The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-30
Hand-to-Hand Fighting Won the Day for
Japanese Army at the Batle of Nan Shan

, many other things. Our casualties are es-
timated about $500 The enemy left on
the battlefield over five hundred dead
bodies.
General Oku has issued a proclamation
TO the people of Liao-Tung peninsula set
ting forth that japan was forced TO appeal
to arms on account of the unlawful agrees
sion of Russia in China and Korea. The
proclamation declares that the Japanese
army is fighting for the cause of justice,
and pledges protection to persons and prop
erty and noninterference with orderly citi-
zens.
1t promises ample remuneration for all
horses and food supplies reuuisitioned, and
warns the people TO refrain from assisting
the Russians under penalty of severe pun
ishment.
Certain Russian correspondence which
has been intercepted by the Japanese at
the blockade of Port Arthur gives the in
formation that some Russian torpedo boat
destroyers have been sunk by mines outside
of Port Arthur, as well as details of the
placing by the Russians OF the mines which
effected the destruction of the Japanese
battleship Hatsuse on May Is.
The sixth japanese squadron, which was
biockading Port Arthur, overhauled and
searched a junk and seized number of
letters written by Russian officers. One
letter said that a torpedo boat destroyer
had successfully placed a series of mines
during the night which preceded the loss
of the Hatsuse, and, continuing, told of the
loss of some Russian destroyerS. now
many is not mentioned, but it is indicated
that there were at least two
The heavy loss of life which accompanied
the sinking of the japanese cruiser
Yoshine, a result of colliding with the
Japanese cruiser Kasagua on May 10, was
due to the smashing of five of her boats by
falling masts.
When the ships came together collision
mats were used and a tarpaulin was placed
over the hole, but ii was impossible to
stop the thrush of water. The ship settled
quickly, listing to the starboard. Captain
Gin Sayek ordered the crew to the upper
deck where they manned the boats. Five
boats were lowered on the starboard side
and one on the port side. but before they
cleared the ship lurched to the starboard
and began to sink.
The masts and davits smashed all five
of the boats on the starboard side. Captain
Sayek remained on the bridge and cried
"Banzia' to the sailors as they were en-
tering the boats. When last seen he was
shaking hands with Commander Hirowatari
and bidding him farewell.
AT this moment Lieutenant Naito sprang
overheard and swan to the only cutter
which had escaped from the wreck. He
rowed to the cruiser Kasuga and returned
with three boats, but no trace of the Yo-
shine or her crew could be found with the
exception of six men who had been rescued
by boats from the cruiser ChitoSe.
The fog was so dense that the search
lights of the kasuga, though not more than
600 meters distant. were only family dis
on the port side, near the engines, and the
force of the blow great that the
dynamos of her lighting plant were de-
stroyed, leaving the shin in darkness.
The portrait of the Emperor aboard the
Yoshino was rescued and carried to the
Kasuga.
Commander Honda, who commanded the
f1reship Totomi in the successful sealing Of
Port Arthur arrived here to-day Honda
and the entire crew of the Totomi were
deafened by their terrible experience. The
explosions and awful cannonade ruptured
the tympanums of their ears. Commander
Honda may recover the hearing of one ear.
but he will be permanently deaf in the
other Honda and his comrades did not
discover their unfortunate condition until
they were leaving the ship. He shouted his
orders to his men, yet he failed to hear his
own voice and he was forced to make signs
indicating his orders in order to success
fully bring the crew back to Vice Admiral
Togo'S squadron.