Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-01

OMCCHb VeHC sAAG
 Japaneae Saved the Orel From Be-
 ing Blown Up.
 It was supposed that the sensations in regard to the battle of the sea of Japan had been exhausted, but Ad- miral Rojestvensky's report, printed recently at London, is document of SO amazing character that the battle has again been discussed almost as generally as immediately after it was fought, says London correspondent of the New York Times.
 It is stated that the report was re- ceived by the czar on July 10, but had hitherto been kept secret. As soon as the admirafs condition permitted he received all the superior officers of his squadron who are prisoners in Japan and drew up his report in agreement with Admiral Nebogatoff. The report has not been officially published yet, but the contents of It have become known to the members of the czar's court.
 The admiral declares that his vessels were in extremely bad condition, due not only to the haste in their construc- tion. but also to the dishonesty of the builders and the corruption of the Rus sian officials who passed as satisfac- tory ships which were manifestly bad. On none of the vessels did the thick ness of the armor plating correspond to the official figures. Furthermore, the arnor was of inferior quality. and this enabled the Japanese shells to pierce it. The vessels were not pro- vided with telemeters. which inter fered considerably with the accuracy of their firing The shells were lam entably made. and two-thirds of them did not explode. The ships could not carry the necessary quantity of coal, and none of them attained their guar anteed speed. The engines and boilers were of poor quality and were con- ! stantly in need of repairs.
 Two-thirds of the crews. says the ad miral, were men incapable of perform ! ing what was required of them. The gunners did not know the elementary laws of firing. and in spite of the prac- tice they had received it was certain | that the squadron was sailing to de- feat. Admiral Nebogatoff's crews es- pecially left much to be desired. At Madagascar a mutiny broke out, and fourteen sailors were executed. The guns of Admiral Rojestvenskys 8 ships had to be trained on the Admiral 1 Seniavin and the General Admiral | Apraksin in order 10 restore order | among the mutineers. Then-this was l discovered too late-the crews decided ! to revolt and to give themselves up to 1 the enemy.
 | Near Formosa another mutiny broke out in Admiral. Nebogatofrs squadron, and 1t was only thanks to Admiral Ro- l testvensky's energy that the mutineers ! did not succeed in making themselves i masters of the ships and taking pos session of the bulk of the squadron. i From the very beginning of the bat tie of the sea of Japan Rojestvensky saw that Nebogatoff's vessels, especial | ly the Admiral Seniavin and the Gen { eral Admiral Apraksin. were taking no part in the battle and were not car 1 rying out his orders. He sent torpedo [ boats to tell the mutineers that if they did not execute the maneuvers as or { dered he would sink them. Only then did they open fire. Had Rojestvensky not been wounded at the beginning of | the battle the issue might have been very different: but. being unfortunately I wounded. he had to be transferred to a torpedo boat destroyer. Almost at the ' same moment Rear Admiral Enquist disappeared with his squadron of cruisers and Rear Admiral voelker- sam was killed.
 Admiral Nebogstof. who had never been popular with the sailors, had 10 ' take command. Then the rout began. Weakened by Admiral Enquist's de parture. the squadron was thrown into confusion. Admiral Nebogators orders were not carried out. and 1t was every man for himself. The ships were scat tered, enabling the Japanese to pursue and sink the Russian vessels one after the other One division, executing Ad- miral Nebozstoffs orders. was able to rally together. T. consisted of the Orel. Imperator Nikolsi l.. Admiral Eeniarfn. General Admiral Apraksin. Admiral NakhimoY and others. But then the mutineers on board the Ad-
 miral Seniavin snd the General Ad- mirai Apraksin refused to follow the admiral. I. was in vain that Admiral Nebogator orierei them. begged them. The Japanese vessels drew near, form ing great circle.
 Seeing that ell was lost. the Admiral
 Nskhimor endesvored to escape. but
 was sunk in the attempt. In the other shlps the men threatened the lives of their officers if they refused 10 sur render and hoisted the red flag After
 ward .te ammunition of the Admiral
 Senizvin and the General Admiral
 Aprsks.n was found practically un- to1chet-
 The Inperstor Nikolsi | and the
 oreI had fought vslisntly and had lo<s half fhesr crews Each had been
 scruck by about fifty shells. but st the
 last moment the men were carried
 sray by the example of the nutineer-
 On the ~.y to ssseoo group of er-
 rnee-s snt yourx oGcers resolved to
 hlor ID the orei They vere ln the