Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-05-05
vLAD|vOsTOK
FLEET RETURNS
Story Of Its Voyage of De-
struction Is
Told.
SINKING OF A BIG TRANSPORT
Detailed Report of How the Brave
Members Of the Grew Went to
Their Death After Refusing to
Surrender.

Vladivostok, April 30.-The Rus
sian squadron commanded by Rear
Admiral Yeszen has returned here
from its recent operations off the Kor-
can coast. .....
The squadron, consisting of the ar
mored cruisers Rossia, Rurik and
Gromoboi and the protected cruiser
Bogatyr, put to sea at daybreak April
%. The Rurik returned the following
day, but the others proceeded to Won
d san, (Gen-san) Korea, and hove to off
the town during the morning of April
rs, about five miles from the entrance
Of the bay. Admiral Yeszen sent into
the bay two torpedo boats commanded
by Lieutenants Pohl and Maximoff.
AS they ran in towards the shore, they
found the Japanese trading steamer
Goyo-Maru at anchor, with a crew OF
about twenty men on board. The lat
ter were ordered ashore. Lieutenant
MaXimoff boarded the Goyo-Maru,
took possession of her papers and flag
and then sent her to the bottom with
a torpedo. The torpedo boats forth
with reoined 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 out to sea at
dawn on the 25th.
The Russian squadron returned to
Vladivostok and late during the night
of April started on another expedi-
ton. At o'clock in the evening of
April q, when 300 miles out the
squadron sighted a Japanese steamer
with war stores on board. Her crew,
consisting of fifteen Koreans and
twelve Japanese, were landed in
safety and the vessel was sunk by
cartridge fired by the Gronoboi.
The same night, at about IL o'clock,
when the squadron was twelve miles
off Plaksin bay, Korea, a large Japan
csc transport, the Kinshiu-Maru, was
overhauled. Her commander mistook
the Russian for a Japanese squadron
and signalled:
Il am bringing you coal"
The Russian commander immediate
Iy signalled in reply:
stop instantly"
The crew of the transport then rec
ognized their mistake and began to
lower boats and steam pinnaces with
the greatest haste and endeavored to
escape, but the Russian steamers
captured them all.
On board the transport were four
Hotchkiss guns of Al millimetres. At
the outset it looked as if no one was
left on board, but on examination it
was found that the cabin was locked
and barred Therein the Russians
found six infantry officers, who sur
rendered without resistance and were
taken on board the Rurik. In another
part of the ship 100 infantry, who re-
fused to surrender, were found.
Admiral YCsZen, whose vessel was
about 1900 yards away, ordered his
men to leave the transport. The Jap
anese soldiers then opened fire and
wounded Russian coxswain. 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 a
launch in which they could have left
the transport The fire Of the Japan
csc actually continued until the waves
closed over the ship.
The transport had on board not
only ammunition but 1000 tons Of
coal for Admiral Makamura