Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-02
FIRST STORY OF The FIGHT
FOUNDED japanese sailors Tell of Events
Of Saturday and Sunday.
NtsoGAToFF QUITS WITHOUT FIGHTING
Raises Japanese EIag Above Russian
and Comes on hoard Enemy's
Ship, Where lie For-
"a malIy surrenders.

t-'elayed in TransmissiorJ-A number Of
"ounded Japanese sailors have arrived at
'he hospital at Maidhuru navy yard. They
describe the battle between the Japanese
and Russian fleets as follows:
AT dawn our squadron let its rendezvous
ana advanced through the Tsushnna chan
nel' Al Z:Oe in the afternoon we sighted
tnv russian feet. Gradually closing in, we
found the Knlsz souraoif leading the
tuhe, t, with the Borodyno, the Alexander III,
the Orei, the Oslyabia and the Navarin fol-
loving l,,,~iil In the order named. The Nikolai l
we observed five cruisers. After them
came the special service ships and torpedo
poat destroyers. We counted thirty-two
Our fleet with the battleship Mkasa lead
ing, proceeded toward the Russians in
opened fire first and then suddenly turned,
.SveLslns It's course, Almost simultaneously
ana mus the curtain rose On the Ereat
sea battle The hostile neeta gradually
closed in toward each uther, exchanging "a
vigorous fire The armo!ed cruiser Asanla
approached within 5000 mesers OF the Rus
sian fleet and carefully observed ITS
After short but fierce fight the Admiral
Oushakofts deck was observed to be
l:SO in the afternoon the Russian line was
Aisordered and its fire sIackened The
Borodino and Kamtchatka had been dis
unued to tre bravely until the ship was
The japanese fleet continued to maintain
enveloping position from sundown until
lawn.
NebOgnton surrenders.
Sunday morning opened misty, but the
weather soon cleared and the search for the
remnants of the Russian fleet was begun.
Five Russian ships were discovered in the
vincinity OF Liancourt island and they
were Immediately surrounded. One, sun
posed to be the Izumrud, escaped at full
Speed. The remaining four offered no re-
sistance and hoisted the Japanese flag over
the Russian oolors, apparently onelinE to
Captain .Yashiro. commanding the Asama,
started In a small boat to ascertain the
real intentions Of the Russians when sd
LRiral Nebogatoff lowered boat and came
board the Asama, where he formally
rendered. The prisoners were distrib-
lted among the japanese ships and prize
,rews we're selected to take possession OF
he captured vessels. About this time We
'eceived a message saying that pottlcn
If our squadron was holly engaging the
'emaininR Russian ships. The Asama
lastened to tho scene OF comlat ana found
he Russian cruiser Dmitri Donskoi vigor-
fuJy resisting the Japanese attack. The
oonskoi attempted to escape and we pur-
ruel until after sundown, reSuming torpedo
attacks at nightfall
ON Monday morning the search wos re-
d pirned by a portion of the Japanese CGldd-
Nm and 1t was learned that the Donskci
III been beached on Jllon island
WNe were ordered to Dring the Orel TO
Miadzuru. On the way the captain OF the
Orel died Of wounds received during the
battle. When we were proceeding we were
advised OF the capture OF Roies-vensky and
Account by Japanese Omcer.
p. ma Japanese officer who has re-
turned to Sasebo gives the following ac-
count of the sea fight off the Tsu islands:
AT $50 Saturday morning wireless mes
sage reading. The enemy's squadron is in
sight" reached the naval base. This mes
sage was Transmitted to all OF our ships by
the flagship, with instructions to get ready
and headed for the eastern channel Of
Tsushima. Our men seemed to be filed with
new inspiration and were eager for the
long delayed fight to begin. When Tsushima
was sighted to the southwest the sea was
rough and the torpedo boats were forced to
Our third fighting squadron with the
Takashiho to port. reconnoitered the Rus
main squadron o by WiTeess m teiespapS So that ha
the Russian ships were passing into the
cas-: channel. whereupoh our main squad
ron, changing it's course somewhat to the
southward, came in sight of Okinshima at
o'clock In the afternoon. The third division
The first and second divisions, accompanied
by the destroyer hotilia, changed to a west
the fourth destroyer fiotilia headed slightly ti
eastward. During the maneuVer the Rus
sian flagship appeared to the southward at
i:40 o'clock. The Russians steamed up in
double column. The fleet was numerous,
but no living being was visible. The Rus
ships hoisted the flag OF action, the Mikasa
signalling, The destiny of our empire de-
Pntns Pendss upon u IN this action You are all ex-
Our men seemed to silently weigh the sig
nihcance of this signal
Russians start Fight.
Our first aud second divisions turned to
Russians starboard, while the third
Hsion kept in close touch with the pre-
eyuing two divisions. With the Japanese
ships proceeding in this order 1t was 2:l3
o'clock when the Russians opened fire. The
first two shots fell short OF our line and II
was some minutes later before we COM
rnenced firing. Then the battle was on.
with firing from both sides. Our destroyers
kept on the port side of the main squadron
and in this formation we pressed the Rus
SLAMS against the coast OF Kiushiu and
they were obliged TO change their course
TO the east. We also maneuvered our ships
50 as to have their bows parallel to the
.r4Qrth side of the Russian line. So the
leading, changed to the rear OF the
r~lhE while the Kasuga headed the line The
engagement now became very fierce. The
Borodino was seen to be on fire. little
later the Russians headed west and we
changed our course accordingly. Five ships
Of our second division concentrated their
fire on the Borodino. Our first division now
began firing vigorously, proceeding parallel
with the Russian line, and we began TO
press against the head OF the Russian line
our third division veered to the RUSSIA n
rear thus enveloping their ships. The en-
gagement proceeded hotly. Our second
northern side OF the Russians and this
movement completed the development The
Russian ships were seen trying to break
through and our destroyer fotilla inter-
cepted their new course. This state OF en-