The San Francisco call., 1905-05-31
Togo's Victory Credited to
the Effective Operations
of a Swarm of Torpedo
Boats and Destroyers
NUMBERS OF THESE
CRAFT SACRIFICED
Rojestyensky's Shattered
Fleet Fights Way Two
Hundred Miles Before
1t Is Finally Dispersed

ST. PETERSBURG, May 3o.-1n a
dispatch from Vladivostok, giving the
Emperor the first Russian version Of
the battle, much credit for the victory
is given the mosquito craft Of Togo's
fleet. In fact, it is said that the tor
pedo attack alone was responsible for
the sinking or disabling of all of Rear
Admiral Rojestvensky'S squadron. To-
go sent a swarm of torpedo boats
against Nebogatoff Numbers of them
were sunk. but the attacks were con-
tinued and by sheer force of numbers
some of the small vessels succeeded
In reaching the Russian ships and dis
charging their torpedoes, in the face
of a murderous fire from the Russian
rapid fire guns.
While this combat was raging, the
main squadron, commanded by Ad-
miral Rojestvensky, was attacked by
Admiral Togo and lost two ships. The
others broke through. Rojestvensky,
1t is reported, then sent his fast light
cruisers ahead. the heavier fighting
ships remaining behind. They were at
tackled by Vice Admiral Kamimura
The first definite news from Russian
sources of the naval battle fought In
the Straits of Korea came from Cap
tain Chagin of the cruiser Almaz, who
has arrived at Vladivostok. He tele-
graphed to the Emperor that he had
witnessed the sinking Of the battle
ship Kniaz Souvaroff and reported that
Admiral Rojestvensky was wounded.
Captain Chagin saw Rojestvensky low
cred on board the torpedo boat destroy
er Bunny and said the admiral pre-
sumably was saved. The Bunny, how
ever, had not reached yladivostok
when Captain Chagin sent his tele-.
gram and her whereabouts was not
known.
TOGo'S TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.
Whatever other information was con-
tanned in Captain Chagin's telegram was
withheld and no details are known except
those contained in the foreign dispatches
from which the naval officers have been
able TO reconstruct a fair idea of the long
and bloody sea fight. They figure that
Admiral Togo, with his main squadron,
must have lain somewhere off the coast
of Korea, while Admirals Kamimura and
Uriu held their sQuadrons farther north
to head off the Russian vessels which
might go through and to bar the en-
trance to the Straits of Tsugaru In case
the Russians should be reported moving
up the east coast Of Japan. When Togo's
scouts reported that Admiral Rojestven-
sky was heading for the eastern channel
of the Straits of Korea the japanese ad-
I'LL clGdtilSQ dIOuuu the northern part
OF the Tsu Islands and came upon the
Russians steaming in double column with
the cruisers to port. Togo enjoyed the
great advantage of tactical position when
he opened fire, having the lghtest of the
Russian ships between him and Rojest-
vensky's heavier vessels, thus smothering
the fire of the latter. Besides, Togo was
able to use all his broadsiders, whereas
the sternmost ships of the Russian coll
umns, coming on line-ahead formation,
could probably only with difficulty use
any guns at all.
Nevertheless, although suffering the
complete loss of four ships in the des-
perate encounter which followed and be-
ing subjected to a series of torpedo at
tacks on Saturday night Rojestvensky
was able to steam 200 miles during the
night.
When Sunday morning came the Rus
sian feet was divided into two divisions
The faster and stronger division, under
Rojestvensky, was met by Kamimura and
Uriu, while the slower division, under
Nebogatoff, renewed the fight with Togo.
With some of the scattered Russian units
1T was a case of save himself who can"
CRIPPLED SHIPS BROUGHT TO BAY.
In the running fight yesterday the Jap
anese enjoyed the advantage of superior
speed, enabling them to concentrate their
fire and bring every crippled Russian ship
to bay. Admiral Nebogatoff's battered
remnant surrendered off Liancourt rocks,
while Rojestvensky, with the best re-
naming battleships, fought on for the
honor of the Russian navy.
The Admiralty learned with a sense of
relief that the flagship Kniaz Sonvarofr
sank under the foot Of the Russian COM
The surrender of Ne
bogatoffs two battleships, even though
the circumstances are not yet known, is
regarded as disgrace. The ships still
for here are the battleship
Navarin and the protected cruisers Oleg,
Aurora and Izumrud, all fast vessels.
The scenes of grief witnessed at the
Admiralty yesterday were repeated in an
increased measure to-day. Wives, moth
ers and sisters, many of them already In
the deepest mourning for other losses,
streamed through the Admiralty corri-
dors. sending in written requests for in
formation regardingl the fate of particu-
lar ships One and all were informed
that the Admiralty had no details, but
attempts were made to reassure those
whose relatives were on the ships not re-
ported sunk by the Japanese.
On the streets passers-by gathered be-
fore the bulletin boards TO peruse the dis
patches, but they learned little, as the
Government still refuses to permit the
publication of the Toxic dispatches Civ
ing the names of the ships lost and other
details of the battle. though authorizing
Togo's announcement of the defeat of the
Russian feet to prepare the public for
fuller news.
POPULACE KEPT In IGNORANCE.
So far as the newspapers are con-
cerned. the public might believe Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky had achieved a
victory. The censor passed all the
vague rumors favorable to the Rus
slams, but blue penciled everything in
Russian disaster. While the
news spread like wildfire by
word of mouth and was quickly tele-
graphed privately to the big centers By
the anti-Goyernment leaders the coun-
try can be said to be still in a state of
ignorance as to what has occurred. The