The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-30

the individual Russian ships. 1t is said
that submarine vessels and specially
laid mines were used but q condrma-
tion of this is not obtainable
RUSS FLEET ANNIIIILATED,
Even Tho Some Ships Escaped, They
Are Doomed in Port.
New York Sun Special Service. H....u
Washington, May 30.-Reports re-
ceived at the navy department., from
source, which, while not official, is re-
garded as perfectly reliable, states that
Admiral Togo's victory is much more
sweeping than was indicated by his Of
fetal report and that more than two
thirds Of the Russian ships have been
sunk or captured, while the others are
being pursued with every indication
that most of them will be sent to the
bottom or added to the already long list
of prizes.
Six of the eight Russian battleships
and at least ten Of the thirteen torpedo.
| boat destroyers have been sunk or cap.
tured. Admiral Togo reported the de-
struction Of two battleships and three
destroyers and the capture Of two bat
tleshlps and one destroyer.
If the navy department 8 later infor-
nation is correct, two more batt1eship s
h"F p00A -puV VuI VI CuulIulSSSlOl,
either by sinking or capture, since Togo
RoJestvensky's flagship.
No Escape from Haven.
| For such of the ships as reach Vladi-
Hostok there can be no hope Of escape.
| The naval experts agree that even if
| all the RUSSIAN ships which have escap-
ed destruction or capture up to the time
| OF the last report sent to the navy de-
partment. should reach 'Vladivostok,
tthey would not constitute a force strong
enough to essay sortie against the
will throw around that harbor. There
would be nothing for them to do but
to lie IN the harbor and wait for Vladi-
vostok to follow the fate Of Port Ar
| thur. Therefore, according to the STRAIT
eglsts, the complete destruction Of the
Baltic fleet already has been accom-
pushed, for it is no longer factor in
the war
Amusement in Washington
There was amazement among naval
officers when Admiral Togo's report of
his sweeping victory was transmitted
thru the state department. This was
intensified when the navy department
received it's own advices telling of ad-
dlLlOnal Russian disasters.
The majority Of American naval Off
GERS are ,:Russian sympathizers. They
were confident in the belief that even
If Admiral Roiestyensky was not vic
+ torious he would. infict; such serious
damage upon the Japanese as to leave
the result Of the battle in doubt. They
expected that enough of his vessels
would reach Vladivostok to constitute
prolonged menace to the Japanese.
Even those officers who are most pro-
noqnced, in their sympathy for Japan
looked for no such decisive victory as
that which Togo has won. They ex-
pected him to win, but at the loss of
many Of his ships
| Togo's Strategy Won. =.
Friends, of both Russia and Japan
attribute the amazing result of the
greatest naval battle the world has ever
known to the strategy of Togo first of
all, and after that to the accuracy of
his gunfre and to the superior morale
in the Japanese navy. - ...,
Togo is proclaimed as one Of the
greatest naval strategists in history, if
not the greatest: He fought the battle
according to his own plans and he did
; not move until conditions were such
that all Of his carefully laid plans could
be carried out to the letter. His STRAIT
egg was more than match for the SUI
perlor force against him and the over
whelming defeat of the flower of the
Russian navy is attributed much more
to the genius; Of the mighty Togo than
to the ships in his command.
,.. Lessons Of the Battle.
y, American. strategists do not doubt
that Togo has taught them some new
lessons in naval warfare, but they say
details of the engagement must be re-
ceived before they can profit by his ex.
|, perience. Champions Of the battleshir
and advocates of torpedo boats are both
claiming that their arguments have
tie, but neither side has any conclusive
details on which to base it's claims.
The opponents of torpedo boats in
sist that it is evident from the very
nature of the result that most of the
Russian losses were inflicted in the tor
pedoboat attack under cover of dark
ness on Saturday night.
The supporters of the battleships as
the most powerful and important factor
! in naval warfare contend, on the Other
hand, that it is much more probable
that the Japanese battleships stood of
and hammered the Russians with Their
heavy guns and that the result was due
entirely to the superior workmanship OF
the Japanese instead of torpedoes. II
all Of the previous engagements the
I Japanese relied on the accuracy of thei1
I fire and stood off far enough to put
! them out Of danger from the inferio,
} craftsmanship Of the Russians.
These tactics, the battleship adherents
{ believe, have again been followed By
Togo and with greater success than be
I fore. They think the Russians became
panic-stricken under the accuracy of tn,
) fire which was poured in on them, ant
! that this contributed materially to thu
japanese victory.
They also point to the destruction O
5 capture of ten Of the thirteen Russian
I torpedo boats as proof that the mos
( quito craft did not play any. importan
Slpart in the battle. Conditions which