The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-29
JAPS YICTORS IN
EVERY SEA FIGHT
War on the Water a Long Series
of Defeats for the Rus
slams. /: ...

TOXIC, May Z9.-A year ago-or,
naval strength was ot Exceeded only iSSl1 by =
England's, Frances and Germany's.
Today the United States and Italy far
outrank Russia and in the naval annals
Russia must take a place with such in
ferior nations as Austria, Spain the
Netherlands, and even Turkey.
When the present war began Russia s
fleet in the Tar east, on paper, was SUI
Russia's great fleet has been de-
stroyed as fighting force. A few ships
remain-the battleship Czarevitch at
Kiauchau, a battered hulk; the Askold
at Shanghai, a wreck; the Diana at
Saigon, a piece of useless machinery.
Japan's Naval Weapons. =:
Against the Russian force Japan
pitted Togo, Kamimura, .Uriu and Dewa
with fleet a trife inferior, on paper at
least. Japan had only six battleships,
but she had six fine armored cruisers
and seventeen protected cruisers, many
Of them dating back to the naval pc
Rod of. the Chinese war. Japan, how
ever, was especially strong in destroy
ers and torpedo boats, having nineteen
of the former and seventy-six Of the
latter. Z" - -.' s. ..-s
Japan had no reserves to bring for
ward in case Of loss, while Russia still
had her great Baltic fleet to draw upon
Admiral Togo was. confronted there
fore with the strategic problem Of in
fiicting the maximum of damage upon
his enemy with minimum of loss to
his own fleet. ''",
Togo sailed from the harbor of Sase-
DO on the night of Feb. with his en-
tire fleet under sealed orders. These or
ders, when opened, told him to attack
and destroy the Russian fleet in Port
Arthur, or at least E'contain' it, in or
der to enable Japanese transports to
move freely ito the Korean and Man
| The surprise aattaelk which began the
war followed, aneb Hhy'sa single: blow
| Togo gained actuallaupe the
Russians. J. For several days admiral
! Stark had sbeen taking his fleet. for
short distances, from Port Arthur for
practice cruises, returning each night
and anchoring in the open roadstead
| under the Golden hill batteries. The
etz were in the harbor of Chemulpho,
on the west coast of Korea.
Torpedo Attack at Midnight.
! Togo delivered a torpedo attack on
the Port Arthur fleet at midnight on
Feb. 8. The Russians did not expect
attack. Many Of the officers were on
| shore. The men were asleep in their
quarters. The guns were unloaded, the
cover Of darkness Togo torpedoed the
battleships Czarevitch and Retvizan
and the cruiser Pallada. He did not
| sink them, but they were so badly
| damaged that they were not able to
engage in action for several months.
The next day Rear Admiral Uriu sunk
the. Variag and the Korietz at Che
1 lr1,o ~
| ing, was master Of the sea, able to send
| unguarded transports loaded with
troops and war supplies to any coast
she pleased. -. ...
Makaroff Sent to Command.
! For weeks the Port Arthur fleet did
not dare venture outside the harbor
for Togo's superior fleet was always
visible on the horizon. In the mean
time Admiral Stark had been recalled
in disgrace and Makaroff, the Zoos.
sack of the sea- sent to command
Makaroff infused new life into the
demoralized Port Arthur feet. He de-
fed all efforts Of the Japanese to bottle
up his fleet by sinking stone-laden
steamers in the narrow entrance to the
harbor. He scattered the sea thick
and men with new energy. .'*#
Il LOSS OF the PetrOpavlOvSk.
| Then came the disaster and the loss
OF the Petropavlovsk on April 49, Fol
several weeks Makaroff had been max
ing daily. cruises from the harbor. Or
this day he sailed out as usual and ter
miles from the harbor encountered Real
Admiral Dewa with a squadron of small
1 Japanese cruisers, apparently isolated
). from the main fleet. The opportunity
was too good to be lost. Makaroff
! with his battleships, gave pursuit, De
wa apparently trying to escape.
! Suddenly Makarof learned that he
was being deceived by a clever ruse
Tor, coming up behind him was Togo
with all his battleships and armore6
cruisers.
Togo Dashes from Hiding.
Togo had been hiding behind the
Liautishan promontory and had beer
summoned by wireless telegram from
DeWa. Togo tried to get between
Makaroff and Port Arthur, but Max
aroff had taken the alarm too soon anC
was in full speed back to the harbor.
~ Without warning the Petropavlovsl
struck Japanese contact mine. There
i was an explosion, then another. The
| Petropavlovsk went to the bottom il
two minutes, carrying with it Vice Ad
miral Makaroff, the noted Russian
painter, Verestchagln, and nearly 500
officers and men.
This ended all aggressive tactics or
the part of the Port Arthur fleet. Soor
afterwards, on May 2, Togo sunk
twelve merchant steamers, heavily lad
en- with stone, in the narrow, tortuous
entrance to Port Arthur harbor, anC
the Russian feet was effectually
! blocked.
j Japan Suffers Losses.
1 This undertaking was accomplished
8 with small loss to the Japanese fleet
i Togo had lost several torpedo boats
during February, March, and April, but
that was all. In May, however, he
suffered serious disasters. On the 18th
the japanese cruiser Miyako struck a
Russian mine near Port Arthur and
sunk within few minutes The next
the same manner. and a short time
afterwards the cruiser Kasaga rammed
the Yoshino, sending it to the bottom
The Vladivostok squadron had not