid conducted by the Vladiyostok
squadron in July was extremely eXpen-
sive to the japanese, and not only was
retaliation tempting but it was demanded
by commercial interests.
Japan's Naval Plans Correct.
The navy, however, grimly refused to
make a diversion and stuck to Port Ar
thur. 1t was confident that the harbor
soon would be untenable for the Russian
warships, that it would eventually get 4
fair fight in the open sea away from the
Russian land batteries, and that the Jana
nese would win. These calculations of
the navy were correct and the Russians.
with the chances even, have been hope
lessly defeated.
The strength Of the fleet under Vice
Admiral Kamimura is not known. but If
is presumed that he had the Adsuma. Id
sumo, Iwate, Takashiho and other light
cruisers.