Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-31
ROJEsTvENSkY WOUNDED.
Taken OF on Destroyer-Ca2t. Chaei"
Tells Of the Battle.

ST. Petersburg, May 30, p. M.-The
first definite news from Russian sources
Of the nav al ba tile fought in the Straits
Of Corca came from Capt. Chagin of tn,
cruiser Almaz. who arrived at Vladi-
vostok. He telegrapheI to the Emperor
that he had Witnessed the sinking of the
battleship KniaZ SouvarofT and report
ed that Admiral Rojestvensky was
wounded.
Capt. Chagin saw Rojestvensky
lowered on board the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Bunny and said the admiral pre-
sumably was saved. The Bunny. how
ever. had not reached Vladivostok
when Capt. Chagin sent his telegram
and here whereabouts WAS not known.
Whatever other information was
contained in Captain Chagin's telegram
was withheld ana no details ;tre known
except those contained in the foreign
dispatches. from which the naval Off
GERS have been able to construct a fair
idea of the fight. They figure that Adj
miral Togo with his main squadron
must have lain somewhere off the coast
of Corea while Admirals kamimu,a
and Uriu held their squadron further
north to heaG Off the Russian vessels
which might get through Togo's lines.
or be prepared to bar the entrance to
the straits of TsIgaru in case the Rus
slams should be reported moving up
the east coast of Japan.
When Tog0s scouts reported that
Admiral Rojestvensky was heading for
the eastern channel of the straits of
COrea Togo steamed around the north
ern part of the Tsu islands and came
upon the Russians Steaming in double
column with the cruisers to port. Togo
| enjoyed the great advantage of tacti-
| cal position when he opened fire, hav-
| ing the lightest of the Russian ships
between him and RoieStvensky's heav-
| Ter vessels, thus smothering the fire of
the latter
| Besides. Togo was able to use all his
| broadsides, whereas the sternmOst of
the ships of the Russian columns com :
| ing on in line ahead formation could
probably only with difficulty use any
guns at all. Nevertheless. although
suffering the complete loss of tour
ships in the desperate encounter which
followed. and being subjected to a Sc
ries of torpedo attacks. Saturday night.
Rojestvansky WAS able to steam 200
| miles during the night.
| When Sunday morning care. the
| Russian fleet was divided into two sec
tions. The faster ard stronger division
| under ROjcstN enSky was met by Kami-
mura and Uriu, while the slower divis-
ion under NebOgato ff renewed the fight
WITH Togo. With some of the scat :
tered Russian units it was case of
save himself WHO can.
| In the running fight. yesterday, the
japanese enjoyed the advantage of sI-
pcrior speed enabled them 20 concen-
| trate Their fire and bring every Grip
pied Russian snip to bay. Admiral
| NebOgatoff's battered remnant surrer-
dered off I.iancourt rocks. while Ro-
| iestvensky with tie best remaining
battleships fnugnt On.
| The admiralty learns with sense of
relief that the flagship KniaZsouvarOff
| sunk under the feet of the Russian
| commander -chef. The surrender of
| NebogatOffs two battleships, even
| though the circumstances are not yet
known. is regarded as Il disgrace. The
| ships still unaccOunted for here are the
battleship Navarin and the protected
cruisers Oleg, Aurora and IZumrud, all
fast vessels.