Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-06-03
FOUR WARsHIPs SAFE
Reach viadivostok and Report Sinking
of Two Japanese 6attleships.

Reach viadivostok and Report Sinking
Of Two Japanese 6attleshlps.
Vladivostok. May 81. - Two ships
alone of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's
powerful flotilla, the swift cruiser Al
MAJ and the torpedo boat destroyer
Grozny. lie at anchor here in the curv-
ing harbor of Golden Horn. they hav-
ing separated from the feet in the
early stage of the battle. which began
In the Korean Strait Saturday. and
headed. In obedience to orders. with
full speed to Vladivostok. Later the
torpedo boat destroyers Bravi and
Terosiahty also arrived.
Officers of the Almaz and Grozny
say that both fleets had already sus-
tanned terrible losses when the Almaz
and Grozny broke through the hostile
line.
OF the Japanese two battleships had
gone down before their eyes. and two
cruisers. their sterns high out of the
water. seemed ready to plunge fore
most to the bottom Of the sea.
The Russian feet. they say. was
even I'm a sadder plight. Rojestvens-
kys flagship, the Kniaz Souvaroff. and
her sister ship. the Borodino. and the
cruisers Osliabia and Ural were ut
terly destroyed. and when the fog
closed down and hid the scene Of bat
tie from sight northward of the speed
ing ships. a third great Russian battle
ship the Alexander III. seemed in sore
distress. but limping northward. put
ting up q valiant fight against throngs
of torpedo boats and still continuing
her attacks on the cruisers Of the
Island Empire. Torpedo boats were
also clinging around the other ships
OF the feet like angered wasps sepa-
rate hotillas darling In again and
again to launch their weapons
The Almaz. which arrived at her
anchorage here Monday evening. bears
scars OF the battle. Her mizzen mast
is shot away and one of her smoke
stacks II pierced by q cannon shot.
But the Grozny, though engaged for
several hours In q running fight at
short range with large japanese de-
stroyer. shows NO signs Of the fray.
After her commander, Captain An.
driffski. had been wounded and an
officer and three men had been killed.
the Grozny succeeded In sinking her
opponent with lucky placed shot and
reached vladivostok without further
adventure yesterday morning.
Excitement beyond description
seized the thronging spectators. who
with frantic 'huzzas" tossed high their
caps. Citizens embraced each other
and danced jubilantly upon the pier.
while the crews Of the ships In the
harbor Joined In wild cheering.
According TO the officers Of the Al
MAJ. the fleet under Rojestvensky met
the Japanese In the Strait of Korea
near Tsu Island. and the opposing
fleets Immediately closed In. Being
lightly armored, the Almaz. as had
been expected by Admiral Rojestvens-
Ky before the battle, separated itself
from the main feet at the first oppor.
tunity and headed for Vladivostols
soon after the commencement OF the
action, but not too soon to observe
that the losses on both sides in the
titantic combat were great.
Early In the battle an officer Of the
Almaz. while watching Ro1estvensky's
flagship. the battleship Kniaz Souva.
ron for a signal. saw the flagship
shudder from stem to stern as II un.
der a blow from a gigantic hammer
and hesitate In her course, while the
waves rose high from her armored
sides. Then she commenced to list
and sink.
The officers believe that the debut
of the submarine boat as an effective
agent in naval warfare. or perhaps a
large mine. caused the disaster to the
Kniaz Souvaroff. The damage. how.
ever. was so extensive that the flag
ship soon went down. leaving the deck
officers and many Of the crew strug'
! Cling In the waves.
One of the Russian torpedo boats,
either the destroyer Bunny or the
Bravi ran In and picked up a number
Of the swimmers. one of whom was
recognized through a glass as Admiral
Roiestvensky.
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