The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-08-19
RUSSIAN POWER GONE
Japanese Warships Put Cars
Vessels Under the Sea.
Great Loss of Russian Life During
Several Days Terrific Fight
ing on Open Waters,

| Alter being subjected to CALLING and
most destructive fire for four days from
japanese siege guns mounted upon every
| hill surrounding Port Arthur, the Rus
| sian squadron put out to open sea on
| August 10, and were met on the horizon
| by three drst class japanese cruisers.
eight small cruisers and seventeen tor
| pedO boats. A running fight immedi-
ately ensued and the Russian warships
were badly scattered, some putting into
the neutral ports of Chefoo and Using
chou, while Others made their wny
northward to join, if possible, the Vladi-
vostOk squadron.
AS belligerent warship is not al
lowed to remain in a neutral harbOr for
more than "a hours, those Russian
battleships and cruisers that found
refuge at ChefOO and Tsingchou were
forced to again put TO open sea. The
battlesbip Czarevitch, the protected
cruisers Pallada and Novik and three
torpedo boat destrOyers, left Chefoo
within the time limit, but we're overtaken
by q portion Of the japanese squadron.
under command Of Admiral Togo. The
battle that ensued was one of the tiercest
recorded in modern naval annals and
the destruction OF the Russian warships
was almost complete. The great Rus
sian CZarevitch, under command of Ad-
miral Withoeft, was ridded with shot
and shell from the japanese ships. The
mortality aboard the Russian vessels
was terrific and the decks were slippery
with human blood. Admiral Withoeft
was killed at his post by bursting she'll
from japanese vessel and his body alb
solutely blown to atoms. The cruisers
Palada and Novik did not suffer such
terrific fire, but two torpedo boat de-
strOyers were sunk.
The japanese squadron met the Vladi
vOstOk fleet off Tsu island, in the straits
Of Korea, early Sunday morning, Aug
ust IA, and fierce fight followed, last
ing about IA hours. The Russian
cruiser Rurik was sunk and the armored
cruisers Russia and Gromoboi, escaped
heavily damaged Several japanese
ships suffered considerably, but are stil
able for sea duty. Rear Admiral Togo's
squadron consisted OF six battleships, |
cruisers Of various classes and approx
mately 30 torpedo boats. Vice Admiral
kamimura was in command during the
battle il the straits of Korea, and his
name il now household word in Japan
Rear Admiral Togo's flagship is doing
duty between the various detached poF-
tions Cf the Japanese squadron and has
directed two different naval engage
Dents at the same time during the past
week. Naval critics say Admiral Togo
is the greatest living navy officer in the
world.
1t ia now practically conceded that
Japan controls the sea. Those Russian
vessels that escaped from battle cannot
put into Port Arthur because the en-
trance is now guarded by a japanese
squadron and japanese siege guns com
mand the harbOr on all sides. They
can not stay more than "a hours in any
neutral port without beng dismanted
and disarmed, so it is only question of
a few days until Japanese warships will
either capture the remaining Russian
ships as prizes or send them to the bot
tom OF the sea.
On Tuesday the emperor of Japan
offered to release the noncOmbatants at
Port Arthur. Immediately following
that offer, a demand was sent to Lieu
tenant General Stoessel, the Russian
commander of the beseiged city, that he
surrender the fortress to the japanese
beaieging army. Bombardmen is al
the fall of the great Russian stronghold
is imminent.
japanese seige guns command the
inner harbOr so completely that they
are able to drive all vessels to the outer
harbor. There they become a prey to
the Japanese warships that are guard
ing the entrance. The fall of Port
Arthur is expected at any moment The
scattered remnants of Russia's Port
Arthur and Fladivostok sguadrOns are
making their way slowly toward Vladi
vostok, some of the warships being 10
such a crippled condition that they are
not able to make more than four miles
an hour under a forced steam pressure.
1t is reported from Toxic that the
Port Arthur garrison has refused to
surrender and is disinclined to send out
noncombatants. A japanese squadron
is expected at Shanghai to force Chi
nese action on Japan's demand that the
cruiser AskOld and the torpedo boat
GrozOvoi leave port promptly or dis
mantle. The cruisers Rossia and
GromoboI Of the Vladivostok squadron
have returned to that port. The cruiser
NovIk of the Port Arthur squadron was
sighted off the southeast coast Of Japan
by an American steamer, apparently
making for Eladivostok.