New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-08-19
SINKING OF THE RURIK.
Rear admiral Jessen's Story of His
Fight 7cith Kan1imura.

St Petersburg. Aug 1S-Emperor Nicholas
has received dispatch from Viceroy Ale,ietr
dated at Vladivostok. August II, saying that
the cruisers Rossa and Gromoboi, OF the vladi-
Vostok squadron. returned TO Vladivostok on
August 16 and communicated the following re-
port made by Rear Admiral lessen. commander
Of the squadron:
At dawn on August IA the Rossia, the Gromo-
Dol and the Rurik arrived forty-two miles from
and parallel with Fusau and thirty miles from
The northern Lighthouse OF Tsu Island When
10 the westward ! saw japanese squadron OF
arTnored cruisers six miles TO the north, trav-
ching parallel with our course This squadron
consisted of four vessels OF the Iwats type and
was putting on full speed.
took course to the northward. with a view
TO attaining the open sea, but the enemy. who
was of superior speed turned Immediately and
took the same course I was therefore Obliged To
engage in battle, which began at o'clock In the
morning with distance of sixty cables between
bred yards.)
In the straits TO the south we saw a second
class cruiser Of the Naniwa type coming to
join the enemy.
JAPANESE PREVENT MANGUvRE.
At a convenient opportunity we rapidly turned
to the right, intending to approach the Corean
coast, and by increasing our speed 10 seventeen
knots We seemed TO have an opportunity OF
succeeding. but the enemy now observed our in
tention and directed his course toward US for
the purpose Of hindertng our design.
Hardly FIVE minutes passed before the Rurik
left the ranks and signaled that her steering
gear was disabled. I replied steer with the
engine" and continued my former course
Seeing that all the Japanese cruisers were
concentrating their fire the Rurik, all my
subsequent manoeuvrins was exclusively with
the object of enabling the Rurik to repair her
damaged ruddcr. I attracted to myself the
enemy's fire in order to cover the Rurik. (Ad-
miral Jessen was the flagship Rossial. AT
this time I saw two warsbips, one second and
the other q third class cruiser, coming to join
the enemy.
The Ruri-t hoisteG the signal Cannot steer"
Some manoeLvricg in the front line gave the
Rurik a chance of going in the direction OF the
Corean Gulf and at o'clock the signal was
hoisted go east" The Rurik answered the
signal and took the requisite course at full speed
as could be seen from the waves from her bows
THE SQUADRON SEPARATES.
Eventually the Rossia and the Gromoboi took
a uortherly course at a distance OF forty-two
cables The Rurik kept course approximately
southeast at a distance Of three miles.
The battle continued for two hours in this
manner We suffered considerable damage
The Rossia had three tunnels pierced. which
prevented her keeping up good steam. and three
of her boilers were rendered useless
At $50 o'clock the Rurik began 70 lag behind
considerably and again TUNED her bows toward
the shore at the same time fighting against
the two second class cruisers which had joined
the ener1y's squadron. The Rurik soon after
ward began 10 get out of sight Vice-Admirai
Karnimura, with four armored cruisers, steadily
engaged us in such manner as to keep US from
assisting the Rurik-
While the Rurik continued fighting we con-
tinued our efforts TO attract the enemy further
north in hope that the Rurik would man
age TO dispose of her TWO comparatively weaker
opponents, and that after repairing the dam
age 20 her rudder, she would be able TO reach
VIadivos.ok independently. Shortly before ~
o'clock the enemy's fire was the most terrific
of the battle 1t to our general aston1shmerlt
the whole japanese squadron left US after the
most deadly fight, which had lasted hVe hours
The Rossa had sustained eleven holes at her
waterline and the Gromoboi had six. Both
cruisers LOST more than half their officers, and
the losses among the men totalled % per cent
II appeared impossible to renew the battle or
TO return 10 the Rurix which was now thirty
miles TO the south. Taking advantage OF the
calm we stopped engines and quickly began
10 repair the breaches in our vessels, so aS TO
enable rs TO proceed TO Vadivostok.
CAPTAIN Berlnsky. of the Rossia, was killed.
and several OF his officers were wounded. On
/ hoard the Gromoboi two leutenants were killed
and other officers were wounded. Both cruis-
ers had 1876 men killed and 307 wounded Cap
tain Berlinsl<y was buried at sea.