Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-06-10
Russia's Fleet Sailed Into
Special Trap Made By Togo

graphs correspondent at Moi, japan.
wires:
THE combined second and third Rus.
sian squadrons arrived in japanese
territorial waters by passing through
the Bashee Strait. The plan Of the
Admiral commanding was to divide
the Japanese strength.
From the offing of Saishiutau, the
main Russian feet changed its course
as II It's intention was to return to
Bashee Strait. But at o'clock Satur-
day morning, steaming at twelve
knots, 1t steered through Korea Straits
in a southeasterly direction toward
Saishiutau, within the waters Of Xxi
Island.
AT this time the Japanese combin
ed feet had left It's prearranged base
and a squadron was detached to press
the Russians toward Xxi Island. The
Russians went full steam ahead and
every ship was steaming at its maxi.
mum practicable speed, affording
most impressive and majestic sight.
Japanese In q Perfect Ambush.
meanwhile the japanese were Turk.
ing In the neighborhood. The Rus.
SLAMS passed through a strong current
running past Xxi Island and proceeded
on due northerly course. The jap
anese were ready for the fray and
their auxiliary feet to the north head
ed off the Russians.
"Now the great battle began. Togo's
vessels Unanswered with perfect pre-
cision and soon the Russians were en-
filaded by their fire, not in the ordi
nary sense of the term. but in front
and on both tanks.
"Guns of nearly fifty warships were
being fired and now and again great
crash sounded as loud reports coincid
ed. For a time the belligerents gave
shot for shot and through the conflict
the fleets were on the move.
"But the Russians deviated from the
original course.
"With a hostile squadron on each
side and another ahead. Rojestvensky
was practically defeated within few
hours. There was no possible direc
ton for him to turn. He had fallen
into the trap which had been awaiting
him ever since he left Madagascar.
Hesitation was displayed in tactics OF
his feet and this proved the forerun
ner of utter confusion. The japanese
knew instantly that their enemy was
beaten and the concentration of fire
they gave was internal.
Russians In a Cul de Sac.
"They charged upon the Russians
who were caught In a cul de sac.
"Long lines of smoke like sea clouds
aoated across the water, interspersed
with flashes of artillery. At 2:10 p. m
the bombardment reached its zenith
Every second was marked by cannon
aiding. As the Russian feet advanced
towards far distant Vladivostok the
Japanese squadron lying between
them and their destination also steam
ed slowly northward and shots to the
north were answered with shots to the
south. while from east and west also
the japanese guns battered the doom
ed enemy.
"The spectacle was grand and awe
inspiring In the extreme, and with ev
cry breath I drew l knew that 1t only
heralded the passing Of souls from life
to death.
Between 3 and 4 o'clock in the aft
ernoon Russian cruiser Of the Max
himoff class and the converted cruiser
Kamcbatka foundered. Previously
their upper works had been shattered
into splinters, wood, iron and steel al
being carried away.
Russians In Confusion.
"Then the Russian feet broke into
utter disorder. The vessels no Longer
preserved their formation, but wen,
along on zig-zag course.
"Some pointed their stems to the
east. others to the west, but at the mo
ment 1t became evident that Rojest
vensky was completely defeated. The
Japanese with that judgment which in
supreme moments really amounts ia
inspiration, now advanced to closer
quarters. The Russian ships, under a
fire rendered all the more terrible by
the shortened range at which the Jap
anese were shooting, no longer existed
as a feet, but were severed into mum
Der of detached lsquadrons co-ordinat
ed In no direction and utterly democrat
ward their enemy's coast of the Ma.
ICED. Gradually they were pressed to.
goto province.