The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-06-22
RUSSIAN VICE tDMlRAL's REPORT.
Bezobrazoff Tells of His Destruc-
ttion of Japanese Transports.


ttion of Japanese Transports.
Aladivostok, June 21. Lying in the
halbor are the three Russian cruisers
which have Just returned from their
successful raid in the japanese sea
and. the straits of Corea. Vice Ad-
milal Bozobrazoff took the squadron
out June 12.
The first day the war ships were fog
bound. 9 They reached the Corean
straits June Is and were sighted and
watched by fast three-masted Japa-
nese cruiser. Of Tsu island the Rus
star pursued a vessel resembling
yacht, which escaped in shore. They
sank the Japanese transport Idzumi
off Kotsu island. The Idzumi was
bringing back invalided soldiers from
PORT Dalny, 1o5 of whom were rescued
by one of the Russian cruisers.
The Japanese transports Hitachi and
Sado we're next sighted and soon after
the Hitachi, which was filled with
troops, disregarded the signal to stop,
and put on full speed. The Russian
cruisers thereuppon opened fire on the
Hitschi, crippling her engines and
setting her decks ahame. Still the
japanese refused to haul down their
flag. The vessel was then seen to keel
over and hundreds of japanese jumped
into the sea. They were all drowned.
The Hitachi was then sunk by a tor
pede.
Tie Sado obeyed the summons to
stop. She carried 1850 coolies for
railroad work in Corea, 1000 tons of
coal, 1000 tons of rice, railroad and
teleg raph equipment, hundred horses
and "a large amount of specie.
The specie was thrown overheard by
the purser. Besides ten boats, the
Sado carried 10 RATS, each capable of
carrying 100 men. AS soon as the
crew was ordered to leave the ship the
coolies rushed on deck, filled the boats
and headed them for the coast. Ad-
mira Bezobrazof sent boats to the
Sado, to take off the captain and Of
fcers. Capt. Oguro, II military
officers and three Englishmen in the
Japanese service came. The others
refused to leave the ship. The Rus
SLAMS having done everything possible
to save the lives Of those on board,
discharged two torpedoes against the
vessel. A heavy squall broke at the
time and hid the sinking transport
from view. A three -masted Japanese
cruiser witnessed the whole affair.
The Russians caught her wireless
messages. The apparatus on the ene-
my's cruiser worked incessantly and
messages were recorded on board the
Russian cruisers and were translated
by some of the Japanese prisoners.
One message read:
'T1e Russians are in the straits.
Run for Safety
The Prize Court is certain to con-
demn the British collier AllntoD, cap
tured by the Russian squadron during
the raid. She cane out at the begin
ming Of the war and went around the
Cape of Good Hope so as to avoid the
squadron of Vice Admiral Wirenius,
and then engaged in carrying Japa
nese coal from Muranron to Sasebo,
Japan. The cargoes we're nominally
consigned in each case to British firms
at Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Sabo, according to japanese ad-
vices, did not founder; she was beach
ed on the east coast of Okino Island,
and was eventually pulled eff and
towed to port.
BATTLE AT HAI-CHENG DENIED.
st. Petersburg, June 21.-2.2l p. m.
The reports of heavy fighting at Hal
Cbens, are denied by the general staff.
The japanese are continuing to ad-