The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-19

patch from Viccroy Alexien. dated at
Nladivostok. August Il. saying that the
cruisers Rossia and Gromoboi Of the
Nladivostok squadron, returned to Nladi-
vostok on August Is and communiCa ting
the following report made by Rear Ad-
mlral JeSSen. commander of the squad
ron:
AT dawn on August Il the Rossla.
GromohOi. and Rurik arrived fOTty-twO
miles from and parallel with FuSan. and
thirty miles from the northern light
mousse OF TSu Island when to the west
ward ! saw Japanese squadron OF
armorCd cruisers, six miles to the north
travelling parallel to our course This
squadron consisted of four vessels OF the
lwate type. and was putting on full
speed.
Obliged to Do Battle.
Il took a course to the northward
with n view Of attaining the open sea,
but the enemy. who was Of superior
speed. turned Immediately and took the
same course. was, therefore. obliged
to engage in battle. which commenced
at o'clock in the morning with a dis
tance Of sixty cables between the two
squadrons. "A cable length IS zoo yards
In the straits TO the south we saw a
second-class cruiser OF she Naniwa type
coming to join the enemy. At a conven-
lent opportunity we rapidly turned to
the right, intending TO approach the
Korean coast, and by increa sing our
have an opportunity OF succeeding; but
the enemy now observed our intention
and directed his course toward US for
the purpose OF hindeIing our design.
Rurik Lost Steering Gear
Hardly five minutes passed before
the Rurik left the ranks ard signaled |
that her steering gear was disabled. l
replied Steer with the engines. and con- |
tinued on my former course. Seeing that |
all OF the japanese cruisers were con-
centrsting their fire on the r rrik all
my subsequent maneuvering was ex-
clusively with the object Of enabling |
the Rurik 10 repair her damaged rudder. |
attra TO myself the enemy's fire in |
order 70 cover the Rurik admiral Jes- !
sen was on the flagship Rossia)
AT this time I saw two warships, one |
a second and the other a third class
cruiser. coming TO join the enemy.
The Rurik hoisted the signal. cannot |
steer Some maneuvering In the front |
line gave the Rurik a chance Of going |
in the direction Of the Korean Gulf. |
and al o'clock the signal was hOisted |
go east The Rurik answered the sig
nal and took the requisite course at fun |
speed. as could be seen from the waves |
from her bows.
Rossia and Gromoboi Fight Four.
Eventually. the Rossia and the Gro |
moboi took a northerly course at a dis !
tance Of forty-two cables The Rurfk |
kept a course approximately southeast
at a distance Of three miles. The battle |
continued for two hours in this manner |
I'VE suffered considerable damage. The |
Rossia had three tunnels pierced, which |
prevented her from keeping up good |
steam. and three OF her boilers were
rendered useless.
AT half-past nine the Rurik began |
TO lag behind considerably, and again /
turned her bows toward the" shore. at |
the same time 1ghting against the two /
secOnd-class cruisers which had Joined /
the enemy's squadron. The Rurik soon !
afterWaTd began 10 get out OF sight.
Vice Admiral kamimura. with four
armored cruisers kept steadfastly en- |
gaging Us in such manner as 10 keep
rs from assisting the Rurik. While the /
Rurik continued fighting we continued |
our efforts 10 attract the enemy further /
north, I'm hope that the Rurik would /
manage to dispose Of her two compare
lively weaker opponents. and that, at |
ter repairing the damage TO her rud- |
der. she would be able to reach Vladi- |
vostOk Independently.
Japs Suddenly Retire.
shortly before 10 o'clock the euemy's |
fire was the most terrific OF the battle. |
but 10 our general establishment the /
whole japanese squadron left us after |
;he most deadly fgit which had lasted |
five hours
The Rossia had sustained eleven |
holes at her water line, and the Gromo- /
boi had six. Both cruisers lost more /
than half their officers, and the losses /
among the men totalIed . per cent
1T appeared impossible 10 renew the 4
battle or 10 return 10 the Rurik which 1
was now thirty miles 20 the south TAX /
ing advantage Of the calm. we stopped |
repair tHe breaches IN our vessels so
as TO enable us to proceed to Vladivo-
StOk.
Captain Berlinsky. Of the ROssia was /
killed. and several Of his officers were l
wounded. on board the CT on oboi two
lieutenants were killed and other officers
were wounded. Both cruisers had 125 /
men killed and SN wounded. Captain |
BerliEsky was buried at sea
The report concludes by testifying 10
tho heroism displayed by all the officers
been made Of iron, knowing no fear or
fatigue
A personal eXarinatiOn made OF the
damage done TO tie cruisers by the jap
anese fire. Admiral Alexien Saws in 4
transmitting the report, conVinces him
Of the high courage and self-sacrlficiug
efforts Of those who took part I'm an
unequal battle against the superior
forces Of the japanese.