The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1904-06-24
VLADIVOSIOK SQUADRON OUT
RUSSIANS TRY TO MENACE THE
JAPANESE TRANSPORTS.
May Remain Out Three or Four
Weeks-DetaIs Given of Capture of
Two Japanese Transports Rus
SLAMS Sink Transport Carrying Sick
and Wounded.

Toxic June 21.-The Russian ST.
berian squadron from Vladivostok
was sighted again at noon yesterday
off Main island in the sea of Japan
but was apparently following out a
prearranged plan, as the vessels
steamed at about II knots speed slow
ly toward the northwest, paying no at
tention to the shores. Judging by their
position in the water they are heavily
laden and it is supposed that before
leaving Vladivostok on this last trip
they filled all their reserve bunkers
with coal so that they can keep out
of port for not less than three weeks.
In spite of the menace to their trans
port fleet, the Japanese officials here
declare that their original plans will
be carried out, no matter what the
cost. They declare there is no chance
for the Port Arthur squadron to make
a sortie to join Admiral Skrydloff, as
Admiral Togo has so disposed of his
ships about the harbor mouth snat
any vessels putting out will be sunk
before they are even cleared of the
road stead.
Additional details of the attack on
the Japanese transports by vessels of
the Russian Vladivostok squadron
have been received which in some re-
spects differ from the earlier stories.
1t is not true that the Russians fired
on the defenseless boats after they
had signified they would surrender.
Both craft were trying to escape when
fired on. On Wednesday last the trans
ports were steaming along at the rate
of Is knots an hour and were about 20
miles from Mill when the lookout on
the Hitachi Maru reported three Rus
sian cruisers just ahead. The trans
ports turned forthwith and started
back at full speed. The Russian cruis-
er Rossia was the first to see the trans
ports and her commander started in
the chase at the same time opening
fire on the Hitachi.
Superior Speed of Russians.
For time it seemed as though the
ships would escape, but finally the SUI
perior speed of the Russians began to
tell and slowly but surely the Rossia
began overhauling the vessels. She be-
gan firing while 200 meters distant and
kept it up until within 500 meters from
the Hitachi, when ten shells struck the
latter in rapid succession, disabling
the ship and killing many men. Having
accomplished this the Russians passed
on and torpedoed the Sado Maru Leav-
ing the latter disabled they returned to
the Hitachi and poured a heavy fire
of shells into her.
The Hitachi was finally torpedoed
and sank While the Russians were
dealing with the Sado, about so of the
Hitachi crew loaded boats and es-
capped, finally reaching land. All of
the others who remained on board lost
their lives.
In the meantime all was confusion
on board the Sado, but finally 500 sue
ceeded in lowering the vessels boats
and escaped, the Russians making no
effort to stop them. The 400 who re-
manned on the sinking craft, deter
mined to go down with her, were great
ly surprised when the Russians sailed
away without further molesting the
steamer. The Sado drifted along with
her decks nearly awash, finally bring
ing up on the beach in the Kosada
straits, where the survivors got ashore
without the loss of a man.
After leaving the two transports
the Russians encountered the Izumi
Maru. which was bringing sick and
wounded from Chinampo, and sank
her. How many were lost on the lat
ter craft is not yet known.