Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-06-02
SWEPT FROM THE SEA
RusSia'S Powerful Baltic Fleet
Demolished by Japanese
tured, Including All the 5attleshIps-
10000 Men Killed or Captured.

lOOOO wen NlHeo or captured.
Rojestvenskys fleet has ceased to ex-
list. Its splendid array, conveying to the
East the last hope of the Gear, is shat
tered, demolished. Admiral Togo, in a
characteristic report, begs to assure his
government that the Russian force is al
most annihilated." The qualification is
dictated by an overcarefulness in ex-
preston. Not a single Russian battle
ship has escaped. To the last one the
eight powerful floating fortresses have
been sent to the bottom or captured
Five Russian cruisers were sunk and
seven other vessels of war.
Two Russian vessels have reached
Nladivostock-a cruiser and a torpedo
boat destroyer
Besides the cruiser Almaz, at Vladi-
vostock. a transport has reached Woo
sung and a converted cruiser has reached
Shanghai.
Admiral Togo is searching the seas for
the remnants of the Russian feet.
Certain information of the japanese
loss is lacking. From Vladivostock comes
the statement Of the captain of the es-
capped vessel declaring tnat before he was
out OF sight of the battle two Japanese
battleships had been sunk and two Jap
anese cruisers were on the point of 60
ing down.
Admiral Roiestvensky's flagship, the
kniaz Souvaroff, was sunk. The Ad-
mral was taken off on a destroyer, but
the destroyer was overtaken and the Rus
sian Comma nder- in Chief, badly wounded,
was taken, with other distinguished Rus
sian officers.
The only definite intelligence as to the
manner in which the japanese achieved
such a marvellous victory with so little
damage to themselves is given in the
story Of the captain of the Russian cruis-
er Admiral Nakhimoff, who has reached
a japanese port He says that his ves-
sci was blown up by a mine on Satur-
day, and most Of her crew were drowned
IL Is reported that mines and submarines
figured largely in the japanese tactics
Dispatches from various points tell of
the landing of hundreds Of Russians on
the coasts of Japan and Korea. They
have fioated ashore clinging to bits of
wreckage. No definite estimate of cas-
ualities has been given. Admiral Togo
reports the loss of 400 men in one di-
vision of the fleet. He again declares that
only insignificant damage was inflicted on
his ships. All OF them. he declares, are
in active service.
Summarizing the results of the battle
Togo declares that % Russian ships have
been sunk or captured. The money loss
To Russia represents about $l50,000 900.
Later advices from Vladivostock add
no new arrivals to the two refugees there.
The cruiser Almaz and the torpedo boat
destroyer Grozny alone have reached the
destination whence nearly 100 ships of all
types set out eight months ago.
or the battle itself authoritative de-
tails are still absent. Experts in botn
ST. Petersburg and Toxic have pieced to-
gether fragmentary reports into descrip-
tions of what they think must have oc-
CURED. Beyond doubt Roiestvensky s
| fleet, in two columns, entered the straits
east of the Tsu Islands. Togo round
ing the northern end of the island, fell
| upon the advancing force as though from
ambush. Nearest were the lighter Rus
sian ships. blanketing the fire of the
main battle line. Accurate broadside fire
| from the Japanese quickly told on
the Russian ships and shattered one after
/ another of the nearest of them. Four had
gone down when night closed on Satur-
day.
Then was dealt the blow that broke the
/ back of Russian resistance. Togo sent
! swarms of torpedo boats and destroyers
into the midst of the enemys fleet. A
smashed battle line disorganized, fee
/ ing mass of ships was the result.
Sundays battle was a pursuit Nebo-
gatoff. cut of, surrounded by torpedo
wasps, struck his flag.
! The work of destruction continued
| throughout the day On Monday the Jap
| anese had only to scour the sea in search
of scattered ships and sink or capture, as
circumstances demanded.
The opinion is universal that Russia
| will perpetrate a crime against humanity
and civilization in continuing the strug-
gle. Nevertheless. from st. Petersburg
comes n report that the CZar has said
| that the war must go on.