New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-08
DETAILS OF ESCAPE.
Too of japanese FLotilLa Sunk off
Tsu Island.

Vladivostok Cundated).-A Russian CORE
spondent of The Associated Press. who wit
ressed the meeting between the Russian and
japanese squadrons in the Strait Of Corea, sends
the following description Of the encounter:
It is possible now to recount with some detail
the meeting between the japanese squadron ana
our squadron in the Strait of Corea. with regard
TO which the japanese have so far been decld-
edly quiet.
can contradict wholly the statement that the
meeting occurred in the rain, which enabled our
cruisers TO escape the superior japanese force.
II beautiful night, and the Japanese might
easily have continued their pursuit, but they
were apparently disheartened by the miscar-
riage of their plans, coupled with the fact that
they fired their own torpedo boats, though
what damage they did to themselves it was i'm
possible for is TO ascertain.
The japanese trap for our cruisers was cleV-
erly set. Kice-Admiral Togo DISPATCHED a
squadron fully three times the strength Of the
the Russians, with the intention OF meeting
them in the Strait of Corea in order to insure a
decisive engagement.
A strong hotilla of torpedo boats lay in wait
at Taka-Sali, the northernInost point OF Isu
Island, with the intention of dashing out, catch
ing the Russian cruisers between TWO fires and
forcing them TO halt and 10 fight
1t IS understood that the plan was TO make
desperate torpedo attack, losing the whole no
tila II necessary, in order 10 cripple one cruiser
and TO make the remainder wait so as TO give
the Japanese feet time TO catch up.
The plan worked up TO the point OF meeting
the Russian squadron, which, when IL saw the
superior force of the Japanese, rapidly retreated
o
chase. firing intervals, but their shells fell
one and one-third miles short We made no
attempt to reply.
AT this juncture the japanese torpedo boats
shot out from Taxa Saki. and for a short time II
looked as If we had been badly trapped.
The japanese torpedo boats, however, did not
push the attack with their accustomed dash
They were in an excellent position to cut us
OFT but they spread out too much, and
never got within torpedo range
We slipped through their Gordon while they
were attempting to draw in for a combined at
damaging the Russians in the slightest, While
The heavy guns of the Russian cruisers sent
two of the torpedo boats to the bottom The
other torpedo boats fled TO the protection Of
their own squadron, thereby helping US fur
Their.
sian fiotilla having been sent by the admiral
another mission.
The japanese nlistoOk their own re1reatlng
torpedo boats for Russian boats coming to at
tack them, and opened deadly fusilade which
lasted three minutes.
The japanese torpedo boats spouted rockets
and worked their signal lights desperately be-
fore the fire of their squadron ceased. We were
unable TO ascertain the damage which resulted
but il is hardly possible that the japanese boats
escaped the hail OF Japanese shells.
The reason why they did not pursue us
further is not known. except that the hulls and
boilers of the japanese ships have greatly de-
Perforated a result of long service at sea- II
IS certain that they not nearly a match
Tor the Russians in speed in the earlier part OF
the fight though the squadron Included the
fastest cruisers in 1.-THE japanese feet, with
speed paper greatly superior TO that OF the
Russians.
The torpedo fotilla is still lowering round
wonsan, on the lookout for Admiral Kami-
mura's squadron.