Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-15
GREAT NAVAL BATTLE
Reported in Progress in the
Straits of Korea.
NEWS COMES VIA TOKYO
THREE RUSSIAN
CRUISERS ELUDE THE JAPs.
Heavy Cannonading Heard at Many
Points Coming From Near
Taushima Island.
pecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
NEW YORK. June ia cablegram from
London says great naval battle is in pro-
gresS in the Straits of Korea between
some portion of the japanese fleet and three
Russian cruisers which were locked up In
the harbor of VladIvostok all winter and
spring.
Three cruisers have escaped the vigilance
of the Japanese feet about Vladlvostok
and have attempted to form a junction with
the Port Arthur fleet.
1t may be that this has been done as a
portion of the Port Arthur fleet has es-
capped from that place and the Novlk, after
engaging the enemy yesterday, steamed to
the south. and was lost to view.
Report of the naval engagement comes
from Tokyo.
1t is admitted that three cruisers have es-
capped.
A merchantmen has reported that he was
fired upon and chased yesterday and heavy
firing was heard to northwest of Nagato.
This morning there is heavy cannonading
in the straits and it is reported a battle %
raging near Taushima Island
There has been squadron constantly on
guard in the straits to guard against the
possibility of A junction of the Port Arthur
and Vladivostok fleets, and ii is a portion or
whole of this squadron that is now en-
gagged.
The movements of the Vladivostok feet
have been a mystery for more than
week.
By Associated Press.
LONDON, June IA dispatch to the
Central News from Tokyo. filed this WED
nesday) afternoon, says a naval engage
ment is now in progress off Tsushima Is
land in the Korean Straits, between three
Russian cruisers which escaped from Via
divostok and number of Japanese ships.
No dot lie hoy vafh hoe
The Central News dispatch adds that the
Vladivostok squadron was first reported
June IA from Oki Island (off Kioto. japan.
in the Sea of Japan. Later in the day
cannonading was heard northwest Of Ma
cato ION the Japanese coast. In the straits
of Korea).
The captain of a Japanese merchant ship
reports this morning that his ship was
fred upon by a Russian warshtp. Heavy
cannonading was heard early this morning
in the nefghborhood of Oki Island. and
subsequently came news or the engage
ment already referred to in the Tokyo dis
patch.
Jap Cruiser Engages Russian Ships.
TOKYO. June 10, p.m.-It is reported
here that the japanese protected cruiser
Nitaka engaged the Russian Vladivostok
souadron off Tsu Island in the strait be-
tween Korea and Japan. This report, how
ever lacks confirmation.
Jap Transports Escape.
The japanese transports Ugo ana ruyo'
homeward bound, met the Russian Vesseis
near Oki Island The Russians pursued
49,, ,nd fred sixteen shots at the Japan
esa sbfps The transports escaped ana
reached Katsumoto
7.2o nm-Three japanese transports OUT
ward hound from Shimonoseki met the
Russian warships this morning OUTSIDE the
strait of Korea. The Russians hred eish-
tean shots at the japanese ships ono
se,,s,,ort escaped. The fate of the other
two IS not known ,, an,
1t is believed at Sasebo that haVai e"
eagement is imminent.