The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-19
AIexleff Reports on Fight.

St Petersburg, August 1s.-Emperor Nicholas has received a despatch from Vteerov Alexieff dated at VladlVostock' August IT, saying that the cruisers Rossla and Gromboi of the Vladivostock squad ron returned to Vladivostock August It, and communicating the following report made by Rear Admiral lessen, comman- der of the squadron:
 Al dawn on August IA, the Rossia, Gromboi and Rurik arrived 42 miles rom and parallel with Flu San and 30 miles from the northern light house of Tsu Is- land.
 Then to the westward I saw Jap anese squadron of armored cruisers six miles to the north travelling parallel with our course This squadron consisted or four vessels of the Iwate type and was putting on full speed.
 q took a course to the northward with R view to attaining the open sea, but the enemy. who was of superior speed turned immediately and took the same course.
 q was therefore obliged to engage in battle, which commenced at 5 o'clock in the morning with a distance of sixty cables between the two squadrons. GA ca- ble length is 200 yards.)
 ''In the straits to the south we saw second class cruiser of the Naniwa type coming to join the enemy
 Started for Korean Coast.
 At convenient opportunity we rapid ly turned to the right intending to ap- proach the Korean coast and by increas- ing our speed to seventeen knots we seemed to have an opportunity of suc- ceeding but the enemy now observed our intention and directed his course to- wards us for the purpose of hindering our design.
 Hardly five minutes passed before the Rurik left the ranks and signalled that her steering gear was disabled. I re- piled Steer with the engines and con- tinued on my former course.
 Seeing that all of the Japanese cruisers were directing their fire on the Rurik all my subsequent maneuverine was with the object of enabling the Rurik to re- pair her damaged rudder. I attracted to myself the enemys fire in order to cover the Rurik- (Admiral lessen was on the flagship Rossia)
 At this time saw two warshins one a second and the other third class cruiser coming 10 join the enemy.
 'The Rurik hoisted the signal cannot steer Some maneuvers 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 erly. The Rurik answered the signal and took the requisite course at full sneed as could be seen from the waves from her bows. Eventually the Rossia and the Gromboi took northerly course at ais tance of 42 cables. The Rurik kept a course approximately southeast at dis tance of three miles.
 Fight Continued Two Hours.
 .eThe battle contiE l for two hours in this manner
 We suffered considerable damage. The Rossia had three tunnels pierced. which prevented her from keeping up good steam, and three of her boilers were rem dered useless.
 At 9:3O o'clock the Rurik began to laying behind considerably and again turned her bows toward the shore at the same time fighting against the two sec ond class cruisers which had joined the enemy's squadron. The hurik soon after ward began to get out of sight.
 Vice Admiral Kamimura with four arr mored cruisers kept steadfastly engaging us in such manner as to keep us from as- sisting the Rurik.
 While the Rurik continued fighting we continued our efforts to attract the