The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-06-01
GREAT SEA FIGHT.


Straits of Korea Scene OF the Greatest
Naval Battle on Record-PowerfuI
Russian Fleet Under Roiestvensky
Practically Annihilated by japanese
Squadron Under TOgo-22 Ships
Sunk or Captured and 5000 Men
Taken Prisoners, Including Two Ad-
miraIs-Japanese Casualties Slight.
The long looked for naval battle
between the Russian Baltic fleet,
under Vice Admiral Roiestvensky,
making for VladivOstok. and the
japanese squadron, under Vice Adj
miral Togo, who had been lying in
wait for weeks to give battle, his
whereabouts unknown, opened Sat
urday afternoon while the Russian
was attempting the passage OF the
Straits of Korea. After desperate
engagement, which lasted into the
night, part of the Russian feet fed,
but were forced to fight again Sun
day. An early dispatch gives the
following particulars:
The Russian feet entered the strait
Saturday morning in double column,
the battleships on the right and the
cruisers on the left When i'm the
neighborhood OF Esu Island, midway
between the Korean and japanese
coasts, the Russians were attacked
by the squadron under Admiral Togo.
The battle ragged throughout the az
ternOOn. There was a second engage
ment that evening. The result OF the
days fighting was disastrous to the
Russians, but was not conclusive.
Two battleships had been sunk and
the flagship was seriously damaged.
One battleship had struck her colors
and one cruiser had been captured.
The Russian fleet had evidently at
tempted to escape after the engage.
ment of the afternoon, but had been
overhauled by its relentless enemy
and forced again to give battle.
Once more defeated, the Russian
remnant fled, only to be again over.
taken by the japanese warships Sun
day morning. When the fighting was
over thirteen Russian ships had beer
sent to the bottom and six were il
the possession of the japanese. Most
astonishing of all, considering the
stupendous losses on the Russian
side, the japanese squadron WAS un
hurt.
The following official report wal
made by Admiral Togo to Japanes
headquarters:
Combined squadron attacked Rus
sian squadron near OkinOshin,'
(Sou .heast of Tsushimal and defeat
cd it, sinking at least four ships ant
infiicting heavy damage upon others
Damage to our ships is insignificant
Our destrOyers and torpedo fiOtilla
delivered attack after sunset
Later report received Monday, Ma,
both: main force of our combines
squadron continued pursuit since til
9th and attacked 2Sth. near Lin
court Rocks Northeast of Okinosl
ima) the Russian ships Nicholia
(battleship), Orel (battleship), Sen
vavin, Aprexin and Izumurd Tn
Izumurd fed, while the remainin;
four vessels surrendered. No damag
to our ships. According to statemen
of prisoners vessels sunk in engage
ment May 9th were Borodino (bat
tleship), Alexander Ill (battleship)
Zechuga and three other ships. Rea
Admiral Niebogatoff and about ?, 90
other Russians were taken prisoners.
The following are damages suffere
by the enemy in addition to thos
given above since commencement {
battle, as reported by commander
not under the immediate command {
Togo and by observation stations
"Sunk-Admiral Nachimoff, Irutsl
ush and three destrOyers
-"Captured-Vladimir. Monomac
(foundered after capture) one specie
service ship whose name is unknown
and one destroyer.
Russian losses definitely know
may SO far be classified as follows:
1.-TWO battleships, one coast defens
ship. 3 cruisers, ? special ships, 3 sp
cial service ships; one destroyer cal
tured.
at is not yet clear whether thre
vessels as stated byprisoners to hay
been sunk are included or not in tt
foregoing dispatch. There are MOI
than 1000 prisoners besides 200
taken by main force of combine
squadron.
THE naval engagement is still
progress, so that it will take son
time before the final result can |
known"
A late dispatch is to the effect thu
Roiestvensky is dead. 1t is know
that he was severely wounded on tt
head.