The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-02
THE APS REJOICING
battle Regarded as Greatest
| Modern Naval Fight.
RUSSIAN losses HEAVY
Admiral RojesHensky Officially Report
ed Captured.
Admiral TOgO's Victory COmrlcte.
Without Loss Or Serious Eamage TO
irving at Japanese Ports-TogO Be-
comes q Demigod jim Popular E.sti-
matiOn-Russian Admiral Critixcu
by Foreign ObServers-1he Gar
Greatly Depressed.

According 10 the latest reports lrOLu
Vice Admiral Togo to his government,
the loss to the Russians in ships sunk
Ior captured now numbers twenty-five,
while full particulars are not yet
known. The admiral says that none
lCf his big fighting ships was seriously
damaged. Interesting news comes
from Vladivostok, sent direct by the
correspondent of the Associated Press,
who reports the arrival there of the
protected cruiser Almaz and the tor
redo boat destroyer Grozny. The Of
Ulcers of the AlmaZ say they witness
ed the sinking of two Japanese battle
lships, and two japanese cruisers were
listing badly and seemed about to
sink when the fog Obscured further
lview of the battle. There seems to be
la great confusion as to the fate Of
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky. 1t is re-
ported that he arrived at V~lad1vOstok
lin the torpedo boat Nuen ybadly wound
e6 and that his wife has received a
telegram from him, while a report re-
ceived from Toxic late Tuesday at the
Japanese legation at Washington says
lie was captured on board the Russian
destroyer Biedvody, with another adj
miral, both severely wounded, and
with several officers of his flagship, the
Kniaz %Souvaroff, the sinking of which
is confirmed by the officers of the AL
MAJ.
Toxic, May %, 4 D. m.--Beyoud the
results, little is known here of Adj
miral Togo's stunning victory over Ad-
miral Rojestvensky. Rojcstvensky
reached Quelpart island, Korea, early
Saturday and headed for the Tsu Is
Hands. The exact number of vessels in
his flee. is not clear but he had
bis main fighting vessels with a num-
iber of light cruisers and transports.
The disposition of the Japanese feet
appears to have been an ideal one.
Admiral Togo had waited for weeks
iii the vicinity of the Tsu islands, re-
Ifusing to be lured away and to forfeit
his advantage. The inner line was
held by Admiral Togo With the battle
lships and Vice Admiral Kamimura,
with the cruisers. Rear Admiral Kata-
Okla with the light squadron first at
tackled Rojestvensky. The order and
circumstances of the attack are not
clear. According to n report Kami-
nlura went outside the straits and foil
ed R~ojestvensky, preventing his re-
treat. When Rojestvensky encounter
ed Togo there appears to have aeen a
running fight to the northeaStward
saturday afternoon. There was a Sc
Iries of desperate and successful tor
IpedO attacks Saturday night and a re-
sumption of the battle on Sunday, Togo
lpresSing the Russian fleet toward the
southeastern coast of Korea.
The battle is regarded as the great
Jest modern naval fight. Practically all
the information received came in brief
wireless messages transmitted when
possible after the fights and during
the pursuit. Admiral Togo has gone
lnOrthward and the navy department
docs not expect extended reports until
the fighting is finished. Reports thus
far received indicate that Admiral
Togo obtained a victory without loss
or serious damage of a single battle
ship or cruiser. His casualties are not
reported, hut are insignificant.
RUSSIAN CASUALTIES HEAVY.
1t is believed that the Russian cas-
Qualities are heavy although the Japan
iese appear to have rescued a large
number of them.
The captured ships, with prisoners
and wounded are arriving at Sasebo.
A number Of Russian prisoners were
landed on Tsu island. Three hundred
believed to be from the transport Ural
ihave been landed on the Iwami coast.
The political effect of the battle and
its influence upon commerce has been
already felt. At noon today the navy
department notified shipping men that
the sea was free. There was a scene
of wild enthusiasm on the stock ex-
Ichange this afternoon. Prices in some
instances We're the highest since the
war began. The emperor, princes and
ministers are d~ispatching c~ongratula-
lions to Admiral Togo, who, it is re-
IpOrted. will be given high rank aud
other imperial honors. Already a pop
ular idol, he has become a demi-god in
the popular estimation. 1t is also ex-
lpected that Vice Admiral Kamimura,
Rear Admiral kataoka and other COM