River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-08-18
M|KAOO'S FLEET
IS MASTER OF SEA
KAMIMURA DEFEATS THE VLAD-
IvosToK SQUADRON.
SINKS THE CRUISER RURIK
The Remaining Two Warships Are
Put to Flight-Russian Admiral
Without Killed in Battle OFF
Round Island.

vostok squadron at dawn Sunday north
of Tsu island, in the strait of Korea,
and attacked the enemy at once. The
battle lasted for five hours and result
ed in a complete Japanese victory. The
Russian cruiser Rurik was sunk and
the cruisers Rossia and Gromoboi fled
to the northward, after having sus-
tanned serious damage. Vice Admiral
Kamimura cables the navy department
that the injuries inflicted upon his
vessels were slight. The fate of the
crew of the Rurik is not known. 1t is
presumed that many of them were
killed or drowned The strength of the
fleet under Vice Admiral Kamimura is
not known, but it is presumed that he
had the Adsuma, Idsumo, Iwate, Taxa
shiho and other light cruisers. Toxic
is joyous over the news, as it gives
Japan the mastery of the sea and re-
stores commerce.
The News Confirmed.
Chefoo, Aug. 15.-The reports that
the Russian cruiser Rurik was sunk in
the engagement with the Japanese fleet
in the strait of Korea and that two
other Russian warships escaped has
been authoritatively confirmed.
Nagaski, Aug. 15.-Confrmation has
reached here of the reports that the
Russian cruiser Rurik was sunk in the
fighting in the strait of Korea and that
the Russian cruisers Rossia and Grom-
oboi escaped to the north, having suf-
fered serious damage.
Great Rejoicing.
Toxic, Aug. 15.-Flags are flying,
lanterns are glimmering and cries of
"Banzai' are ringing in the streets of
Toxic in honor of the victories gained
at sea by Admiral Togo and Vice Ad-
miral Kamimura Underneath the jol-
| lily of the populace lies a feeling of
deep satisfaction and qualification at
the disposal of desperately serious
problem of the war.
The Russian squadron which con-
fronted Admiral Togo refused battle.
1t was stronger than Admiral Togo's
squadron in battleships and armored
cruisers and had it elected to fight the
result might have altered the fortunes
which opposed Admiral Togo compell-
ed him to draw vessels from the squad
ron under Vice Admiral Kamimura
and this left the Japanese navy pow
erless to operate against the Russian
Vladivostok squadron and unable to
prevent the raids of these vessels.
Kamimura's Opportunity.
The raid conducted by the Vladivos-
tok squadron in July was extremely
expensive to the japanese and not only
was retaliation tempting, but it was
demanded by commercial interests
The navy, however, grimly refused to
make a diversion and stuck to Port
Arthur. 1t was confident that the har-
Dor soon would be untenable for the
Russian warships, that would even
tually get fair fight in the open sea
away from the Russian land batteries.
and that the Japanese would win
These calculations of the navy were
correct and the Russians, with the
chances even have been hopelessly de-
feated. Vice Admiral Kamimura, after
months of weary and patient waiting,
finally got his chance at dawn Sunday
off Tsu island. He sunk the Russian
cruiser Rurik and sent the cruisers
Gromoboi and Rossia fleeing back from
the fight.
Japanese guns dominate the dock
yards at Port Arthur and in view of
this fact it would seem to be impossi-
BILE again to make seaworthy or fight
able the Russian battleships which
have returned to Port Arthur. It is
probable that the Russian battleship
Czarevitch will disarm at Tsingchou.
The best possible naval force that
Russia car now concentrate at Vladi-
vostok is four cruisers.
Tells of Hard Fight.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 15.-Viceroy AL
exieff in dispatch to the emperor gives
the following report from Capt. sMataus-
evitch, the late Rear Admiral Withoft's
chief of staff, under date of August 12:
"At dawn of August 10, our Port Ar
thur squadron began to make for open
sea and emerged from the port at nine
o'clock. The squadron consisted of six
battleships, the cruisers Askold, Diana,
Pallada, and Novik, and eight torpedo
boats
1.-THE Japanese opposed us with the
following force: A first detachment,
consisting of the battleships Ashai, Mi
kasa, Full, Yashima, and Shikishima,
and the cruisers Nisshin ami Kasuga a
second detachment, consisting of the
the cruisers Yakumo, Kasagi, Chitose
and Takasago; and third detachment,
consisting of the cruisers Akitsushima,
Idsumo Matsushima, Itsukushima and
Hashidate, and the battleships Chip
Yen, with about 80 torpedo boats.
Broke Through, japanese Line.
"Our squadron Unanswered to gain q
passage through the line of the enemy's
ships Meantime the Japanese torpedo
boats were laying floating mines in the
way OF oar squadron, thus rendering ev-
olutions difficult.
'tAt one p. m. our squadron, after 40
minutes fighting, succeeded in effecting
a passage, and shaped its course to-
wards Shantung. The enemy, following
at full speed, caught up with us slowly,
and at five o'clock fighting again be-
gan and continued for some hours with
out either side obtaining any advantage.
Admiral Without Killed.
'Tn the battle the commander of our
squadron was killed and the captain OF
the battleship Czarevitch was wounded
and lost consciousness. Almost at the
coroa +iy,oo fha an piYe &c and cfoorinp gear