The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-13
Russian Commander Feels That He Has Been Dis-
 gracsd by the Outcome
STRUGGLING PAIRS FALL
 OVERBOARD FIGHTING
Action of the Japanese Vessels Threat ems to Cause Grave complca- tIons to Arise Over Chin-
 ese Neutrality.


 Che Foo. August .-(Noon)-captain Ching to whom Admiral Sah has turned over the command of the Chinese heet In these waters, said today in reference to the boarding of the Ryeshltelnl, that when the Japanese destroyers entered the harbor of Che Foo he sent an officer on board and assured Commander Fujlmoto that the Ryeshitelni was disabled and that it's officers and crew had signed a parole Later the admiral followed ms messenger and personally repeated his in- formation at length whereupon Com mander Fujimoto said he had no designs on the Ryeshitelni.
 Admiral Sah next sent an officer in small boat to the lightshp, which was near the Ryeshltelni to watch develop ments.
 Captain Shestakoysky feeling insecure, requested that his ammunition and one torpedo beAreturned to him, or Chinese 7 cruiser prepare to guard him. To this the Chinese officer on the lightship replied that he had been ordered merely to re- port developments.
 Thoug,.t Attack Was Possible.
 AcCOIQlHSi9 1dpldll ouCSldhOfoN9 eA9- sembed his crew and addressed them, saying that an attack was possible. All the men of the Ryeshiteni slept on deck with life preseryers under their heads. When the lieutenant from one of the Ja- panese destroyers boarded the Ryesht- tlni at half past nine in the morning. the crew which brought him, with bay Dnets affixed to their rifles, followed their officers. Captain Shestakovshy pro tested, saying: T am unable to resist. but this is a breach of neutrality and cour- tesy.e
 Captain Shestavosky then secretly com manded one of his lieutenants to prepare gunpowder with which to blow up the Russian destroyers. To gain the time necessary to make ready for this step Captain Shestakovsky argued internation- al law with the Japanese officer whose reply to all the contentious of the Russian officer was "come to the open sea and fight, or be prepared to be lowed out
 To Resist With Fists.
 In the meantime the command was is- sued quietly to the Russian soldiers to resist the Japanese with their fists in the manner which would be shown them by their captain
 continuing ms account OI the occur renee Captain Shestakovsky, who is now here wounded, said:
 The Japanese officer told me to sur render and that as a prisoner my life would be spared. This insult so stung me that 1 struck the Japanese officer before intended to. I was afraid that the ex- plosiye to blow up our vessel had not yet been prepared. My blow knocks the lieutenant overheard. In going over he .a, i'm, Ia mi his small boat alongside while fell into the water 1 clung to his throat and pum- melled him until my hold was broken" The crew of the Ryeshitelni m anwhilel had begun fighting with the Japanese sailors who used their rifles and bayonets. The fighting men scuffled over the deck and fell overheard in struggling pairs, af- ter the example accidentally set by their captain Captain Schestalxovsky seeing his men fighting on the deck of the de- stroyer attempted to climb back on board and command them. He was shot at four times, and while in the water he received a deep wound in the right leg.
 There were ffty-one Russian officers and men on board the Ryeshitelni, and to this hour (noon) thirty-five have been accounted for. A number of the Japanese attackers are also believed to have per- ished.
 Was Driven. Away From Junk.
 Being unable to regain the deck of his ship, Captain Shestakovsly swan toward a nearby junk, from which he was driven way by blows with q boat hook. lie remained in the water for fifty minutes, swimming in spite of his wound and was finally picked up by one of the three boats sent out by the Hai Yung Cap tain Ching cared for the Russian cap tain and two of his lieutenants in his own cabin. The Russian sailors rescued by the boats from the Hai Yung ex- changed their drenched clothing for the uniforms of Chinese soldiers In which garb they were brought ashore today in the Russian consulate
 Before leaving Che Foo Commander Fujimoto sent an outline report of the occurrences of the night to the Japanese consul here This report differs from that sent in by the Associated Press only in that 1t does not say that the Japanese fired at the Russian sailors while the lat ter were in the water. 1t adds that the commander was acting under his admiral S orders to fight or capture the Ryeshitelni. Captain Shestakovsky is unable to explain why his vessel was not sunk by the ex- plosive made for that purpose. He de- clares that he Is dfsgraced. although the Russian refugees here insist that he is n hero. His sailors say that he told the Japanese officer to kill him. but that he would never surrender.
 Papers Were Burned.
 The nature of Captain Shestakovsky g mission to Che Foo is not known although 1t is doubtless important. During the in lerview with the Russian captain regard Ing his vessel it was inferred that plans and important papers were burned on board the Ryeshtelni before the Japanese boarding party arrived
 Local consuls are making careful re- ports on the occurrence to their respec- tive governments.
 Togo Makes His Report.
 Tokio. August 12. D. m.-Admiral Togo has reported as follows:
 ..On August 10 our combined fleet att tackled the enemy's fleet near Gugan r,nolr The Russian vessels were araarer-