The Bourbon news., 1904-08-16
IN A FIERCE BATTLE.
Russian Cruiser Rurik Sunk by
Adm. kamiIur0's Fleet.
Cruisers Rossia and Gronboi Were
.0isabIed-Tokio Joyous Over the
News, as it Gives Japan Mas
terry Over the Seas.


Toxic, Aug. 13.-Adm. Togo has re-
ported as follows:
"On August 10 our combined fleet
attacked the enemys fleet near Gu
gan rock. The Russian vessels were
emerging from Port Arthur trying to
go south. We pursued the enemy to
the eastward. Severe fighting lasted
from 1 O'Clock Wednesday, afternoon
until sundown; toward the close the
enemy's fire weakened remarkably.
His formation became confused and
then his ships scattered. The Rus
sian cruisers Aslzold and Novik and
several torpedo boat destroyers fed
to the southwark Other of the ene-
my's ships retreated separately toward
Port Arthur We pursued them and
it appears that we inflicted considera-
BILE damage. We found life buoys and
other articles belonging to the Rus
sian battleship Czarovitch floating at
sea. The Czarovitch probably was
sunk. We have received no reports
from the torpedo boats and the tor
pedo boat destroyers which were en-
gagged in the attack on the ships
Toxic, Aug. 15.-Vice Adm Kami-
tura encountered the Russian Vladivo-
stOk squadron at dawn Sunday, north
of Tsu island, in the Strait of Korea
and attacked the enemy at once. The
battle lasted for five hours and re-
suited in complete japanese victory.
Tho A. l.
and the cruisers Rossia and Grom-
boi fed to the northward after having
sustained serious damage
Vice Adm. Kamitura cables the navy
department that the injuries inflicted
upon his vessels were slight. The fates
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 Adm Kamitura
is not known, but it is presumed that
he had the Adsuma, Idsugo. Iwate,
Takashiho, and other light cruisers.
Toxic is joyous over the news. as
it gives Japan mastery of the sea
and restores commerce.
Flags are flying, lanters are glim-
mering and cries of -Banzai" were
ringing in the streets of Toxic Sun
day night in honor of the victories
gained on sea by Adm. Togo and Vice
Adm. Kamitura. Underneath the jol-
lity of the populace lies feeling of
deep satisfaction and qualification at
the disposal of a desperately serious
problem of the war.
The Russian squadron which con-
frOnted Adm. Togo refused battle It
was stronger than Adm. Togos squad
ron in battleships and armored cruis-
ers, and had it elected to fight the
result mig have altered the fortunes
of war. Tie strength of the squad
ron which opposed Adm. Togo COM
PEELED him to draw vessels from the
squadron under Vice Adm Kamitura,
and this left the Japanese navy pow.
,erless to operate against the Russian
Vladivostok squadron and unable to
prevent the raids of these vessels.
The raid conducted by the Vladi.
yostok squadron in July was extreme
ly expensive to Japan, and not only
was retaliation tempting, but it was
demanded by commercial interests.
The navy, however, grimly refused
to make diversion and stuck to Port
Arthur 1t was confident that the har
Dor soon would get fair fight in the
open sea away from the Russian land
batteries, and that the Japanese would
win. These calculations of the navy
were correct and the Russians, with
the chances even, have been hopeless
ly defeated.
Vice Adm. Kamimura, after months
of weary and patient waiting, finally
got his chance at dawn Sunday of
Tsu island
He sunk the Russian cruiser Rurik
and sent the cruisers Gromboi 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 to be impossi-
able the Russian battleships which
have returned to Port Arthur 1t is
probable that the Russian battleship
Czaroyitch will disarm at Using Chou.
The best possible naval force that
Russia can now concentrate at Vladi-
vostok is four cruisers
London, Aug. 15.-Russia's latest
naval disaster has a peculiar interest
for Englishman, as it was apprehen-
sion caused by the enormous power Of
the cruisers Rurik and Rossia. two of
the vessels which composed the Ylad-
ivostok squadron, which led the Brit
ish government to build the monster
cruisers Terrible and Powerful The
naval battles are discussed here with
the greatest interest The latest de-
tails showing that the fighting be-
tween Vice Adm. Togo's fleet and the
Port Arthur fleet began at a distance
of about four miles are held to prove
the necessity for the possession of big
ironclads. The fleets appear never to
have approached each other closer
than distance Of $500 yards.
The Russian Flag Pulled Down.
Using Chou, Aug 15.-The Russian
f7a0 was at MON Sunday r,1TJod dourv,