Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-08-26
OFFICER DESCRIBES FIGHT
czarevitch Struck by Three Shells in
Snaca Of Five Minutes.

Using Chou, Aug. Pol have just had
an interesting talk with the officer In
charSeaef the Russian 6attlesiiip Care
witch. His statement, which was kind
~ interpreted for me by the ships pay
master. follows:
eve left Port Arthur at 5 o'clock In
the morning and Immediately saw the
1 Japanese feet on the horizon. It was
drawn up m half circle formation, with
the large ships IN the rear.
"T9fe japanese Immediately saw us.
we steered TO the southeast, the Care
Witch leading The Japanese flagship
lhfikado opened the battle first at a
range OF ave and a half kilometers with
he f2-lnch guns and the fighting
lasted one hour. both fleets steaming IN
parallel lines.
'At Ii o'clock we had time TO dine
and rest while again getting into posi-
ton.
1.-THE second attack began at ? o'clock
I'm the afternoon at Ave kilometers dis
lance. The Russians this time opened
the firing, the Poltava firing first.
Fighting continued until darkness set
in. our admiral vas killed while he
was directing the conflict from the port
side or the ship. The same shell killed
two flag officers. one navigation officer
and four sailors belonging TO the sig
mailing staff.
"A second shell struck the starboard
side of the coming tower, entered he
blockhouse and burst. The effect was
simply fearful, for il killed or wound
ed everybody in the vicinity. The COM
mander's arm was broken and he sus-
tanned a confusion at the base of the
skull.
"A third shell burst In the foremost,
leaving the foremost hanging in the
stay ropes.
IAN these three 12-inch sheks were
received in less than five minutes. The
second shell damaged the telephone
and teiegraphs. compasses and steer
ing geaG causing the ship to tremble
and travel rapidly In circles for ten
minutes until temporary repairs were
executed.
'The captain of the flagship then
took command and made for Using
Tau, steering with her engines and
setting his course by the stars. all the
-compasScs having been broken during
the battle.
THE junior navigation officer, how
ever, managed TO fix some spare parts
to a compass temporarily at 3 o'clock
in the morning.
During the night Japanese torpedo
boats attacked us, no fewer than five
times. We saw torpedoes fired and
they passed us very close. but none of
them struck us.
"The Japanese left many floating
mines in front of our feet.
II cannot say how our other ships
Jared. We saw fire break out aboard
the Retvizan, but it was soon extin-
guished
we also saw a great fire aboard the
Peresviet."
An American named Novitts. who
has been working rs a carpenter in
the docks at Port Arthur, has arrived
here. He states that a four-funneled
cruiser had been badly damaged, but
repaired and has left.
The supply Of ammunition is moder-
ate, but that of food is small and de-
ponds on c~ontraband, which is ex-
tensively smuggled in by land and sea.
The Russian mines are covered with
imported scrap iron. All the people
there are obliged to take an oath OF
loyalty and are compelled to work, but
not fight. Compensation is given for
wounds and wages of 10 roubles ($5)
a day are paid in gold.
The land mines have caused great
slaughter, thousands Of men being
blown to pieces and these engines are
solely responsible for the maintenance
OF the defense.