The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-15
Considers t Impossible for "Grtat Russia" tOSucGumb
 to little Japan
ALL IS CONFUSION ON
 BOARD CRUISER ASKOLD
Vessel Has Nearly 200 Shell Holes in Her Sides and Shows Many Signs of the Recent Ter
 rife Fight.

Shanghai August -(Evening.)-1t is expected that the Russian protected cruiser Askold, which arrived at Wos- sung on August 12, will dock tonight. A correspondent of the Associated Press went to the Askold today for the pur- pose of inspecting her, but at first it seemed impossible to obtain permission to do so. The sentry at the gangway answered every request to come on board with a stern refusal, no matter in what language the request was made. Finally appeal was made to Captain Grammatehi- koff, who with the consent of Captain Seibersteln, gave permission for the cor- respondent to come on board.
 Everything is In Confusion.
 On reaching the deck of the cruiser everything was found to be in confusion and 1t was noticed that no attempt had been made to put things in shape. There were many evidences of hurried flight and a running fight. The correspondent had expected to notice universal depres- sion and gloom on board the warship but on the contrary he soon became aware of remarkable spirit of cheerfulness and confidence on all sides. The members of the crew generally appeared to be health full, strong and in good spirits, although some of the men seemed to be downcast and absent minded. From all hands, how ever, the correspondent received a hearty handgrip. in answer to his words, show ing the appreciation and sincerity of the men with whom he spoke.
 Speaks Highly of Their Bravery.
 Many of the men on board the Askold spoke highly of the bravery Of the Ja- panese and of their readiness to fight There have been no misgivings as to the ultimate result of the present conflict, however, and this in spite of the disas- trous first six months They consider 1t impossible for Great Russia" to succumb before little Japan" They say that for every man who dies another comes out; that for every ship lost another will im- mediately come over the sea and that ultimate victory Is certain. 1t was sur prising to find men on the Askold who knew French, English and German. When questioned concerning the present losses, they simply answered: Tt is fate" and say they do not consider 1t hard to die for their country.
 Twelve men and one officer were killed on board the Askold and about fifty men were wounded. The badly wounded have been taken to hospitals and the captain of the cruiser has told them to be ready to sail in a weeks time.
 Hao Nearly 200 Shell Holes.
 Upon noticing the condition of the Askold which has nearly 200 shell holes in her, 1t is difficult to understand why her casualty list was not greater.
 The work of repairing the cruiser is now proceeding night and day. The crash of hammers and the noise of men work ing on metal Is audible all night long. In ten days time she can be sufficiently patched up to render her seaworthy but full repairs would take much longer. Her first and third tunnels are riddled with machine gun bullets and the base of af- other funnel has been almost entirely blown away at the deck level by a big shell. The after funnel was cut in two and telescoped on itself and the remains of 1t are held up now by guyropes. An eight inch armor piercing shell en- tered the Askold forward, on her star board side, about two feet above the water line and lodged in a coal bunker. A twelve inch shell entered a stateroom on the starboard quarter. cut it's way across the uecK ana explOueu III lne officers quarters on the port side of the vessel. destroying everything within reach. The deck house on the superstructure, under the forward bridge was riddled by the fragments of a shell which exploded in the forward funnel. All the search lights on the cruiser are damaged be- yond repair The torpedo netting was cut up by a shell and Is practically use less. The bottom of the Askold has sev- eral old and new injuries, one torpedo having made a big hole through her side | into a bunker which happily was fairly watertight
 The cruisers steering gear is supposed l to have been damaged, but her engines and boilers are in practically good con- dition. The Russian torpedo detroyer l Grozovoi which also reached here on l August 12. has no serious injuries, but 1 she is inexpressaby dirty and In a ne- glected condition. She was lowed up the river today and took a position along side the dismantled Russian gunboat MandJur.