The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-19
Vladiyostok Ships.


the Askold without going into dock, Cap
tain Reitzenstein proceeded to Shanghai
Vladiyostok Ships.
Emperor Nicholas has received q
dispatch from Viceroy Alexief, dated /
at Vladivostok, Aug. II, saying that I
the cruisers ROsSia and Gromoboi Of
the Vladivostok squadron returned to
Vladivostok, Aug. 16, and communi-
eating the following. report, made by
Rear Admiral lessen, commander of
the squadron:
At dawn on Aug. IA the Rossia Grom-
obof and Rurik arrived forty-two miles
from and parallel with Fusan and thirty
miles from the northern lighthouse of
Tsu island.
When to the westward saw a Jap
anese squadron of armored cruisers six
miles to the north, travelling parallel with
our course This squadron consisted of
four vessels of the Iwatee type, and was
putting on full speed
/ / took course to the northward with
view to attaining the open sea, but the
enemy who was Of superior speed, turned
Immediately and took the same course.
Engaged In Battle.
I was therefore obliged to engage in
battle. which commenced at g. O'Clock in
the morning, with a distance of sixty
cables between the two squadrorls. "a
cable length is 200 yards.)
4 In the Stralts 10 the south we saw
second-clas cruiser of the Naniwa type
coming to join the enemy.
At convenient opportunity we rapidly
turned to the right, intending to approach
the Korean coast, and by increasing our
speed to seventeen knots we seemed to
nave an opportunity of succeeding, but
the enemy now observed our intention
and directed his course toward us for the
purpose Of hindering our design.
Hardly five minutes passed before the
Rurik left the ranks and signaled that her
4 steering gear was disabled I replied,
4 my former course.
4 Seeing that all the japanese cruisers
were concentrating their fire on the Rurik,
i all my subsequent maneuvering was ex-
clusively with the object of enabling the
Rurik to repair her damaged rudder. 1
4 attracted to myself the eneny's fire in
order to cover the Rurik. admiral lessen
was on the flagship Rossia.)
At this time l saw two warships, one
a second-class and the other a third
class cruiser, coming to join the enemy.
Rurik Disabled.
The Rurik hoisted the signal Cannot
steer" 4 Some maneuvering in the front
line gave the Rurik a chance Of going in
the direction of the Korean gulf, and at
8 o'clock the signal was hoisted go
east The Rurik answered the signal and
took the requisite course at full speed, as
could be seen from the waves from her
bows.
Eventually the Rossia and the Gromoboi
took a. northerly course at a distance Of
forty-two cables. The Rurilx kept course
approximately southeast at a distance Of
three miles.
The battle continued for two hours in
this manner.
) We suffered considerable damage. The
Rossia had three tunnels pierced, which
\ prevented her from kaanine I'm oood
steam, and three of her boilers were rem
dered useless.
t At $3.50 the Rurik began to lag behind,
t and again turned her bows toward the
| shore, at the same time fighting against
: the two secOnd-class cruisers which had
5 Joined the enemy's squadron. The Rurik
: soon afterward began to get out of sight
: Vice Admiral Kamimura, with four ar
$ mored cruisers, kept steadfastly engaging
8 us in such manner as to keep us from as
!, slsting the Rurik.
: While the Rurik continued fighting we
! continued our efforts to attract the enemy
further north, in the hope that the Ruril,
: would manage to dispose of her two com
e parat1vely weaker opponents, and that
4 after repairing the damage to her rudder
4 she would be able to reach vladivostoh
e independently.
I, Most Terrific Fire.
> Shortly before 10 o'clock the enennv,s
y, - ire was the most terrific Of the battle, bu
s, = to our general establishment the whole
= Japanese squadron left us after the mos
, deadly" fight, which had lasted five hours
The Rossia had sustained eleven hole.
:, at her water1ine, and the Gromoboi haG
six Both cruisers lost more than hal
their officers, and the losses among thu
men totaled % per cent.
1t appeared impossible to renew the bat
tie or to return to the Rurik, which wa:
q now thirty miles to the south
= Taking advantage of the calm, W,
stopped our engines and quickly com
It menced to repair the breaches in ou
- vessels so as to enable us to proceed t,
- - Vladivostok
= Captain Berlinsky Of the Rossia wa
II killed and several of his officers wer
" wounded. On board the Gromoboi tw
: lteutenants were killed and other officer
! We're wounded Both cruisers had IL
+ men killed and 307 wounded CAPITAL,
"a Berlinsky was buried at sea,
n