The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-08-18
GRAFT AND MUTINY.
Rojestvensky Says His Ships Were
Useless-Men Rebelled.

printed recently d. LO44uOI!, - uOS-
ument OF so amazing character that
tre battle has again been discussed
almost as generally as Immediately
after it was fought, says London
correspondent OF the New York
Times.
II is stated that the report was re-
ceived by the car Or July 10, but had
hitherto been kept secret. AS soon as
the adr1liral's CONDITION permitted he
received all the superior officers OF
his squadron who are prisoners IN
Japan and drew up his report in
agreement with Admiral Nebogatoff.
The report has not been officially
published yet, but the contents of it
have become known to the members
Of the czar's court.
The admiral declares that his YES
sells were in extremely bad condition,
due not only to the haste in their
construction, but also to the dishoa-
esty of the builders and the corrpu-
passed as satisfactory ships which
were manifestly bad.
On none of the vessels did the
thickness OF the armor plating cor
respond to the official figures. Furth-
ermore, the armor was OF inferior
quality, and this enabled the Japanese
shells to pierce it. The vessels were
not provided with telemeters, which
inte7iered considerably with the ac-
curacy Of their firing. The shells
were lamentably made, and two
thirds OF them did not explode. The
ships could not carry the necessary
quantity OF coal, and none of them
attained their guaranteed speed. The
quality and were constantly in need OF
repairs.
Two-thirds OF the crews, says the
admiral, were men incapable ii per-
forming what was required OF them.
The gunners did not know the ele-
nentary laws OF firing, and in spite
OF the practice they had received it
was certain that the squadron was
sailing to defeat. Admiral Neboga-
tof:'s crews especially left much TO
be desired.
At Madagascar nutiny broke out,
and fourteen sailors were executed.
The guns of Admiral Rojestvensky's
ships had to be trained on the Adml-
raj Seniavan and the General Adml-
raj .Apraskin in order to restore or
der among the nutineers. Then
this was discovered too late-the
crews decided TO revolt and to give
themselves uL to the enemy.
Near Formosa another nlutlny
broke out in Admiral Nebogatoff,s
SQUADRON, and it was only thanks to
Admiral Rojestvensky's energy that
the 1nutineers did not succeed in ma
king themselves masters OF the ships
and taking possession Of the bulk OF
the squadron.
From the very beginning OF the
battle OF THE sea OF Japan Rojest-
vensky saw that Nebogatoffs YES
sells, especially the Admiral Senlavln
and the General Admiral Apraskln,
were taking no part in the battle
and we're not carrying out his orders.
He sent torpedo boats to tell the rnu-
t;neers that if they did not execute
the maneuvers ordered he would sink
them. Only then did they open fire.
Had Rojestvensky not been wounded
at the beginning Of the battle the is
sue might have been very different;
but being unfortunately wounded,
he had to be transferred to torpe-
do boat destroyer. Almost at the
same moment Rear Admiral Enqulst
disappeared with his squadron OF
cruisers and Rear Admiral Voelker-
sam was killed.
Admiral Nebogatoff, who had never
been popular with the sailors, had to
take command. Then taer out began.
Weakened by Admiral Enquist's de-
parture. the squadron was thrown in
to confusion, Admiral Nebogatof's
a-aa-. ,,ern nj carried OIL and i