The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-03

St. Petersburg, April 2s.-Russfan
torpedo boats belonging to the Vladi-
vostok squadron sank a Japanese
military transport, the Kinshiu-Maru,
of 1000 tons. during the night of
April &C., with all on board, with the
exception of II officers. twenty SOL
diers, sixty-five of the crew and
eighty-five coolie passengers. The
others, who refused to surrender,
were sent to the bottom with the
ship.
The official report of Rear-Admiral
Yeszen to the Emperor is as follows:
During the night of April 26th,
two Russian torpedo boats met at
sea the japanese military transport
Kinshiu-Maru, of 1000 tons, laden
with rice and other military stores
and about 1900 tons of o The
transport was armed with four
Hotchkiss guns of Al milimetres.
The Russians captured on board
seventeen officers, twenty soldiers,
eighty-fve military carriers or COOL
les and siXty-five of the crew, who
surrendered. The remainder of the
men, who were to form a landing
party and who were left without
officers, o~bstinately refused to sur
cruiSSr. Furthermore, thty offered
armed resistance to the Russians.
In the end they were sent to the bot
tom with the transport"
Admiral Yeszen reports that besides
the sinking of the Japanese steamer
Goyo-Maru at Won-San (Gen-San)'
April 25th, the Russians sank at sea
the same evening the Japanese
steamer Nakamura-Maru, of 22O
tons, whose crew were saved.
The satisfaction Of the people of
st. Petersburg at the exploits Of the
V~ladivostok squadron is tempered
with admiration for the bravery of
the japanese soldiers who were on
board the sunken transport Kinshiu-
Maru and who preferred to drown
rather than surrender.
Rear-Admiral Yeszen's full report
says that 200 men went dow with
the ship.
The admiralty admits that the men
acted heroically, but holds that Ad-
miral Yeszen had no other alternative
than to sink the transport, since he
could not spare a prize crew or ham
per his swift squadron with a slower
steamer. 1t is pointed out that the
officers on board the Kinshiu-Maru
appreciated the situation by accept
ing Imprisonment, rather than death.
In the case of the smaller japanese
transport. sunk by the torpedo boats
at Won-San, the crew We're sent
ashore because there was no accom-
modations for them on the torpedo
boats.
The crew of the Japanese steamer
Nakamura-Maru, as well as the Jap
anese of the Kinshiu-Maru, who sur
rendered, have been taken to the
Russian cruisers.
The admiralty here profess ignor-
= ance as to the future plans of Ad-
miral Yeszen, but it is believed he is
in communication with V~ladivostok
by wireless biography, and is not
likely to be surprised by the Japa-
nese squadron sent to prevent his re-
turn
Spirits of the Russians Revived.
St Petersburg, April 29-2:09 a. NJ
The operations of the V~ladivostOk
squadron have revived the spirits of
the people of ST. Petersburg, who have
been downcaSt since the destruction of
the Petropavlovsk and the consequent
confinement of the Port Arthur fleet to
the harbor. The fact that the navy is
doing something of an offensive char
acter appeals to the popular mind,
which has beer unable to appreciate
the reason for the inactivity of the
fine ships of the V~ladivostck squadron.
1t Is generally recognized that Rear
Admiral Yeszen canno do more than
frighten the japanese and compel them
to exercise greater care in their mill
tary movements, as the sinking OF a
few TRANSPORTS or even cruisers can
have no permanent effect on the result
OF the war. Moreover he is bound by
his instructions not to risk his ships
unduly. the intention being to keeo
them safe for an attack with the Bal
tic fleet when it arrives in the Pacific.
St. Petersburg is loaded with runors
regarding the sinking Of the Japanese
military transport the Kinshiu-Maru.
One report a it that 260o men wera
BOARD the transport when she weat
down, but the admiralty insists that
there were only two hundred
1t is said that the Emperor is highly
indignant over the affair that he Will
relieve Yeszen and cr7er him to be
court-martialed. This report ac1 coz
frmation in responsible naval c:rcles
where it is reiterated that no che
course could be pursued and that tn,