The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-30
ADMITTED BY RUSSIANS
Loss of Some Vessels Conceded, but
Public Lacks News.

Public Lacks News.
st. Petersburg, May 30.-(4:5S PM
The admiralty officially admits the
sinking of the battleships Kniaz Sou
varoff, Borodino and Oslabya, the re-
pair ship Kamchatka and the cruls-
er Orel The loss of these vessels was
definitely established by Captain Chagin
of the cruiser Almaz. No statement re-
garding the ships captured was made.
The Kniaz Souvaroff was first class
battleship and was completed last year:
1856 tons displacement, and had a
speed of eighteen knots. Her arma-
ment consisted of four 12-inch. guns,
twelve 6-ineh guns, twenty 3-inch guns.
and twenty three FOUNDERS, In add1t1onl
sto six smaller rapid-fre guns. She had
six torpedo tubes and her crew mum.
bered 800 officers and men. ~.sss,.@s&
How First News Came. ~.
The first definite news from Russian
sources of the naval battle fought in
the straits of Korea came from Captain
Chagin of the cruiser Almaz, who has
arrived at Vladivostok. He autographed
to the emperor that he had witnessed
the sinking of the; battleship Kniaz
Souvaroff, and reported that Admiral
Rojestvensky was wounded, Captain
=
board the torpedoboat- destroyer Bunny,
and said the admiral presumably was
saved. The Bunny, however, had not
reached Vladivostok when Captain Cha,
gin sent this telegram, and her where
abOuts was not known. .--'' g.:
Details Learned by Gear.
According to the dispatches received
by the emperor from Vladivostok, con
tanning details of the battle in the
straits of Korea, the squadron com
manded by Admiral Nebogatof was at
tackled by a swarm Of torpedoboats and
all the ships were either sunk Of cap
tured.
The main squadron, commanded by
Admiral Rojestvensky, was attacked by
Admiral Togo and lost two ships. The
reported, then sent his fast light eruis-
ers ahead, the heavy fighting ships. re:
naming behind. They were attacked
by Vice Admiral Kamimura.
Emperor Distressed.
The emperor was greatly distressed
at the news.
It is unofficially stated that several
of the fast Russian ships succeeded in
shaking off their pursuers and have
reached Vladivostok and that the gov
eminent is now in possession of its own
version of the naval disaster of @Satur-
day and Sunday, in the straits Of Ko-
rea. Nevertheless it appears to be in
a quandry as to how to break the news
to the country. A war council was
held at the Tsarkoe!Selo last night, at
which the emperor was urged to issue
an imperial manifesto, but nothing has
yet been decided.
Newspapers Suppress Truth.
So far as the newspapers are con.
cerned the public might believe Admir-.
al Rojestvensky has achieved victory.
The censor has printed all the rumors
favorable to the Russians, but b1uep pen
ciled everything pertaining to Japan.
csc victory.
While the disastrous news was spread
like wildfre by word Of mouth over the
capital, and was quickly telegraphed
privately to the big centers by the anti
government leaders, the country can be
as to what has happened. The editors
versant with the contents of the Toxic
dispatches, warn their readers in q
roundabout fashion against harboring
false hopes based upon dispatches which
appear in their news columns.
The Bourse Gazette quite openly de-
clares it would be a sin to conceal the
fact that all hope of Russia obtaining
the, mastery of the sea has vanished
adding: s'The significance of the col
The Novoe Vremya and the Russ
, while admitting that the fate of the
far east has been determined, declined
to accept the Japanese reports. Their
editorials, however, breathe tone Of
unutterable sadness.