The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-31
RUSSIAN FORMATION FATAL

Hnally SINKING the pursuing Japanese
destroyer.
RUSSIAN FORMATION FATAL
Gave Togo Chance to Strike Weakest
Vessels First.
London, May 31.-The Shanghai cor
| respondent of the DAILY Telegraph says
the completeness of the Russian defeat
was largely due to mistaken battle
! formation. The armored ships were on
the starboard side Of the cruisers and
gunboats on the port side. -.
The Japanese main force coming from
I tho northwest attacked the port line
first and promptly threw it into dis,
order. This disorganized the starboard
line.
| Thus the real action was Of very
short duration, but the sinking of so,
MANY ironclads and the surrender OF
others without fighting, the coue-
spondent says, demands explanation :,
Japanese naval bureau, additional facts
are learned Of the great encounter.
Togo's Tactics Perfect.
One intensely interesting. psoint-a.nd
! it is made by Russian informant.
is that Admiral Togo's disposition of
his forces was tactically perfect. Not
only were his squadrons so floated as to
guard both channels, that to the east
| and that to the west of Tsu island.
but he had also prepared for a daploy
Of his forces should Rojestvensky split
his fleet and send one division around
Japan ON the outside way, while with
the other he made dash for the. sea
! of japan and Vladivostok by way OF the
| Korean strait.
Togo, with his main squadron, lay oil
the Korean coast in the aeng r9adft oti, ef
were disposed back Of Tsu island. Ad
mirals Kamimura and Uriu held thell1
souadrons further north, ready to heao
off such of the Russian ships as might
oct thru Togo's lines, or to scampel
up to the strait or Esugaru and bar the
way there at the instant 1t was re-
ported any Of the enemy were trying
to gain the outside route. Togo hello
was ideal.
Mines Aided Japs.
Togo, on his battleship, Mikasa, made
her personal squadron that OF the bat
tleships, Vice Admiral Kamirnura com
manding the heavy cruisers. Acting IN
dependently as an advance or scouting
squadron were number of light cruls
,rs commanded by Rear Admiral Ka
TAXA. So disposed, Togo was prepared
for any maneuver Of the enemy, anC
bided his time. But in addition tt
these named forces at his service, it is
now evident that the Japanese admira
his command.
There is little doubt now that thu
channel on the Japanese side Of Tst
Shima, where the seaWay is narrow
and twisted by numerous groups. Of
rocky islets, specially charted mines
were laid. Moreover, there are many
yelled intimations that submarine boats
full, in the fight. When it became evi
dent that RoiestvensEy really intended
to maintain his. double column forma
ton, and was thus steaming into &C
ton, like an attack of a massed brig
ade across an open plain, Togo mus
that un-oriental luxury.
Jap Admiral's Master Move.
The fight was to be fought then an,
, there, and instantly Kamimura $ squad
ron steamed thru Broughton strait
the channel on the Korean side of Tsu
Shima, and stood ready, to prevent Re
jestvensky's attempt to retreat south
ward s,or to attack on the enemy IS por
:, Ecolumn from the south and west.
IF Next in order came what was calle
mura was ready on the south flank, S
to speak. Of the Russian s port column
composed of cruisers. On the easter
side Of the Russian s starboard column
that composed of battleships, lay tn
broken and da ngerous shore of Japan
; Ahead of the Russians lay Togo 8 com
Elementary squadron, and. gathered TO
attack on either side of Tsu- Shima wa
Togo's swarm of torpedoers, to sa
nOthinp of mines and submarines
a Struck Cruisers First.
, Togo's master move lay in steamin
7 to the attack on the port side of tn
cruiser column. He thus had the light
est of the Russian ships between hill
., and Rojestvensky heavier vessels, an
while he was enabled with his big gun
to reach the double target of cruiser
= and battleships, the Russian admiral
q free firing was smothered by line Q
his own vessels. Not only this, but bot
Togo and Kamimura were enabled
g fire by broadside, while the rear ship
of the Russian columns could scarcel
: use any guns at ALL coming as they di
+ in the line ahead formation.
! Papers this morning are filed wit
1 criticisms by naval experts on the Ru
5 sian admiral's obstinacy in too rigi
l adherence to his first formation, but
Petersburg dispatches that the con
. mander's signals were not FOLLOWED
t that confusion seized the Russian co
9 umns there is no doubt, nor is the1
d any that the Smelling by the Japanes
e was terrific and deadly, for all this pal
:, of the fight, it must be understood, VIZ
? during the daylight of Saturday, Ma
= q, and before the night attacks by tt
Il Japanese torpedoers completed the COZ
fin of the anan1v