Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-08-25

much.tried Russian admiralty. The
Official report OF Vice Admiral Skryd-
lon, coming on the heels of the known
losses sustained by the Port Arthur
squadron in its desperate sortie of
Aug. 10, and the anxiety over the fate
of the warships still unaccounted for,
not only confirming the sinking of
the Rurik, but showing that the in
juries sustained by the Gromoboi and
Rossia in the fight Vice Admiral Kam,-
mura's squadron were even greater
than anticipated, completes the
crushing nature of the blow to Rus
sla's lll-starred naval forces in the
far east.
Vladivostok Squadron Destroyed.
So far as the immediate future is
concerned the admiralty does not dis,
guise the fact that the Vladivostok
squadron is destroyed. The effect
upon the public is also most depress'
ing The only consolation found is in
the words of praise bestowed on the
officers and men and the unequal char
aCter of the fight, Russian naval eX-
ports by the system of coefiicients
figuring that the interiority of the
Vladivostok squadron in armor and
guns was 50 to 200.
In some quarters of the navy there
is also a disposition to censure Rear
Admiral lessen for abandoning the
Rurik even though standing by her
would have meant that the GrOmoboi
and Rossia would have shared her
fate The chief mystery at the
admiralty here is why Vice Admiral
Kamimura drew off when Admiral
lessons ships were at his mercy.
The only explanation is that his
squadron must have suffered such
such heavy damage that it could not
continue the battle.
Decks of the Rossia ShambIes.
1t IS confirmed that the losses of
officers and men on board the Rossia
and Gromoboi were so per cent. of the
former and 25 per cent of the latter,
showing the dreadful havoc caused by
the fire from the Japanese ships even
at a range exceeding three miles.
Private reports say the decks of the
Rossia were veritable shambles,
Ships Must Be Docked.
Detailed reports of the injuries sus
tanned by the Gromobci and Rossia
naturally are withheld, but no doubt
exists that they are serious enough to
require going into dry dock. So far as
known there is only one dock at Vladi-
vostok and it is now occupied by the
Bogatyr Consequently this will make
the repair work slow.
The hope of accomplishing the
cherished plan of the admiralty of
uniting the two Russian far eastern
squadron to await the coming of the
Baltic fleet seems now almost hope.
less. as the fighting strength of the
Port Arthur squadron has been great.
~ reduced and there is no longer any
possibility of aid from the Vladivostok
feet. Nevertheless, the admiralty ex-
poets that the battleships. If they re-
turn to Port Arthur, will sally forth
again, even to certain destruction
But the whereabouts Of the battleship
division and of the protected cruisers
Diana and Pallada are not considered
here TO be absolutely established. The
weight Of opinion continues TO CORE
spond with the foreign reports that
the battleships are back at Port
Arthur, but some of the officials at the
admiralty cling to the hope that they
escaped Emperor Williams request
that the German naval attaches at
Port Arthur, Capt Hoffman and Lieut.
Won Gilgenheim, be instructed TO leave
the fortress, is generally regarded as
conclusive.
No News Of PalIada's Loss.
Authorities here are without in.
formation in regard to the reported
torpedolng of Russian cruiser OF the
Palada type, which, they say, must
mean the Diana The reports of both
Capt Matouseyitch and Capt Reitzen
stein indicated that these cruisers
were with the Novik throughout but
nothing has been heard Of either since
the naval battle Of Aug. 10
Both the official Russian reports
agree as to the main details Of the
engagement and the manner in which
the big irOnclads "in the form OF
gridiron backed and counter-tacked'
as they delivered their broadsides
But ven is drawn when the cruiser
division escaped and the Czarevitch
was disabled
The newspapers here received the
official advices this morning too late
for comment. The spirits Of the PEG
pie may be judged from the fact that
although this is holiday, there are
no crowds in the streets, but the
churches were thronged by whole
families mourning the loss Of loved
ones with the fleets.
Russian Dead, 1873; Wounded, al.
In a detailed report Of the battle
with Kamimura's feet, forwarded By