The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-06-23

covering his stern on the same side
while the decoy squadron, strongl
reinforced, threatened his starboard
The Russians Immediately formed II
double column, line ahead. The cas-
column was led by the battleshi1
Imperator Alexander, the west lin
was composed Of cruisers, while th
auxiliaries we're between the column
in the rear.
The sea now was very rough, with
strong southwest wind blowing, 81
that the Japanese had not only tn,
benefit OF the sun at their backs, bu
were also assisted by the heavy smok,
which poured down upon the Russians
The heavy seas, too, were eminently
In favor of the Japanese gunners, wht
habitually practice In stormy weather
with the refult that their aim was
not disturbed by the unsteadiness o
the gun platform. Further they were
able to take advantage Of the expos
ure Of the enemy IS vital parts occa
stoned by the rolling and tossing OF
the ships.
The Russians opened fire at 2,OOC
metres. but 1t was wholly ineffective.
The Japanese reserving their fire until
the range was SEQ metres, when they
fired six trial shots and sccred three
hits.
The battle now became general.
The Russians perpetually essayed to
force their way DOrthward. but the
Japanese, steaming at higher speed,
constantly headed them back, so that
the Russian course described q loop,
the ships filing past the Japanese who
poured In deadly fire from three di.
rections. Rojestvensky's gunners
maintained q much higher rate of fire,
but their projsctiles nearly always
flew high or buried themselves in the
sea, evidently owing to the gunners'
want CT experience In gunlaying In
rough weather.
Before evening five Russian warships
had been sunk, including three battle
ships, which apparently lost their
stability, owing to the piercing OF
their water tight compartments on
ane side only, and the action of the
fore and aft bulkheads. Meanwhile
the Russian formation had been bro
ken, but the ships were still confined
to the southeast corner OF the Sea OF
Japan.
Thus far Togo's strategy had work
ed perfectly, but the most important
part OF his work remained, namely,
the lcosing OF l6 squadrons of torpedo
boats upon the Russians during the
night, when their were partially dis
abled and confused. There were great
fears at one time that this would be
impossible, as the sea was too rough
for torpedo boats. However, towards
evening the wind and waves subsidized,
the night became qliet, and the star
light exceedingly well suited for the
work Of the torpedo boats, which
rushed in from three q larters, re
serving their missiles until within 800
metres at the most, and making a
practice so deadly that it redeemed
all previous failures.
The Japanese deny any use of sub
marines, and the conditions under
which the battle was fought were OBJ
viously unsuited for them. Meanwhile
the japanese sighting squadrons had
dropped off to the north, leaving the
field free for the torpedo craft. BY
midnight only nine Russians remain.
ed with the formation under Neboga.
toll. These struggled northward with
I torpedo boats clinging to their t, 'nks
and constantly stabbipg so that dawn
found only five remaining, the battle
ships Orel and Nikolai, two coast de-
Tense ships and ths cruiser Izumrud.
Having lost his bearings owing to
complicated manoeuveres, Admiral
Ne5ogatoif decided to steer westward
until he p cked up scme feature OF
* )rea'S coast that he could Identify
Presently the 1Zumrud, which was
scouting, reported that she made out
the Unvny islands (Liancourt rock-)
whereupon the Russians, recovering
heart, shaped their course for Vadi.
vostok, but almost Immediately they
observed two q ladrons OF japanese
approaching At lull speed, ahead and
recognizing the flags of Togo and
DeWa.
The Izumrud steamed of at top
speed, but Netogatotf's ships encum.
bered with wounded, with ammuni
tion lacking, decided to haul down
their colors. Other still floating
Fragments Of the Russian fleet were
pursued and destroyed by the Japa.
nese, who had been organized In view
of this contingency, into groups OF
homogeneous ships.
The battle shows no novel feature
The Russians fought with devoted
vaiOr, but were outclassed at every
point. Their shooting was incompar
ably inferior to that OF the Japanese
who scored an extraordinary number
of hits with their 12.inch guns. The
japanese projectiles also were much
more effective than those OF the Rus.
slams. n thing wa3 more notable
than the Japanese skill In using tor.
pcdoes, contrasting markedly with
previous Ill success, and evidently re-
Suiting from the special course OF
training recently pursued and from
the teachings Of experience.
| Shot Himself.
W. III. Werner, Of Columbia, S. c.,