Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-01
RUSSIA HEARS NEWS
First Report Of Their Great Loss
Comes Via VladivOstOk.
RoJESTVENSKV IN PORT WOUNDED.
Two swift Cruisers Succeed In MAX
ing Their Escape from TOEo'a
Ships and Reach the
Russian HaFbOF.

st. Petersburg, May 31.-The hrst
definite news from Russian sources Of
the naval battle fought in the straits
of Korea came from Capt Chagin Of
the cruiser Almaz, who has arrived al
Vladivostok. He telegraphed to the
emperor that he had witnessed the
sinking Of the battleship Kniaz Souv-
arofr and reported that Admiral Ro-
jestvensky was wounded. Capt Cha
gin saw Rojestvensky lowered on board
the torpedo boat destroyer Bunny, and
said the admiral presumably was
saved. The Bunny, however had not
reached Vladivostok when Capt. Cha
gin sent his telegram and her where
abouts was not known.
When Togo's scouts reported that
Admiral Rojestvensky was heading for
the eastern channel of the straits of
Korea the Japanese admiral steamed
around the northern part OF the Tsu
island and came upon the Russians
steaming in double column with the
cruisers to port. Togo enjoyed the
great advantage of tactical position
when he opened fire, having the light
est of the Russian ships between him
and Rojestvensky's heavier vessels thus
smothering the fire Of the latter. Be-
sides Togo was able to use all his
broadsides whereas the sternmost ships
Of the Russian columns coming on line
ahead formation could probably only
with difficulty use all guns at all.
Nevertheless although suffering the
complete loss Of four ships in the des-
perate encounter which followed and
being subjected to a series of torpedo
attacks Saturday night, Rojestvensky
was able to steam 200 miles during the
night When Sunday morning came
the Russian feet was divided into two
divisions The faster and stronger
division under Rojestvensky was met
by Kamimura and Uriu while the slow
er division under Nebogatoff renewed
the fight with Togo. With some of the
scattered Russian units 1t was a case
of save himself who can. IN the rum
ming fight yesterday the Japanese en-
joyed the advantage Of superior speed
enabling them to concentrate their
fire and bring every crippled Russian
ship to bay. Admiral Nebogatoff's bat
tered remnant surrendered off Liam
court rocks while Rojestvensky with
the best remaining battleships fought
on for the honor of the Russian navy.
TIA admiralty learned with a sense
OF relief that the flagship Kniaz Sou
varoff sank under the foot of the
Russian ommander-in-chief. The sur
render Of Nebogatoff's two battleships
even though the circumstances are not
yet known is regarded as a disgrance.
The ships still unsccounted for here
are the battleship NaVarin and the pro-
tected cruiser Oleg, Aurora and Izum-
rud, all fast vessels.
Vladivostok, May 31.--Two ships
alone Of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's
powerful flotilla. the swift cruiser AL
maz and the torpedo boat destroyer
Grozny, lie at anchor here Tuesday In
the curvlng harbor of Golden Horn,
they having separated from the feet in
the early stage Of the battle which be-
gan IN the Korea strait Saturday, and
headed, in obedience to orders, with
full speed to vladivostok
Up to four o'clock Tuesday after
noon no other vessels OF the Baltic
Meet had yet arrived and the signal
stations at Askold and Rlmskyker-
saltoff islands reported none in sight.
O1icers Of the Almaz and GroAuy say
that both fleets had already sustained
terrible losses when the Almaz and
Grozny broke through the hostile line.
st. Petersburg, May s1.-Admiral
Rojestvensky has arrived at vladiyo-
stok on board the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Bulny. During the battle he
sustained a wound in the head.
Admiral Dnmova, q member of the
council Of the empire and superintend-
ent of posts and telegraphs under the
minister Of the interior. mas received
a dispatch from his son who Is in COM
mand Of the Bunny. describing fully
how his commander-in-chief. Admiral
Rojestvensky, was saved. The admi-
raj was washed on the deck Of the
Knjaz Souvaroi Just before the Tag
ship foundered and was picked up BY
the torpedo boat destroyer Bunny.