The San Francisco call., 1904-04-30
japanese Fire Until the
Waves Close Over Their.
Sinking Transport.
Russian Admiral's Squadron
of Cruisers Returns to
Vladiyostok Station.

VLADTVOSTOK. April 29. - The
squadron commanded By Rear Admiral
Yeszen has returned here from recent
operations off the Korean Coast. The
squadron, consisting of the armored
cruisers Rossiay. Rurik and Gromoboi
and the protected cruiser Bogatyr. put
to sea at daybreak April 23. The Rurik
returned the following day, but the
others proceeded to Wonsan (Gensan),
Korea, and hove TO off the town dur
ing the morning Of April %. about five
miles from the entrance OF the bay.
Admiral Yeszen sent into the bay
two torpedo boats, commanded by
Lieutenant Maximcff. AS they ran in
towards the shore they round the Jap
anese trading steamer Goyo Maru at
anchor with crew of about twenty
men on board. The latter were ordered
ashore Lieutenant Maximoff boarded
the Gcyo Maru. took possession of her
papers and flag and then sent her to
the bottom with torpedo. The torpedo
boats forthwith rejoined the squadron
after four hours absence. There was
no sign of troops ashore and the bay
was empty, but it was learned that
four japanese torpedo boat destroyers
had put out to sea at dawn April %.
SINKING OF STEAMERS.
The Russian squadron returned to
Vladivostok and late during the night
Of April 26 started on another expedi-
ton. At on the evening of April
27 when 800 miles out. the squadron
sighted a japanese steamer with war
stores on board. Her crew. consisting
Of fifteen Koreans and twelve japanese,
were placed in safety and the steamer
was sunk by a pyroxylin cartridge
fired from the Gromoboi.
The same night, about IL o'clock,
when the squadron was twelve miles
of Plaksin Bay, Korea. a large Jap
anese transport, the Kinshiu Maru. was
overhauled. Her commander mistook
the Russian for q Japanese squadron
and signaled L am bringing you coal"
The Russian commander promptly
signaled in reply: stop instantly"
The crew Of the transport then recog-
nized their mistake and began to lower
boats and steam pfnnaces with the
greatest haste and endeavored TO es-
cape, but the Russian steam cutters
captured them all.
On board the transport were four
Hotchkiss guns of forty seven milli-
meters. At the outset it looked as il
no one was left on board. but on ex-
animation it was found that the cabin
was locked and barred. Therein the
Russians found six infantry officers,
who surrendered without resistance and
were taken on board the Rurik. Tn an
other part of the ship 13O infantrymen,
who refused TO surrender, were found.
AMMUNITIoN is LOST.
Admiral Yeszen. whose vessel was
about 1900 yards away, ordered his men
to leave the transport. The japanese
soldiers then opened fire and wounded
Russian. Afterward the transport
was sent TO the bottom by means Of a
mechanical mine and a few shells. The
japanese on board did not cease firing
and made no attempt to save them
selves, although they had a launch in
which they could have left the trans
port The fire of the Japanese actu-
ally continued until the waves closed
over the ship.
The transport had on board not only
Jul -tpD AOllS VI NOclA AO4
Admiral Makamura The prisoners
numbered 1S3, including seventeen Of
ficers. Altogether 2l0 prisoners were
taken by the Russian squadron, landed
at VladivostoR and Immediately dis
patched by train to Nikolsk.
II was reported at the time the Rus
sian cruisers were returning to Vladi-
vostok that a japanese fleet of ten yes
sells was also making for here. but it
failed to reach Vladivostok owing to
the fog.
A wireless telegraph message was
picked up by the Russian ships while
at sea 1t was in code and unintelli-
gible. but was evidently passed between
the japanese ships.
Among the Japanese prisoners are a
colonel and an officer of the general
staff, while the soldiers include num-
Der of japanese who before the war
worked as artisans at Vladivostok.