The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-07-11

OF the gods, our Combined Fleet sue
ceeded in nearly annihilating the Sec
ond and Third Squadrons of the enemy
In the battle that took place in the
Sea Of Japan on the 9th and 2sth OF
May.
On the appearance of the enemy's s
fleet In South Seas, our fleet, in obedi-
ence to orders from the superior au-
thorities. determined upon a plan of
attacking the enemy in our adjacent
waters, and concentrating its force IN
the Korean Straits, quietly waited for
the approach of the enemy. As the
enemy, after a temporary sojourn on
the coast of AMMAN, gradually came
northward, l posted several scouting
vessels along our southern Gordon some
days previous to the estimated arrival
of the enemy in our adjacent waters.
Meanwhile the various fighting sections
of our Fleet stayed at their respective
bases, completely prepared for action
and ready to issue forth at any mo-
ment. At a. m. on the 9th, the
Shinano Maru, one of our southern
scouting vessels, reported by wireless
telegraph that the enemy had appeared
at a point designated as number 203
and that they were apparently shaping
81 Int n cta
mel of the Straits. The news was re-
ceived with enthusiastic joy by the
whole fleet, and the different sections
of it at once commenced their hostile
operations along the lines respectively
laid out for them in the prearranged
plan. At a. M, the Izumi, which had
been stationed as the left wing scout of
the inner Gordon, also reported that the
enemy had already reached a point
twenty-five miles to the northwest of
Ukushima and that they were proceed
ing in a north -easterly direction. Be
tween 10 and IL a. M, the cruiser
squadron (under Vice-Admiral Kata-
oka), the Togo Detachment (under
Rear-Admiral Togo, and the Dewa
Detachment (under Vice Admiral
Dewa) came into touch with the enemy
between Xxi and Tsushima; and, not
withstanding repeated firing by the
enemy, these sections of our Fleet
maintained uninterrupted touch with
the enemy as far as Okinoshima, all
the while constantly and minutely tele-
graphing to me about the condition of
the enemy. In spite of the thick mist
which confined the vision to within
five nautical miles, the information
thus received enabled me at distance
of several tens OF miles to form a
vivid picture in my mind of the condi-
tion OF the enemy. I was thus able be-
fore / could see the enemy with my
own Eyes, to know that the enemys
fighting sections comprised the whole
of the Second and the Third Squad
rons; that they were accompanied by
seven special service ships; that the
enemy's ships were disposed in a double
column formation; that their main
strength was placed at the head of the
right column with the special service
ships at their rear; that the enemy's
rate of speed was about twelve knots
that the enemy were continuing to
steam in a north-easterly direction, and
SO forth. On the strength of this in
formation, was able to form a mental
resolution to meet the enemy with the
main strength of my Fleet near Okino-
shima at about two o'clock in the
afternoon and open the attack upon
the head of the enemy's left column.
The main strength of my Fleet (viz. the
battleship squadron under Admiral
Togo, and the armored cruiser squad
ron under Vice-Admral Kamimura),
the Uryu detachment (under Vice-Ad-
miral Uryu), and the various destroyer
fiotillas arrived at point about ten
miles north of Okinoshima by about
noon, and in order to appear to the left
OF the enemy they changed their course
to west. At about 1880 p. M, the Dewa
detachment, the cruiser squadron, still
keeping in touch with the enemy, join
ed us one after another. AT AS p. M,
/ first sighted the enemy on our port
side a few miles to the south. AS /
had expected, the enemy advanced with
their main strength, consisting of four
battleships of the Borodino type, at the
head OF their right column, while the
vanguard of the left column, consisting
OF the Oslabya, Sissoi veliky. Navarin,
and Admiral Nakhimoff, was followed
by the Nicolai I. and three coast de-
fense ships. Between the two columns
and guarding the front were the Jemt-
chug and Izumrud. To the back of all
these. were dimly observed through the
mist over a space of several miles
long line Of ships including detach-
ment consisting of the Oleg. Aurora
and cruisers of the second and third
classes, the Dmitri Donskoi, Vladimir
Monomach the special service vessels.
and so on. Thereupon gave the order
of battle, and at 1855 p. m. I signalled
to the vessels within the range of my
vision to this effect:-"The rise or fall
OF the Empire depends upon the result
of this engagement; do your utmost,
every one of you" The battleship
squadron turned its head for time in
a south-westerly direction so as to
make the enemy believe that 1t meant
TO pass them in an opposite direction
But at 2:05, 1t suddenly swung round to
the east, and thus changing its front
pressed obliquely upon the head of the