New-York tribune., 1904-08-15
BATTLE IN COREA STRAIT
The RuriE Snnk-G -Gronoboi and
ROsSia Badly Battered.

NOoOt" OUSItS OUSSCfCus
Toxic. Aug. 14-vice Admiral Kamimura en-
countered the Russian vladivostok squadron at
dawn to-day north Of Tsu Island. in the strzit
Of Corea, and attacked the enemy at once.
The battle lasted for avs hours and resulted
in a complete Japanese victory.
The Russian cruiser Rurik wss sunk and tbs
cruisers Rossia and GromoboI fed to the north
ward. after having sustained serious damage.
Vice Admiral Kamimura's dispatch to the
Navy Department says that the injuries innict-
ed upon his vessels were slight.
The fate of the crew OF the Rurik is not
known 1t is presumed that many OF them were
killed or drowned.
The strength OF the feet under Vice Admiral
Kamimura Is not known. but it is presumed
that he had the Adsuma. the Idzuma the Iwate.
the Takashiho. and other light cruisers.
ALL JAPAN REJOICING.
Flags are living lanterns are glimmermS. ami
cries of "Banzai." are ringing in the streets Of
Toxic tonight in honor OF the victories gained
at sea. Underneath the JoIlity OF the populass
lies feeling of deep satisfaction and gratihca-
tion at the disposal Of desperately serious
problem of the war
The Russian squadron which confronted Ad-
miral Togo refused battle. 1t was stronger than
Admiral Toso's squadron in battleshtps and
armored cruisers. and had it elected to fight the
result might have altered the fortunes OF war
The strength OF the squadron which opposed
Admiral Togo compelled him to draw vessels
from the squadron under Vice Admiral Kami-
mura, and this left the Japanese navy powerlsss
to operate against the Russian vladfvostok
squadron and unable to prevent the raids of
these vessels.
NAvY's PLAN AT LAST FULFILLED
The raid conducted by the vladivostoz squad
ron in July was extremely expensive to Japan.
and not only retaliation tempting. but II
was demanded by commercial interests The
navy. however. griusly refused to make a di-
version and stuck to Port Arthur. 1t was con-
hdent that the harbor soon would be ul.tenahIe
for the Russian warships. that It would sventu-
ally get fair fight in the open sea. away from
the Russian land batteries and that the Jap
anese would win.
These calculations Of the navy were correct.
been hopelessly defeated.
Vice-Admiral Kamimura. after months OF
weary and patient waiting. nnaIly got his chance
at dawn to-day on Tsu Island. He sank the
Russian cruiser Rurik and sent the cruisers
Gromoboi and Rossia fleeing back from the nSkt.
CRUSHING BLOW TO RUssIAS POWER.
Japanese guns dominate the dockyards at Port
Arthur. and in view OF this fact IT would seem
to be impossible again to make seaworthy or
capable OF battle the Russian battlsshlps which
have returned TO Port Arthur. It Is probable
that the Russian battIeship Czarevftch win dis
arm at Tsing-Chau.
The best possible naval force that Russia can
now concentrate at vladivostok is four cruisers
The steamer Gaelic. bound for Shanghai. at 10
O'Clock yesterday morning sighted a Russian
cruiser evidently the NOvik, steering southeast
b. east. This course showed her to be heading
for Van Diemen Strait.
Van Diemen Strait is about TO miles south
OF Nagasaki and 1t would be presumed from the
NOvik's going in this direction that she hItenes
to try to reach vIaC-vostok by the east coast a.
Japan