The San Francisco call., 1904-08-19
Nearly Five Hundred Men
Lost on the ROssia
and GrOmObOi.
Rear Admiral JesSen Sends
a Graphic Report OF
the Battle.


peror Nicholas has received a despatch
from Viceroy Alexieff. dated at Vlad1-
vostok, August II, saying that the
cruisers Rossia and Gromoboi of the
VIadivostok squadron returned to
Vladivostok August 16, and communl-
eating the following report made by
Rear Admiral Jessen, commander Oh
the squadron:
"At dawn on August IA the Rossla'
Gromoboi and Rurik arrived forty-tWo
miles from and parallel with Fusan'
and thirty miles from the northern
lighthouse of Tsu Island, when TO the
westward l saw a japanese squadron
of armored cruisers six miles TO the
north travelling parallel with our
course. This squadron consisted Oh
four vessels of the late type ana was
putting on full speed.
II took a course to the northward,
with a view to attaining the open sea.
but the enemy, who was of superior
speed. turned Immediately and took the
same course.
II was, therefore, obliged to engage
in battle, which commenced at
o'clock in the morning, with a distance
of, sixty cables between the two squad
rons Ga cable length Is 200 yards)
In the straits to the south we saw
a second class cruiser of the Naniwa
type coming to join the enemy.
AT a convenient opportunity we
rapidly turned to the right, intending
to approach the Korean coast, and by
increasing our speed to seventeen KNOTS
we seemed to have an opportunity OF
succeeding but the enemy now oo-
served our intention and directed his
course toward us for the purpose or
hindering our design.
Hardly five minutes passed before
the Rurik left the ranks and signaled
that her steering gear was disabled.
I replied: Steer with the engines and
continued on my former course.
TRIES TO SAVE THE RURIK.
Seeing that all of the japanese
cruisers were concentrating their fire
on the Rurik, all my subsequent ma
neuvering was exclusively with the OBJ
ject of enabling the Rurik to repair her
damaged rudder l attracted to myself
the enemys fire in order to cover the
Rurik. admiral Jessen was on board
the flagship Rossia-)
AT this time l saw two warships,
one a second and the other a third
class cruiser, coming to join the enemy.
THE Rurik hoisted the signal Can
not steer Some maneuvering in the
front line gave the Rurik a chance Of
going in the direction of the Korean
Gulf and at s o'clock the signal was
hoiSted Go east The Rurik answered
the signal and took the requisite course
at full speed, as could be seen from the
waves from her bows.
Eventually the Rossia and the
Gromoboi took a northerly course at
distance of forty-two cables. The Ru-
rik kept a course approximately south
east at a distance of three miles.
THE battle continued for two hours
in this manner
1--WE suffered considerable damage,
The Rossia had three tunnels pierced,
which prevented her keeping up good
steam. and three of her boilers were
rendered useless.
JAPANESE SUDDENLY RETIRE.
"At $3.50 o'clock the Rurik began to
lag behind considerably, and again
turned her bows toward the shore, at
the same time fighting against the two
second-class cruisers which had Joined
the enemy's squadron. The Rurik soon
afterward began to get out Of sight.
"Vice Admiral Kamamura, with four
armored cruisers, kept steadfastly en-
gaging us in such manner as to keep
us from assisting the Rurik.
while the Rurik continued fighting
we continued our efforts to attract the
enemy farther north, in the hope that
the Rurik would manage to dispose of
her two comparatively weaker oppo-
nents and that after repairing the
damage to her rudder she would be
able to reach Vladivostok independ-
emily.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock the enery's
fire was the most terrific of the battle,
but to our astonishment the whole
Japanese squadron left us after the
most deadly fighting, which had lasted
five hours.
THE Rossia had sustained eleven
holes at her line and the 0romoboi had
six. Both cruisers lost more than half
their officers and the losses among the
men totaled rs per cent.
1T appeared impossible to renew the
battle or to return to the Rurik, which
was now thirty miles to the south.
LOSSES ARE GREAT.
Taking advantage of the calm, we
stopped our engines and quickly com
menced to repair the breaches in ou1
vessels so as to unable US to proceed
to Vladivostok.
Captain Berlinsky of the Rossia
was killed and several Of his officers
were wounded. On board the Gromoboi
two lieutenants were killed and other
officers were wounded. Both cruisers
had 135 men killed and 3O7 wounded.
Captain Berlinsky was buried at sea-
The report concludes by testifying
to the heroism displayed by all the Off
GERS and men, who, it says, seemed to
have been made of iron, knowing neith-
er fear nor fatigue.
A personal examination Of the dam
age done to the cruisers by the Japan
ese fire, Admiral Alexieft says, in
transmitting the report, convinces him
of the high courage and self-sacrificing
efforts of those who took part In an un-
equal battle against the superior forces
of the Japanese.
REITZENSTEIN REPORTS.
The Emperor has received from Cap
tain Reitzenstein, commander of the
cruiser division at Port Arthur, a re-
port of the battle of August 10. After
reviewing the progress Of the battle up
to the time the Cesarevitch was dis
abled, it says that it was then decided
to try to break through the surround
ing Japanese ships at their weakest
point. The cruiser Askold led, followed