The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-29
VIadivOstok Squadron safe.

Nlao1VostOk. April 29-The squadron
commanded by Rear Admiral Yeszen
mas returned here from its recent oper-
atoms off the Korean coast
me squadron consisting of the ar
mored cruisers Rossia, Rurik and
Gromoboi and the protected cruiser
Bogatyr, put to sea. at daybreak April
70 Inc Rurik returned the following
DAY, out the others proceeded TO Won
san (Gensan) Korea, and hove to off
the town during the morning Of April
20 ABOUT hVe miles from the entrance
OF the bay Admiral Yeszen sent into
the Day two torpedo boats, command
ed by Lieutenants Poehl and Maximoff.
As they ran in towards the shore they
found the Japanese trading steamer
Goyo-Maru at anchor with a, crew of
ABOUT 70 men on board. Lieutenant
Maxlmom boarded the Goyo Maru, took
possession of her papers and flag and
then sent her to the bottom with a tor
pedo. The torpedo boats forthwith re-
joined the squadron after four hours
absence.
There was no sign of troops ashore
and the bay was empty but it was
learned that four Japanese torpedo
boat destroyers had put out to sea at
dawn April 25
The Russian squadron returned to
Vladivostok and late during the night
Of April 26 started on another expedi-
ton. At on the evening of April a.
when 300 miles out the squadron sight
ed a japanese steamer with war stores
Oh DOaEQ. deF crew, consisting OF 10
Koreans and II Japanese were placed
in safety and she was sunk by a
pyroXylin cartridge fired from the
Gromoboi. The same night, at about
IL o'clock, when the squadron was II
miles off Platskin bay, Korea, a large
Japanese transport, the Kinshiu Maru,
was overhauled. Her commander mis-
took the Russian for aJapanese squad
ron and signalled: II am bringing you
COAL" The Russian commander
promptly signalled in reply: stop
instantly" The crew of the transport
then recognized their mistake and be-
nacles with the greatest haste and en-
deavored to escape, but the Russian
steamer cutters captured them all on
board the transport were four. Hotch-
kiss guns of AZ millimeters- At the out
set it looked as if no one was Lett on
board but on examination 1t was
found that the cabin was locked ana
barred. Therein the Russians found
without resistance and We're taken on
board the Rurik. In another part OF
the ship 10 infantrymen, VINO refused
to surrender We're found.
Admiral Yeszen, whose vessel was
about 1000 yards away, ordered bis
men to leave the transport. The Japa-
nese soldiers then opened fire ana
wounded a Russian cOcksWain. After
wards the transport was sent to the
bottom by means of a mechanical ma
chine and a few shells. The Japanese
on board did not cease firing and made
no attempt to save themselves, al
though they had a launch in which
they could have left the transport
The fire of the Japanese actually con-
tinued until the waves closed over the
ship.
The transport had on board not only
ammunition, but 1000 tons of COAL Tor
Admiral Makamura.
The prisoners numbered 1885 including
II officers. Altogether 30 prisoners
were taken by the Russian squadron,
landed at VladiVostdk,~ and Immediate
ly dispatched by train to Nikolsk, where
it was reported at the time the Rus
sian cruisers were returning to Nald1-
vostok that a Japanese fleet of ten
vessels was also making for her but it
failed to reach V1adivostok, owing to
the fog.
A wireless telegraph message was
picked up by the Russian ships while
at sea. It was in code and uninteli-
gfble. but was evidently passing be-
tween the Japanese ships.
Among the japanese prisoners are
colonel and an officer Of the general
staff. while the soldiers include a num-
Der of Japanese Who before the war
worked as artisans at Vladivostok-
70 Japanese Were Drowned.
Toxic, April 29.--6 p. m.-Seventy-
three Japanese We're killed or drowned
as a result of the sinking of the Jap
anese transport Kinshiu Maru, which
was torpedoed by the Russian armor-
ed cruiser Rossia at midnight Monday
last.
The Kinshiu Maru parted from the
convoy of torpedo boats in a fog Mon
day and at 1880 D. m. met the Rus
sian fleet She was ordered to stop
and the Rossia steamed alongside,
summoned her navigating ofhcers on
board the Rossia and sent searching
party on board the transport This
party discovered two companies of
soldiers concealed below and reported
the fact to the Rossia- me latter
discharged a torpedo which struck
the Kinshiu Maru am1dships ana
broke her in two
While the transport was sinking the
soldiers on board of her rushed on
deck and fired volleys from their
rifles into the Rossia and as the Kin
shiu Maru sunk. several of the Off
GERS committed suicide. Three boats
which fioated free from the wreck
were the means of saving As soldiers
and nine of the kinshlu Maru passeh-
gers and crew.
Two captains and three lieutenants
were among the soldiers drowned
The survivors succeeded in getting
ashore and were conveyed by steamer
to Gensan today.
Gensan concerning the sinking OF the
Kinshiu Maru by the Russian cruiser
Rossia indicate that the soldiers who
killed themselves as the vessel went
down or were drowned, refused to
surrender to the Russians, choosing
death in preference. One non-com-
nissioned officer committed 'hari-
kari" according to ancient custom,
while the other men used rifles with
which to put an end to their lives
Official reports agree in placing the
number of casualties at 49, 1t is not
known here how many men the Rus
slams took from the transport, or
rescued after she was sinking. 1t is
possible that more survivors viii be
found. as one of the Kinshiu Maru's
boats is still missing
Russians Admire the Japanese.