Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-11
Mistellaneuus Rmding.
Toeo's VICTORY DESCRIBED.
An Account Of the Victory az Told by
Japanese Officers.

the first and most accurate accounts
given in the Japanese press OF the
great naval battle at Tsu Shima, as
seen by an officer who took part
lin II. The account leaves much to
be desired in the way Of compre-
the case with any report, save one
prepared by the commanders In
chief: but at the same time 1t adds
some details to the plain report Of.
Admiral Togo. The account says:
When we received the report that
the Russian fleet had arrived on
Shanghai, we Immediately conject-
ured that they intended to force
their way through the Tsu Shima
channel. We accordingly sent a
squadron Of our fastest ships to re-
Iconnoiter and to report to our flag
ship from time to time the course
and doing of the enemy's fleet.
At about 5 o'clock in the morning
of May q the van Of the Russian
fleet appeared off Quelpart Island to
the southeast and headed eastward.
Our flagship thereupon hoisted the
signal to give battle and we concen-
trated our forces at a certain point
and made preparations for the fight.
At about o'clock we all started
from our rendezvous, some hiding
behind the island and others taking
up their position in various other
quarters.
The enemy appeared not to know
where we were stationed and seemed
to think he would himself escape
detection. His vessels stood on
Inortheasterly course, with the bat
tleship Alexander III, at the head OF
the line, followed by the Navarin,
the flagship Kniaz Suvaroff and the
other battleships, eight In all: by
the armored cruisers Admiral Mach
lmoff. the Dmitri Donskoi and seven
others; and by the coast defense
ships, gunboats and destroyers, MAX
ing fleet of 80 fighting ships.
Besides these there were the Kam-
chatka and other special service
vessels and transports, making to-
tai OF 80. They were divided into
two detachments, apparently main
squadron and a flying squadron. with
"a vessels in the former and six In
the latter.
The Russian squadron first turned
northeast by east and then to west
until at about 1890 they came to
within about ten miles southeast OF
Kamizaki, at the southern end OF
Tsu Shima. UP to that time the
formation Of the Russian vessels
was most regular and orderly. and
they presented a magnificent specta-
Gle, quite worthy Of the skill Of Ad-
miral Rojestvensky So
Our accommodating force always
kept out of their sight and came on
northward In constant touch with
their movements. When the arrived
their movements. When they arrived
of Kamizaki, Tsu Shima, the Rus
slams appeared to begin to antici-
pate danger, and sent five Of their
comparatively old ships on ahead by
the eastern channel. The rest OF
the fleet followed slowly after them.
Their intention seems to have been
to sacrifice these vessels in order to
discover the whereabouts OF our
main force. We knew quite well,
however, what the Russian plan
was, and accordingly held our fire,
allowing tne detachment Of five old
ships to pass quietly on their way
through the eastern channel
This was the way the battle was
begun. The Russians had no idea
that our main force was in that d.
rection. but came rapidly up the
channel with their battleships, cruis-
ers and other vessels as before. in
fine style. .... t
At this moment one Of our squad
rons came from the northwest and
another squadron came from the
south like a flash and took up their
position to the westward Of the
Russian fleet A number Of Destroy
ers gathered round them, so that at
last the enemy was headed off and
completely encircled.
I am not at liberty to state how
many ships we had, but 1t would not
be far wrong to suppose that we
had the whole Of our available force
there. The Russians now began to
realize that they had been entrap-
ped by our strategy.
AS soon as our ships made their
appearance the Russians changed
their formation into a single column
and opened fire. We surrounded
them as we planned, and opened
fire upon them simultaneously from
all the ships in our squadron. 1t
seemed as II heaven and earth were
being shaken, and smoke covered
the sea until 1t was as black as
night.
| The flashes of the guns shone near
ly to the bottom Of the sea, and the
sound of the rushing waves was
like the roar of mountain thunder.
A mist hung over the sea, and 1t
grew darker and darker. The gran
deur Of the whole had to be seen
to be realized.
1t was a few minutes past In
the afternoon when the firing began.
The enemy's formation became more
and more confused, while We sue
ceeded in preserving ours in good
order.
We continued the exchange OF fire
for several hours. the pursuers and
the pursued. cloud Of white
steam rose from one Of the Russian
vessels, perhaps caused by one Of our
shots striking her engine room. At
the same time two or three other
shots landed on her deck and set
her afire.
! She soon sank. 1t was probably
the Borodino. Our officers and
crews shouted "Banzai!"
A few minutes later we saw an
other ship go down, and again the
cheers rolled over the Japan sea.
Many of the battleships, cruisers and
| I'D, In ot,onaoainn