The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-05-05
RETURNED TO
VLADIVOSTOK
RUSSIAN CRUISERS BEAT JAP
PURSUERS TO PORT.
RAID WAS UNSUCCESSFUL
Considerable damage Inflicted on JAP
anese Shipping Along Corean Coast
Men Of the Kinshlu Maru Went
Down Fighting.

/ -
Vladivostok. The squadron COM
handed by Admiral Yessen has re-
turned here from it's recent operations
off the Corean coast.
The squadron, consisting Of the ar
mored cruisers Rossia, Rurik and Gro
mobol and the protected cruiser Bog
atyr put to sea at daylight April %.
The Rurik returned the following
day but the others proceeded to Won
san (Gensan) Corea, and hove to off
the town during the morning of April
%, about five miles from the entrance
Of the bay. Admiral Yessen sent into
the bay two torpedo boats, command
ed by Lieutenants Poehl and Maxi
moff. As they ran in towards the
shore they found the japanese trad
ing steamer Goyo Maru at anchor,
with a crew of about twenty men on
board. The latter were ordered ashore.
Lieut.. Maximoff boarded the Goyo
Maru, took possession Of her papers
and flag then sent her to the bottom
with torpedo. The torpedo boats
forthwith rejoined the squadron after
four hours absence.
There was no sign of troops ashore
and the bay was empty but it was
learned that four japanese torpedo
boat destroyers had put to sea at
dawn April Is.
The Russian squadron returned to
Vladlvostok and late during the night
Of April 26 started on another expe-
aition. At 6 in the evening of April
n, when 300 miles out the squadron
sighted japanese steamer with stores
On board. Her crew, consisting Of Is
Coreans and II japanese, were placed
in safety and the steamer sunk by
pyroxlyn cartridge fired from the Gro
nnoboi by Lieutenant Bolethnikoff.
The same night about IL O clock when
the squadron was about twelve miles
off Plaksin bay, Corea, large Japan
csc transport, the Kinshiu Maru, was
overhauled. Her commander mistook
the Russian for a Japanese squadron
and signalled.
The Russian commander promptly
signalled in reply: "Stop instantly"
The crew of the transport then rec
ognized their mistake and began to
lower boats and the steam pinnaces
with the greatest haste and endeav-
ored to escape but the Russian steam
cutters captured them all.
On board the transport were four
Hetchkiss guns Of forty-seven MILNE
tres. At the outset it looked as if no
one was left on board, but on exami-
nation it was found that the cabin was
locked and barred.
Therein the Russians found six in
fantry officers, who surrendered with
out resistance and were taken on
board the Rurik. In another part of
the ship $50 infantrymen who refused
to surrender were found.
Admiral Yessen, whose vessel was
about 1000 yards, ordered his men
to leave the transport. The japanese
soldiers then opened fire and
wounded Russian coxswaim. After
wards the transport was sent to the
bottom by means Of mechanical
mine and few shells.
The japanese on board did not cease
firing and made no attempt to save
themselves, although they had alaunch
in which they could have left the
transport. The fire of the japanese
actually continued until the waves
closed over the ship. The transport
hadson board not only ammunition
but 1000 tons Of coal for Admiral
Makamura.
A wireless telegraph message was
picked up by the Russian ships while
at sea. 1t was in code untinte1ligi-
bic, but was evidently passing between
the japanese ships.
Among the japanese prisoners are
a colonel and an officer Of the general
staff, while the soldiers include num-
Der of japanese who before the war
worked as artisans at Vladivotok.
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