Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-06-02
"ToGo HOLDS THE STRAITS. .
How Rojestvensky's Great Fleet Was
Practically Annihilated by Japs.

| the russian meet OnUef AuulTII NO
| jestvensky and the Japanese under
Togo.
When Rojestvensky began the fight
he had eleven battleships When, al
| ter a brave fight of thirtysiX hours,
| his battered, crushed fleet turned to
| flight two of these monster ships were
| at the bottom Of the Korean strait
Each ship was 1876 tons and carried
q crew Of TAO men, so that with these
two vessels alone 1900 men went
down.
| Each of the three cruisers was heav-
| lily manned and carried about 500 men,
which means a total of 5000 men in
the vessels, whose loss is specifically
reported.
After dividing and reunting his fleet
q dozen times in the event of the pur-
suit of a policy Of confusing the Jap
anese admiral, Rojestvensky collected
his force off Saddle Islands-sixty
miles southeast of Shanghai-on Tues
day, passed day in coaling and refit-
ting, and on Wednesday night display
ed signals and headed northeast for the
Korean straits, 4S0 miles away.
But, according to the naval intelli-
gence bureau of Nagasaki, Togo had
never been misled by the Russians
strategy. By scouts, by wireless and
by a score of unnamed sources Of in
formation the japanese admiral had
kept In touch with the enemy and ac-
tually shadowed him from the moment
Of his departure from the Saddle Isl
ands. More than that Togo made his
fight in the field spot OF his own selec-
ton.
With Vladivostok as Rojestvensky's
objective there were but two ways for
him to reach that point: Either by the
| straighter, bolder course through the
Korean straits, or by the roundabout
course outside Japan, up to the Tsu-
caro- channel, 1866 miles from Shang-
hal, ending with quick dash across
the Sea Of Japan to Nladivostok. Had
Rojestyensky sailed around by the Pa
cific he would have found Togo wait
ing for him somewhere about the Hak.
odate rendezvous. Rojestvensky chose
the Korean strait route and found
Togo waiting for him in the passage
between the Tsu Island CTsushiInaJ
and the japanese forts Of Shimonoseki
For the clear setting Of the scene
of the tragedy it should be stated that
the Korean strait from the Korean to
the Japanese shore is 40 miles wide,
but is divided into two channels by
Tsu Island, the southern end Of which
is heavily fortified. On the Korean
side lie Fusan and the great harbor
of Masampho (Masampo) bay; on the
Japanese side Is Shimonoseki. Here
at Fusan and on the northern eXtrem-
ity of Tsu Shima are wireless stations,
ready to record pulsations from every
direction The Korean channel is about
thirty miles wide; the Japanese chan
mel is about eighty miles across. 1t
was by the Japanese channel that Ro-
jestvensky elected to pass.
Leaving his empty Golfers at Shang-
hal, with dismissal orders to return to
Europe, Rojestvensky formed his fight
ing ships ndouble line, his battleships
on the starboam or right column and
his cruisers and destroyers ON the port
or left side.
According to the reports that have
reached Nagasaki, the course Of the
Russians was at first due for the chan
mel on the Korean side Of Tsu Shima.
1t showed that Rojestvensky knew
. that on that side lay clear water and
, a steady current, while on the other
, side-on the Japanese channel-the
. passage was blocked with islets, I'M
certain in tide and sowed with mines
Why the Russia swerved at the last
. moment-and all reports appear tC
| show that he did-the NagasaH CORE
spondent does not know. 1t was a DIES
, perate choice.
, The evening Of Saturday, May q
was closing in, when the Russian sea
, columns appeared north of Quelpar
? Island, and it was growing dark whe1
a gun was fired from the japanese
{ flagship. Instantly the wasps of the
sea darted out toward the oncomins
, Russians.
, Early in the engagement the Boro
! dino was seen to settle, and soon after
the Orel was sunk the repairship Kan
{ chall1a, loaded with valuable machin
. cry, going down from torpedo rent
} The Russians fought bravely, but the
gunnery of the Japanese was deadly
When Sunday was closing the Russian
{ armada was scattered and beaten ant
, Togo holds the straits" was the la
D comic statement sent out from Toxic
. Thus, therefore, passes the last hope
> of the Russians for improving the sit
: uation of their armies on land by cut
, ting off the supplies and reinforce
> ments of the Japanese forces in Man
!. churia. Even a drawn sea battle would
) have given the Russians little chance
of interfering with the Japanese trans
. ports: this sweeping defeat leaves
!, | Ianan the nnnnn.tunitY to uSp q Shn1,