Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-10-10
RELICS OF FLEET.
An Americans Description of the
Ships That Escaped Togo.

DR.. Hal Creel, lieutenant and as
sistant surgeon in the marine hospi-
tai service, and now acting as quar-
antine officer at Manila, has written
an interesting letter to his brother,
George Creel, describing the conGi-
tons of the three Russian warships
that sought refuge in Manila bay aft
er the naval battle OF the Sea of ia
pan. DR.. Creel says;
Manila is all excitement today
Last night three Russian ships en-
tered the bay and slowly made their
way to anchorage. This morning
boarded them and an awful sight they
were 1t wasn't necessary to be told
that they had come flying down from
the disastrous battle in the Corean
Straits-the atmosphere was preg.
nant with sorrow and calamity.
IAN three ships had suffered ter
ribly from the japanese leadstorm,
not one possessing anything like the
original quota of men. The Jemt
chug, cruiser, had two officers and
twelve of the crew killed and forty
wounded The Aurora, cruiser, had
its captain killed, toge her with thir-
teen of the crew, and total of eighty
wounded. The Oleg, cruiser, confess
ed to fourteen killed and forty wound
ed
But it wasn't the wounded men
filling the hospitals and lying in hud-
died heaps about the decks, nor he
great, gaping holes in the sides OF
the ships that saddened so immeas-
urably-it was the agony of despair
written on the face of every officer.
talked with the captain of the Oleg
he had a hand shot off-and while
I asked no questions he volunteered
a few remarks. He was quite gray,
his face was scanned by lines so deep
as to resemble scars, and there was
that in his eyes which made one want
to cry. All the officers seemed the
same. The crews, however, were ami
mails in their stolidity and inditfer-
ence-low types of humanity
"Seven hours, so the captain said.
did the engagement last, and to the
credit of all three ships, most of the
holes were forward The Jemtcnug
was little injured, but the other two
were hulled time and again-great,
gaping holes-while the superstruc-
ture was simply riddled with finer
shot. Apparently the Russians had
to pay all their attention to torpedo
boats, several menacing each ship,
while the Jap cruisers stood off and
targeted them at their leisure.
cit seems incredible that Sc few
Japanese boats were sunk, but look
at the gunners furnished an easy rea-
son. And then, too, it was apparent
that other than the shipbuilders made
a large profit, for the 'armor plate
was not thick enough for a respect
able tramp steamer Even the small
Ter shot plowed right through.
There was no evidence of the
much talked of luxury and cham
payne style on board the ships.
Brown bread was the piece de resist
anee in the cabin as well as in the
forecastle, and all the officers had
mended and patched uniforms, while
the cabins were turned into reserve
coal bunkers. / noticed services on
the Oleg-they were quite we'll at
tended, and everybody seemed decid-
eddy in earnest. The priest-of the
Greek Church-wore a most fantastic
blue silk affair, resembling a ldmoro,
with a startling assortment of yellow
stars and comets scattered over it.
"The military authorities here do
not give the Japs much credit for the
victory, declaring that the world has
never seen grosser incompetence than
that displayed by the Russians In
stead of the battle gray usually don
ned by warships, the Russian cruisers
were all painted black with white fun.
nels. What better mark could be
wished? And they were not cleared
for action; although daily expecting
battle ?"-Kansas City Correspond
ence Chicago Tribune.