The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-09

By the grace of Heaven and the help
of the gods, our Combined Fleet sue
ceeded in nearly annihilating the Sec |
ond and Third Squadrons of the enemy
in the battle that took place in the
Sea of Japan on the 9th and 2Sth of
May.
On the appearance of the enemy's
fleet in South Seas, our fleet, in obedi-
ence to orders from the superior au-
thorities determined upon a plan OF
attacking the enemy in our adjacent
waters, and concentrating it's force III
the Korean Straits, quietly waited for
the approach of the enemy. AS the
enemy, after a temporary sojourn on
the coast of Annam gradually came
vessels along our southern Gordon some
days previous to the estimated arrival
of the enemy in our adjacent waters.
Meanwhile the various fighting sections
of our Fleet stayed at their respective
bases, completely prepared for action
and ready to issue forth at any mo-
ment. At a. m. on the 9th, the
Shinano Maru, one of our southern
scouting vessels, reported by wireless
telegraph that the enemy had appeared
at a point designated as number 20S
and that they were apparently shaping
their course toward the eastern cham
mel of the Straits. The news was re-
ceived with enthusiastic joy by the
whole fleet, and the different sections
of it at once commenced their hostile
operations along the lines respectively
laid out for them in the prearranged
plan. At a. M, the Izumi, which had
been stationed as the left wing scout of
the inner Gordon, also reported that the
enemy had already reached point
twenty five miles to the northwest of
Ukushima and that they were proceed
ing IN a north-easterly. direction. Be
tween 10 and II a. M, the cruiser
squadron (under Vice-Admiral Kata-
oka), the Togo Detachment (under
Rear-Admiral Togo, and the Dewa
Detachment (under Vice Admiral
Dewa) came into touch with the enemy
between Xxi and Tsushima; and, not
withstanding repeated firing by the
enemy, these sections of our Fleet
maintained uninterrupted touch with
the enemy as far as Okinoshima, all
the while constantly and infinitely tele-
graphing to me about the condition of
the enemy. In spite of the thick mist
which confined the vision to within
five nautical miles. the information
thus received enabled me at a distance
of several tens of miles to form a
vivid picture in my mind of the condi-
t1on of the enemy: I was thus able, be-
fore could see the enemy with my
own eyes, to know that the enemy's
fighting sections comprised the whole
OF the Second and the Third Squad
rons; that they We're accompanied by
seven special service ships; that the
enemy's ships were disposed in double
column formation; that their main
strength was placed at the head of the
right column with the special service
ships at their rear; that the enemy's
rate of speed was about twelve knots;
that the enemy were continuing to
steam in a north-easterly direction, and
U
formation, was able to form mental
resolution to meet the enemy with the
main strength of my Fleet near Okino-
shina at about two o'clock in the
afternoon and open the attack upon
the head of the enemy's left column.
The main strength of my Fleet (viz. the
battleship squadron under Admiral
Togo, and the armored cruiser squad
ron under Vice-Admiral Kamimura).
the Uryu detachment (under Vice-Ad-
miral Uryu). and the various destroyer
flotillas arrived at point about ten
miles north of Okinoshima by about
noon, and in order to appear to the left
OF the enemy they changed their course
to west. At about 80 p. M. the Dewa
detachment. the cruiser squadron, still
keeping in touch with the enemy, Join
ed us one after another. At LAS D. M
/ first sighted the enemy on our port
side few miles to the south As l
had expected. the enemy advanced with
their main strength consisting of four
battleships of the Borodino type, at the
head of their right column. while the
vanguard of the left column. consisting
of the Oslabya, sissoi Veliky. Navarin.
and Admiral Nakhimoff, was followed
by the Nicolai /. and three coast de,
tense ships. Between the two columns
and guarding the front were the Jent-
chug and Izumrud. To the back of all
these. were dimly observed through the
mist over space of several miles a
long line of ships including a detach-
ment consisting of the Oleg, Aurora