The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-15
This Time 1t Is the VIadiVostol
Squadron That Suffers.
Japanese Encounted 1t In the
Straits of Korea.
CRUISER RURIK SUNK.
Others Badly Damaged Flee to
the NorthWard.
Great Rejoicing in Toxic Over
the Victory.

Toxic, Aug. 15.-11 a. ma dis
patch to the admiralty from the naval
Establishment at Takeshilxi says Admi-
raj Kamamura met the Vladivostok
squadron 20 miles from Ulsan, Korea. al
5 O'Clock Sunday morning. The battle
ended at 1890 a. m. The Rurik sank,
her bow standing up perpendicularly.
The japanese rescued $50 members of
the Rurik's crew.
The Rossia and the Gromoboi
caught fire several times and were
heavily damaged
Only one of the Japanese ships was
nit. Two japanese were killed and
seven were wounded.
Driven Back.
Toxic, Aug. 15.-Vice Admiral Kami-
1nura encountered the Russian Vladivos-
fox squadron at dawn north of Tsu
island in the straits of Korea, and at
tackled the enemy at once. The battle
lasted for five hours, and resulted in a
complete japanese victory. The Rus
sian cruiser Rurik was sunk, and the
cruisers Rosa and Gromoboi led to
the northward after having sustained
serious damage
Vice Admiral Kamimura cables the
navy department that the injuries in
hicted upon his vessels were slight.
TIE 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 fleet under Vice
admiral Kamimura is not known. but
Ct is presumed that he had the Adsuma,
1dSumO, IWate, TakaSh1Sno ana other
light cruisers
Toxic is joyous over this news, as 1t
gives Japan mastery of the sea and re-
stores commerce.
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 fortunes
of war. The strength of the squadron
that opposed Admiral Togo compelled
him to draw vessels from the squadron
under Vice Admiral Kamimura and
this left the Japanese navy powerlesS
10 operate against the Russian Vladi-
vostok squadron and unable to prevent
the raids of these vessels.
The raid conducted by the Vladivos-
tok squadron in July was extremely ex-
pensive to Japan, and not only was re
taliation tempting, but it was demand
ed by commercial interests. The navy,
however, grimly refused to make a di-
version and stuck to Port Arthur. 1t
was confident that that narbor soon
would be Untenable for the Russian
warships, that it would eventually get
a fair fight on the open sea away from
the Russian land batteries and that the
japanese would win These calculations
of the navy were correct, and the Rus
SLAMS with the chances evened, have
been nopelessly defeated
Vice Admiral kamimura, after
months of weary and patient waiting,
finally got his chance off Tsu island.
He sunk the cruiser Rurik and sent
the cruisers Gromoboi and Rossia fee
ing back from the fight.
japanese guns dominate the dock
yards at Port Arthur. and in view of
this fact it would seem to be impos-
sible again to make seaworthy or
1ghtable the Russian battleships
which have returned to Port Arthur.
1t is probable that the Russian bat
tleship, Czarevitch will disarm at
Tsingchou.
The best possible naval force that
Russia can now concentrate at Vladi-
Nostok is four cruisers.
In the fight of August 10 the squad
ron under Admiral Togo was practic-
ally uninjured. The battleship Mikasas
suffered the most, but she continues
Yakumo. Nissihin and Kasuga also
were hit, but temporary repairs al
ready have been made and they are
fully serviceable.
Eleven wounded officers and sixty
six wounded men arrived at Sasebo to-
day. Tie imperial prince, Hiroyasu
Kwa Che, who holds the rank of COM
mander in the japanese navy, was hit
in the region of the heart. His wound.
however. is slight.
The steamer Gaelic, bound for
Shanghai. at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning sighted a Russian cruiser. ev-
identity the Novik, steering southeast
by east. This course showed her to
be heading for Van Dieman strait Van
Dieman strait is about 100 miles south
of NagasalIi, and it would be pre-
sumed from the Novik being in this
direction that she purposes to try and
reach Vladivostok by the east coast
of Japan
Confirmation has reached Nagasaki
of the reports that the Russian cruiser |
Rurik was sunk in the fighting in the |
Strait of Korea. and that the Russian |
cruisers RoSsia and Gromoboi escaped |
TO the north, having suffered serious |
damage.
Flags are flying, lanterns are gIim- |
mering and cries of ''Banzai'' are ring |
ing in the streets of Toxic in honor |
of the victories gained at sea by Ad- |
miral Togo and Vice Admiral Kami- |
mura. Underneath the jollification of |
the populace lies a feeling of deep |
satisfaction and qualification at the |
disposal of desperately serious prob
lem of the war
Activity Aboard Baltic Fleet.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 15.-There is
considerable activity aboard the ships |
of the Baltic fleet. A large amount of i
sailors baggage is being taken to the |
new battleship Oriel. Orders have |
been issued that all torpedo boats and |
destroyers OF the second division shall
be coaled to full capacity. The boats |
are to await further orders in the small /
roadsted at Cronstadt. Shore liberty |
on all vessels has been curtailed.
Chinese Taking a Hand.
Mukden, Aug. 15.-The Chinese
bandit leaders Kitsushan, Tulisan and /
Folingo, each with a thousand follow
ers. are now in the Sinminting dis
trict. moving up the Lao river valley |
with the object of attacking the rail-
way. Each of the bands, which were
organized by Japanese, is accompanied
by a hundred Japanese with mountain
guns.
500 Russians Made Prisoners.