The Washington times., 1904-06-18
DESTRUCTION OF
TWO TRANSPORTS

IOk III. June lo.-EALLACnlaEE Oh LlE
destruction of japanese transports in
the Korea Strait by vessels of the Rus
sian V~ladivostok squadron have been re-
ceived here.
The Russian warships were %encoant-
cred near Okino Island. directly in the
course Of any japanese vessel bound
westward from Moi.
II was on Wednesday morning at :
o'clock the transport Hitachi sighted
the enemy's vessels-two cruisers and
two destroyers. A blank shOt was fired
by one Of the Russian ships as a signal
for the Hitachi to stop Instead of
obeying the order the transport pat on
full speed and fled. with a Russian
cruiser in pursuit.
Russians Open Fire.
At 10 O'Clock the Russians opened fire
on the Hitachi with their smaller guns,
their apparent object being not TO sink
the vessel. but to XIII the men On
board.
The troops were mustered on deck,
when a Russian cruiser steamed close
and poured the fire of her machine
guns into her. making her a shambles.
The soldiers, in compliance with orders
did not reply 10 the FIRE.
Afterward the Russians drew along
side and sent three broadsides into the
mir. The slaughter OF men and horses
was terrible.
Regimental Colors Burned.
Colonel suchi. the officer in command
Of the soldiers on board. burned the
regimental colors 10 prevent them fall
ing into the enemy's hands. AS the
ship was seen to be in a sinking condi-
ton he ordered his men 90 jump over
board and try 10 save themselves by
swimming. There was no time TO launch
the boats.
The colonel had scarcely given this
order and was SIN speaking when he
was killed by a shell.
Most Of the officers on board commit
ted suicide with their pistols or SWORDS
The skipper, an Englishman OF the
name Of Campbell. jumped overheard
Hen Slain in the Water.
The water about the ship was filled
with men who had leaped from the
sinking vessel. The Russians turned
their rapid-fre guns on these swimmers,
causing fearful destruction Of life.
The last Russian b~roacsiGe exploded
the Hitachi's boilers and she sank
twenty-six miles from the mainland, be-
tween kin and Sh.mi Islands
It is now said that her survivors num-
Der less h q hundred
Sado Attacked.
The transport Sado was o%verhauled
by the Russians eleven miles south OF
Okino Island. and an order was given by
signals for her 10 stop. While the signal
was flying the Russians fired $50 shots,
approaching. meanwhile. within l5J
yards.
The crew Of the ado took 10 the boats
and rOwed off I'm different directions. So
far as they could see only We shots
struck the transport, but these did great
damage.
The sado was reported 10 be floating
high in the water. There are about 20J
survivors.
Non-Combatants Aboard.
Apparently both the Sado and the Hi
tachi had some non-cOmbatant passen-
gers on board IN addition to their crews.
Admiral Isunoda examined a survivor,
who said the Sado, foreseeing her fate,
sent "a boat 10 the Russian flagship "a
pariey. The Russians agreed 10 grant
forty minute IN which 20 clear the ship
and undertook 10 take the non-combat-
ants aboard.
Later they refused 10 embark the non
combatants. except the mate. who IS an
EnRlishman. They also torpedoed the
transport before the forty minutes had
expired
For some reason the Russian ships
withdrew early. They went TO the east
ward. past Oki sland.