The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-13
lay CHIEF BLAME
ON R0JE ! ]
Sensational Story Of Causes (
Russian Disaster in Korean
Straits.
Straits.
(By Associated I'ress.)

EiGiis,& (By Associated I'resS.)
5sVLADIVOSTOK,s June pa series OF
interviews which the correspondent OF
the Associated Press has had with naval
officers who survived the battle of the
Sea of Japan has developed most
sensational story of the causes Of the
Russian disaster first Of all and the
complete Generalization which followed
the sinking of the flagship Kniaz Sou
varoff and the woundng Of Admiral
Rojestyensky. 1t is explained that not
q single officer of the fleet knew the
ommander-in-chief's plans. The adj
mirals in command of'divisions knew no
moro than the Fsub-lieutenants and had
to rely only on the signals OF the flag
ship. Admiral Nebogatof, on whom the
command devolved, had seen Rojestven-
sky only once after the, juncture Of their
squadrons, and then only for fifteen min
utes.
No Training in Gunnery.
All the stories OF expensive target
practice in Madagascar, it seems. We're
false During the, entire voyage there
practically was nd training In gunnery
worthy Of the 7nahic'' and the1big gun
practice was confined to, three shots per
vessel, Ugly stories are told Of the
happenings Mt Madagascar. Some Of the
crews certainly We're unframed in gum
merry and, exhausted 81 by y the eight
months voyage under trying moral and
physical conditions, were no match for
tho veteran Japanese, whose marksman-
ship was wonderful. The Japanese con-
centrated their fire on one ship until
she was placed out of action and then
on another, thus successfully sinking the
Oslabya Alexander III, and Kniaz Sou
varofr. Some ships developed deplorable
structural defects. The Oslabya sank
without having a. single hole below the
watcr-line. Heavy seas entered the vos.
sci above the line and the watcr-tight
compartments, which were changed sew
ernl times during the voyage, did not
stand the strain they had been calculat-
cd to stand, and burst flooding and
keeling the vessel over until she turned
turtle.
Lack of homogeniety among the ships
made It impossible to manoeuvre In har-
mony., The Vladimir Monomach, Admir-
oil Oushakoff and Admiral Seniavin had
to lag behind on this account, becoming
easy victims.
Careless Manoeuvering.
Finally the ammunition was exhausted
after tho first days fight, Even tho
very morning OF the battle, while the
buzzing OF tho wireless instruments OF
the Russian ships showed that the Jap
anese scouts were communicating his
dispositions to Admiral Togo Admiral
Rojestvensky continued his careless ma
noeuvering, and when the Japanese act
ually appeared the Russians were caught
In an impossible formation, and were at
tackled on three fronts. Rojestvcnsky' s
position was crnmped, md his trans
ports were badly placed and caused
confusion. While tho Japanese We're
training projectiles even from machine
guns on the Russian ships. the latter
were huddled together, blRnketing each
| others fire. Only the leaders OF the
| columns, could bring their guns to bear,
| and even those the unframed gunners
fired wildly. To render matters worse,
| the mines and floating torpcdoes sown
In the paths OF the Russian divisions
| added to the confusion, The Borodino
| Admiral Nnkhimon ana Navarin fell vic.
/ tins to these distractions
| 1t Is n hcartrending narrative that Rus
| sia and the world should know. The
! sailors and officers were not altogether
| TO blame. The main fault lies elsewhere
| There were 'lnang heroes among the nus
| SLAMS. Captain 3erkh, OF the Oslabya,
1 committed suicide on his bridge as the
| ship sank, rather than save himself
| There were thousands of other heroes
! whose names the world Will never know