The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-20

Toldo, June 19, 5 D. m.-The remarkable raid of the Russian Vladivostock squad ron is evidently over The squadron dis appeared yesterday off Cape Henashi' steering to the north and it has not been reported since. It is assumed to be re- turning to vladivostock. Whether or not n portion of Vice Admiral Kamimura's 8 squadron Is awaiting the Russians off vladivostock Is a carefully guarded se- rret. Assuming that Vice Admiral Ram lmura despatched some of his vessels to vladivostoek when he learned that the Russian squadron was off Xxi island, fhese ships would have had ample time to arrive there ahead of the Russians and will be ready to give battle.
 The weather has been foggy, and thus conditions have been against the Japan ese. It is said that the raiding Russians captured a British steamer laden with coal, bound south from the Island of Yezo, and sent her to Vladivostock with n prize crew. but the report is not con nrmed by the Japanese navy depart ment.
 Three Vessels Hauled.
 The transport S.do, Hitachi. and Eumi were the only vessels hauled by the Rus sians.. Japan had thirteen transports in and near the Strat of Korea the morning the Sado and the Hitachi were caught, and she was fortunate that only the three ships mentioned were overtaken by the enemy
 It is impossible to get complete facts concerning the sinking of the Hitachi. She evidently failed to stop when sig nailed to do so by the Russian vessel. The claim is made that Captain Campbell the English master of the Hitachi, refused to stop and planned to run the Russian guard, but this is denied. 1t is said that the Japanese officers on board the Hita- chi declined to surrender, and required Captain Campbell to keep his ship going. The assertion that the Russians fired upon the lifeboats, in which the men were escaping from the Japanese boats, is fully substantiated.
 Japanese Admiral Censured.
 The raid of the Vladivostock squadron has brought an unwarranted amount of criticism upon Vice Admiral Kamimura from the Japanese, and his failure to catch the Russians in the firing off Gen San, off the coast of Korea, when the Japanese transport Kinshui was sunk on April 26. with a loss of about two hun- dred men, have been recalled.
 Some of these even declare that il Vice Admiral Kamimura fails to catch the Russian vessels before they reach Vladivostock, he should either resign from the navy or commit suicide.
 datf1 rPnlacement Is growing but the public is without in- formation as to the nature of his orders, pr the plans of the naval campaign, and fail; to make allowance for the limita- ton of conditions.
 Vice Admiral Kamimura' s squadron was Iying off Tsu Island when the raiding Russians reached Okino Island. He i'm mediately started in pursuit of the enemy but remains obscure in the sea- and an electrical storm interfered with his system of wireless telegraphy.
 Had Bad Luck.
 Vice Admiral Kamimura is a splendid officer, and the only possible indictment against him is the one or lack or good luck. The Japanese generally magnify the importance of this Russian raid which has no material effect on the war It was desperate venture, and 1t is be- lieved here to have succeeded only through blind luck.
 The Yawata and the Ansei, two sail ing ships, were sunk by the Russians or Thursday between ko Island an Okushir Island, off the west coast of Yeso and north of the Tsugaru strait Thirty-sev. en survivors reached Esashi on Thursday afternoon. This makes a total of fiv, Japanese ships sunk or destroyed by tn, Russian raiders.