Evening journal., 1905-05-31
: o,wARsHlPs SAFE
Reach Via1 'ostok and Report Sinking
Of Two = apanese Battleships.

HGdln Nlho 'otkJk anu nEflJIA OlUKlUH
Of TWO . apanese Battleships.
Vladiyostok, May 81. Two ships
alone of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's
powerful hotilla, the swift cruiser Al
maz and the torpedo boat destroyer
Grony 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 10 orders, with
full speed TO vladivostok.
Up 10 this morning no other vessels
OF the Baltic fleet had yetsarrived, and
the signal stations at Askold and Rim
skykorsakon Islands reported none in
sight
Omcers 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 battlgHhips had
gone down before their eyes, and two
cruisers. their storns high out Of the
water. seemed ready to plunge fore
The Russian feet they say. was
even in a sadder plight RojestveuH-
lys flagship. the Kniaz Souvarof. 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, 'he Alexander III seemed ip sore
distress, bat limping northward, put
ting up a valiant fight against throngs
of torpedo boats and still continuing
her attacks on the cruisers of the
Island Empire Torpedo boats were
also clinging aroundothe other ships
of the feet like angered wasps. sepa-
rate iotllas darting in again and
again to launch their weapons.
The Almaz, which arrived at her
anchorage here Monday evening bears
sears of the battle. Her mizzen mast
/ Is shot away and one of her smoke
stacks is pierced by a cannon shot
But the Grozny, though engaged for
several hours In a running fight at
short range with a large Japanese de-
I stroyer, shows no signs of the fray
After her commander. Captain An
driffsN. had been wounded and an
officer and three men had been killed,
the Grozny succeeded in sinking her
opponent with a 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 RojestvenslSy 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 Roiestvens
Ky before the battle. separated 'tsell
from the main aeet at the first oppor
unity and headed for VladivostoB
soon after the commencement of the
action. hut rot too soon to observe
that thc losses on both sides in the
t,iantic combat were great
Early IN the battle an officer Of the
Aimaz. Willie watching Rojestvensky'.
flagship, thc hattleship lSniaz Souva
rolf for a signal saw the flagship
shGdder from stem to stara as If un
der blow from a gigantic hammer
Z ana hesitate in her course, while III,
E waves rose high from ner armoreo
. sides Then she commenced to list
e and sink.
{ The officers believe that the debu
! OF the submarine boat as an effective
agent in naval warfare. OF perhaps Z
b large mine. caused the disaster 10 th'
Kniaz Souvaroff The damage. how
+ ever. was so extensive that the fiag
y ship soon went down leaving the decl
l. officers and many OF the crew strug
Cling In the waves
S One Of the Russian torpedo boats
X either The destroyer Buiny or tn
J. Bravi ran in and picked up a numbe
). OF the swimmers. one OF whom wa
recognized through a glass as Admira
!. Roiestvensky
i. Under a gruelling attack the JapE
q nese warships. aided by torpedo boati
mines and submarines. the BorodinC
a. osllabia and Urai were placed out G.
action and followed the flagship TO III
: bottcm.