The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-06-10
Battle of the Japan Sea.

4
fleets in the straits of Corea on the
9th and 28th of May. 1905, is the
greatest sea fight that has occurred
in n hundred years. The only battle
that approaches it in size and mum.
Der OF combatants engaged, was that
OF Lord Nelson, the English admiral,
who fought the allied fleets of France
and Spain. off Trafalgar, in October,
1905, and defeated the combined al
lies after hot and graphing hand
to hand contest of several hours.
Lord Nelson won II victory that has
made England mistress of the seas
for IA hundred years, but he lost his
life in the battle, having his backbone
broken by a musket ball in the thick
est OF the engagement, and barely
lived long enough to have the satis-
faction of knowing that his victory
was assured. In this fight Nelson
had 26 battleships pitted against the
allied feet Of 80 vessels. yet by his
skill in maneuvering, and the bravery
and pluck of his captains and men, he
destroyed and captured more than
three-fourths of enemy's ships, and
won the championship of the world
as a naval hero. The ships Of a hum
dred years ago were all wooden sail
ing vessels. and the fighting was Of
altogether different naturefrom the
fight Of ten days ago between the
japanese and Russians.
In the fight between Togo and Ro-
jestvensky the other day the vessels
were nll of the modern type, great
steel and iron monsters, fast sailing
armOred cruisers, torpedo boat de-
stroyers, and scores of torpedo boats,
supplemented it is supposed by those
terrible engines of destruction, the
submarine torpedo boat, which are
reported to have blown up at least
five or six OF the best Russian ships,
thereby striking terror to the entire
feet and adding to its demoraliza-
ton. But the torpedo boats and sub
marines do not come in for all the
credit OF the Japanese victory, for we
have the direct testimony of some of
the best informed Russian officers
that several of their best ships were
sunk by the shot and shells of
the japanese at a distance of five or
six miles. All agree that the concen-
tration ind precision of the Japs with
their 10 and II inch guns was some
thing remarkable, and it SO smother
ed the Russians that their fire was
wild and Ineffective from the start, SO
that when the lightercraft of the Jmp-
anese got close enough to rain their
shower of shot and shell from quick
firers, and discharge their whitehead
torpedoes, the Russians were virtual
ly at their mercy.
There seems to have been no great
cowardice on the part of the Russi-
ans, to the contrary both officers and
men showed their eagerness and de-
sire for the fray. Theyccunted with
out their host, however, for while Ro-
jesventsky with his feet of s35 mag
nificent vessels ftlftit would have been
invincible ten years ago) approached
the Corean Straits with assurance,
the wiley Togo lay in wait with an
other feet of 20 latter day fighting
monsters, that he felt sure was more
than "a match for his approaching
foes. And 80 it proved. Four or FIVE
hours fighting showed the wonderful
superiority of Togo's equipment and
skill, and the remnants of Rojestven-
sky's feet was seeking to fly to the
four corners of the seas, aud longing
for the shades of night TO cover their
retreat. But night proved to be no
refuge for them, for the Japs kept
right after them, following all night
long and renewing the fight on Sun
day with unfagging energy and de-
termination.
Russia is reported to have lost full
~ 10000 of her best officers and ma
vul men, killed, wounded and prison.
ers, in the fight, the admiral of her
fleet being wounded and captured,
and 80 of her 35 vessels being either
DESTROYED or captured.
The loss of the Japanese wasabout
800 killed and 500 wounded, andtwo
torpedo boat destroyers and several
torpedo boats sunk. None of the
larger vessels OF the japanese fleet
were very greatly damaged.
Thus'is Russia's power at seahope-
IoocIx, cripnlod tho urospect of peucp