Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-15
Destruction of the Russian
Ships in Controversy.
DIVERSE STATEMENTS
CONFLICTING REPORTS AS TO ANY
NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
Delayed Disatch From Port Arthur
Records a Battle-Paris Cablegram
Says Disaster Occurred Before.

PARIS, April IS, 1875 p.m.-Information
received in government quarters now
establishes the fact that naval battle oc-
Cured between the Japanese fleet, consist
Ing of fourteen warships, and the force
under the late Vice Admiral Makaroff.
From this the officials strongly incline to
the conclusion that the destruction Of the
Russian ships and the loss of the admiral
resulted from a naval engagement.
However, the only definite official infor-
nation is that battle occurred, and 1t is
believed that the Japanese submarine boats
took part in the engagement and caused the
destruction of the Russian ships.
Story Of the Battle.
PORT ARTHUR, Thursday, April IA (de-
layed in transmission).-An engagement
occurred at oclock yesterday morning be-
tween seven Russian torpedo boats and the
cruiser Bayan and Japanese vessels The
torpedo boat destroyer Bezstrashni was
sunk. Five of the torpedo boat destroyers,
with the Bayan, returned at am.
The battle ships Petropavlovsk, Pobieda
and Peresviet and the torpedo gunboat
Gaydamak then put to sea.
At $50 am. a terrific explosion occurred
beneath the Petropavlovsk and the ship
went down In two minutes.
The japanese squadron, consisting OF
about twenty ships, remained in sight until
o'clock in the afternoon.
Fighting Lasted an Hour.
The fighting between the opposing fotil-
las of torpedo boat destroyers lasted about
an hour. The Bezstrashni was surrounded
by three Japanese torpedo boat destroyers
and sunk The Japanese boats then with
drew and the japanese squadron appeared
on the horizon, whereupon the Russian
squadron left the roadstead, steering In the
direction Of the enemy's ships, which retir-
ed. Soon, however. the japanese reappear-
ed with a formidable force of about a score
of warships. The Russian squadron return
ed to the roadstead and took up position
In line of battle, ready to receive the
enemy.
The sudden explosion which destroyed
the PetropavlOvsk occurred almost immedi-
ately thereafter and the battle ship went
to the bottom.
The Grand Duke Cyril. Captain Jakovleff,
the commander of the Petropavlovsk; four
officers ana some fifty men were saved.
The battleship Pobieda was damaged
amidships and went into the inner harbor
where she anchored.
The enemy's vessels, which were formed
IN Two divisions, disappeared in the course
of the afternoon.
The fresh breeze which was blowing
throughout Wednesday developed into a
violent gale toward night
Kept UP a Running Fight.
The division of Russian torpedo boats,
which put to sea on Tuesday night, kept
up running fight with the enemy until
early Wednesday morning, when the cruis-
er Bayan steamed out to aid the torpedo
boat destroyer Bezstrashni, which was
crippled and unable TO shake off the Japan
ese attack. The Bayan drove the enemy
on, but the Bezstrashni sank at am
The Japanese torpedo boats withdrew,
but almost Immediately six Japanese war
ships appeared on the horizon. Admiral
Makaron ordered the squadron out to meet
them, and the japanese retired but soon,
almost Immediately reappeared reinforced
until the fleet consisted of sixteen or sew
enteen warships.
The Russians put back to the roadstead
and formed battle line. when, at precisely
10 o'clock. without warnings, the Petropav-
lovsk blew up and sank.
The Pobieda received a breach amid
ships, and retired to the inner harbor,
where an examination proved that her in
1uries were not very serious. Besides
Grand Duke Cyril, Capt. Jakovlefr and
Lieut.. Yakovsky. Midshipmen Sylitte,
Janish and Yakomleff were rescued. Re-
ports as to the number of seamen saved
are conflicting, one placing the number at
thirty-two, and another at ffty-one. They
were rescued by the torpedo gunboat Gay
damak.
The cause of the destruction of the Petro-
pavlovsk has not yet been ascertained
Saw the Ship Sink.
Special Dispatch The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, April ia cablegram from
Paris says: Prince Galitzen. governor OF
Russian Caucasus told st. Petersburg
correspondent of the Matin today that
Grand Duke Boris, who witnessed the de.
struction of the Petropavlovsk, says he sud.
denly a column of water and smoke
that reached to great height. The battle
ship turned violently and after settling
down disappeared. Four minutes sufficed tC
complete the work of destruction. Wher
the ship had gone down not a trace of the
disaster was to be seen on the surface of the
water.
Occurred Before Any Attack.
Admiral Makaroff who had summoned hi.
staf officers to his cabin, was engaged IL
completing a plan of attacking the japanese
fleet when the explosion occurred. All mus
have been suffocated by the steam The shir
was not blown to pieces, but sank In its
entirety.
Prince Galitzen declared that in officia
circles the opinion was freely expressed thai
the Petropav, vsk was struck by an inferna
machine left by the japanese on the occa
sion OF their last attempt to block Por
Arthur.
The mine tore into the snip and exploded
her boilers, projecting her into the air anS
overturning her.
Main Jap Force at Wiju.
cablegram from Shanghai says: Advice
from Seoul state that the main force O
japanese has arrived at Wiju Future land
ings will be made at Chulsan. at the moutl
Of the YaIu.
1t is reported that the japanese transpor
took home seventy wounded men as a resul
of the fighting during the march to Wiju.
Japs Lay It to Torpedoes.
PARIS. April 15.-The Japanese legatio,
says Rear Admiral Urius report show,
that Japanese torpedoes sunk the Petro
pavlovsk ard damaged the Pobieda ans
declares that the reports that submarine
boats did the damage are Incorrect as tn
japanese fleet had no Submarine boats.
The Japanese legation pays a high tribut
to the late Vice Admiral Makaroff
Memorial Services in Paris.
An impressive funeral service In mem
of Vice Admiral Makaroff and the ut "a