The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-03
seemed silently to weigh the signifi-
canoe of this signal.
Russians Fired First

canoe of this signal
Russians Fired First.
"Our first and second divisions turn
I'd to the Russians starboard. while
the third division kept in close touch
With the preceding two divisions.
With the japanese ships proceeding in
lhis order it was 2:13 o'clock when
the Russians opened fire. The first
shots fell short of our line, and it was
some minutes later before we COM
menced firing. Then the battle was on
With firing from both sides. Our de-
itroyers kept on the port side of the
main squadron and in this formation
we pressed the Russians against the
coast of Kiushiu and they were obliged
to change their course to the east.
1--WE so manoeuvred our ships as to
have their bows parallclled to the
northside of the Russian line. The
Mikasa, of our first division, when
had been leading. changed to the rear
IF the line, while the Kasuga headed
the line. The engagement now be-
came very fierce The Borodino was
seen to be or fire A little later the
Russians headed west and we changed
our course accordingly. Five Shlps OF
our second division concentrated thelr
fire on the Borodino. Our first diVls-
ion now began firing vigorously, pro-
ceeding parallel with the Russian llne'
and as we began to press against the
head Of the Russian line our DIVISION
veered to the Russian rear, thus en-
veloping their ships.
The Destroyers in Action.
.orhe engagement proceeded hotly.
Our second division followed course
parallel with the northern s1de--of the
Russians, and this movement compiet-
ed the enyelopment The RUSSIAN
ships were seen trying 10 preah
through and our destroyer tlotllia m
tercepted their new course. rms Stdte
of development continued unt1l the Iol-
lowing day, with the ships at varying
distances. Thus enclosed on all sides,
the Russians were helpless ana pow
erless to escape the cycle. PREVIOUS
instructions had been given the de-
strovers and torpedo boats to attack
the Russian ships. Following instruc-
lions. the fifth destroyer notllla
advanced against a Russian ship upon
which our division had been concen-
trating it's fire, signalling: We are
going to give the last thrust at thefn'
"The Russian ship continued to 1gnt
and seeing this the approaching tofpe-
do boats directed its fire upon them.
Undated, our destroyers pressed for
ward. the Chilose meantime continu-
ing it's fire. The torpedo fiotilla ar
rived within 200 metres of the Rus
sian ship and the Shiranus fired the
first shot Two other torpedo boats
fred one each. The Shiranus received
two shells. but the other boats were
not damaged. The Russian ship was
sunk.
"Sundown saw the battle raging
furiously Our shells were evidently
telling on the Russians who showed
signs of confusion. Our fifth torpedo
hotilla. after destroying the Borodino,
followed in the wake Of our second d.
vision, the signal reading: Something
like the Russian submarines have been
sighted. Attack them
1.-THE f1otilla followed and located
the object, which proved to be a sink
ing ship with its overturned bottom
showing. Thirty survivors chung to
the wreck, crying for assistance. Fir
darkness.
Ragged Night and Day.
according to orders previously
given for a torpedo attack after dark,
all the destroyer -flotilla, dividing into
two squadrons, proceeding to attack
the Russians during the whole night.
The Russians frustrated the first and
second attacks with searchlights. A
third attempt was carefully made and
the Yugiri sank snip OF the Borodlno
type.
During the night the Russians
continued to move and we changed
our enveloping movement some dist
lnce from the Russian position. The
Russian ships headed northeast after
daybreak. hoping to reach Vladivo-
stock. Our officers and men were de-
termined that not ship should es-
cape and resolved not to relax their
efforts until they had succeeded in
either sinking or capturing every Rus
sian ship.
"Our ships always kept ahead OIL
the Russians. The battle was resum-
ed at o'clock Sunday morning,
twelve miles east OF Chiyupyon Bay
and lasted all day. Here the Rus
slams suffered their heaviest loS~es. |
They seemed unprepared to repel night
attacks. During our first night at
tack the Russians showed nine search |
lights and frustrated the attacks, but
clearly gave us the location of the |
fleet, which brought success later"