Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-08-09
TOGO TELLS OF
GREAT SEA FiGAi
HIS VESSELS KEPT TOGETHER IN
CONTEST WITH RUSSIANS.
TOOK A DIAGONAL COURSE
And Subject Enemy's Vessels to a
Devastating Side Fire While Fast
Cruisers Assail in the Rear-oniy
Three Torpedo Boats Lost-Re-
ports to Navy Department.

ports to Navy Department
New York, Aug. Admiral Tobo's
narrative of the battle OF the Sea OF
Japan is told for the first lime IN me
report to the Japanese navy depart
ment. 1t corrects in important es-
sentials earlier unofficial reports OF
the battle There has been in partic-
ular much adverse criticism OF the
tactics employed by Admiral Togo,
not only in his attack upon the Rus
sian van instead of on it's center or
rear, but in the division of his own
| forces. No less an authority than
Admiral Sir r. r. Fremantle, Il. N,
reached the conclusion that Togo
| had divided up his ships before the
battle and that, keeping with himself
only the four first-class battleships
and the two armored cruisers, the
Nishin and Kasuga, he had steamed
round the north end of Tsushima,
while Kamimura, with the other six
armored cruisers. vas to appear at
the same time south of Tsushima, 100
miles distant.
As matter of fact. Admiral Ere
mantle has been led astray by dis
patch which appeared in the London
Times after the battle. 1t was stat
ed in this that Admiral Togo did
divide his heavy ships in the manner
indicated.
Russians in Disorder.
1ogo's own version of the tactics
employed proves that he kept his
heavy ships together at the opening of
the fight and that his four battleships
and at least six of his eight armour.
ed cruisers steamed diagonaliy toward
the enemy's van. BY this means a
leadiIg Russian ships and the whole
force was seedily thrown into disor-
Gei. AS soon as this Generalization
became apparent the six armoureG
cruisers under Aamintura were or-
dered by Togo to steam at their fast
est SO as TO get III the enemy's rear.
What Admiral Fremantle calls the
''sheep-dog" tactics of the battle seem.
therefore, to have been adopted after
The concentrated fire of all the heavy
ships had done the Initial wp k. Had
Admiral Togo taken the course at
trihuted to him III the earlier cable
dispatches it is difficult to imagine
how he could have escaped defeat.
Admiral Togo's report, after telling
of the warnings from two picket ships
of the enemy's presence and the fer
nation OF the Japanese line of battle
as previously arranged. says:
A Fosqy Day.
AS the day was foggy, it was I'M
possible to see farther than five miles,
hut the scouts reported the enemy's
formation as closely as if it had been
within my own range of vision. Be
fore could make out the enemy l had
ljecome convinced that his fighting de-
tachmel,Is consisted of the whole OF
the second aud third squadrcns, &C
com rauied by atCut seven special
service vessels; that his formation
was a double column ahead; thet his
main force occupied the posi'lo- at
the van of the right column that
his special service vessels followed
in the rear; that his speed was about
twelve knots and that he intended to
advance to the northeastward.
II awaited myself of these reports
in determining to engage the enemy
about p. m, with our main force
near OEdnoshima, in the hope that
could crush him by concentrating on
the van Of his left column"
When they appeared through the fog
the disposition of the enemy's ships
turned out as Togo had surmfsed.
The order to engage was at once is
sued to all hands. and at 1:55 p. m.
the signal, The fate of the empire
depends on this fight; all do better
than ever vas communicated to the
squadron within range.
Togo continues: For while af-
terward our main fighting squadron
hauled arounl to the southwark and
westward, as If it were passing the
enemy on the wrong course, but at
EOS p. m. it suddenly turned to the
east. and, changing front. steamed
ohllquely for the eEemy's van. Our
armored cruiser squadron also took
the same course, while Vice Admiral
Dewa's and Vice Admiral Uriu's fight
Ing detachments, the cruiser squad
ron and Rear Admiral Togo's squad
ron speeded southwark and attacked
the rear of the enemy in accordance
with the prearrahged plan. Such was
the tactical attitude OF the belliger-
ents at the opeping CT the fight of
May %.
Fire Concentrated.
1.-The van of the enemy, hard press
FL by our main fighting squadron,
steere,. little TO STANDARD and at
2:0S p. IN. opened fire. We did not
reply at once, but on reaching the
range of 5000 meters our fire was
fiercely concentrated on the two lead
ing ships OF the van. In consequence
Of this the enemy seemed to turn
more ari more to the southeast AMI
finally 10 the eastward The Russians
by this time had formed an irregular
column ahead, their line of general
advance being parallel to our own.
The Cslabya, the van ship in the left
column evidently was badly damaged