The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-19
JAPANESE VICTORY.
Russian vI.divostok Fleet Encountered
and Cruiser Rurik Sunk-Other
Vessels Damaged.


Washington. Aug. 16.-The Japanese
legation has received cablegram from
Toxic, saying that Admiral kamimura
reports:
Our squadron after five hours Sc
we're fghting with the three ships OF the
Vladivostok squadron on the morning
OF the 14th in the mouth Of Tsushima
island. sank the Rurik. The other two
ships, which appeared to have suf-
fered heavily, fed northward. Our dam
ages are slight"
Another cablegram from Toxic to the
legation says:
The commander of the Takashln.
naval station states that our feet re-
ported by wireless telegraph that the
Vladivostok squadron was silenced on
the 14th. The cruiser Takashiho sub
sequently reported that a naval battle
is being fought"
Toxic, Aug. i6.-Flags are flying.
lanterns are glimmering and cries OF
Banzaf' are ringing in the streets of
Toxic in honor of the victories gained
at sea by Admiral Togo and Vice Ad-
miral Kamimura.
The Russian squadron which con-
fronted Admiral Togo refused battle.
1t was stronger than Admiral Togo's
squadron in battleships and armored
cruisers, and had it elected to fight
the result might have altered the for
tunes of war. The strength of the
squadron which opposed Admiral Togo
compelled him to draw vessels from
the squadron under Vice Admiral
Kamimura, and this left the Japanese
navy powerless to operate against the
Russian Vladivostok squadron and un-
able to prevent the raids of those yes
sells.
The navy, however. firmly refused to
make a diversion, and stuck to Port
Arthur. 1t was confident that the har-
Dor soon would be untenable for the
Russian warshfps. that it would event
ually get fair fight in the open sea
away from the Russian land batteries.
Vice Admiral Kamimura, after
months of weary and patient waiting.
finally got his chance, at dawn off the
Tsu island. He sunk the Russian
cruiser Rurik and sent the cruisers
Gromoboi and Rossia fleeing back from
the fight.
Japanese guns dominate the dock
yards at Port Arthur, and in view Of
this fact it would seem impossible
again to make seaworthy or fightable
the Russian battleships which have re-
turned to Port Arthur. 1t is probable
that the Russian battleship czarevitch
will disarm at Using Chou.
The best possible naval force that
Russia can possibly concentrate at
Vladivostok is four cruisers.
In the fight of August 10 the squad
ron under Admiral Togo was practical
iy uninjured. The battleship Mikasa
suffered the most, but she continues on
the fighting line.
The cruisers Yakumo, Nishpin and
kasauga also We're hit, but temporary
repairs already have been made, and
they are fully serviceable. Eleven
wounded officers and sixty-six wounded
men arrived at Sazebo tonight. The
Imperial prince Hiroyas ukwacho who
holds the rank of commander in the
Japanese army, was hit in the region
of the heart His wound, however, Is
slight.
The steamer Gaelic. bound for sbang-
hal, at 10 o'clock this morning sighted
a Russian cruiser, evidently the Novik,
steering southeast by east This course
showed her to be heading for Van Die
men strait.
Van Diemen strait is about 120 miles
south of NagasaM and 1T would be pre-
sumed that the Novik's going this di-
fection that she purposes to try and,
reach Vladivostok via the east coast Of
Japan.