The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1905-06-16
JAPAN SEA FIGHT
But Little Cause For Wonder
at Russians Defeat
ADMIRALS IN THE DARK

Knew Nothing of Plans of RO-
jestvensky, Whose Maneuver-
ing Was Decidedly Careless
Crews Unframed In Gunnery
Vladivostok, June 13.--A series Of in
terviews with naval officers who sur
vived the battle of the Sea of Japan has
developed a most sensational story Of
the causes of the Russian disaster first
of all and the complete demoralizatIOL
which followed the sinking of the flag
ship Kniaz Souvaroff and the wound
ing of Admiral Rojestvensky.
1t is explained that not single Off
Ger of the fleet knew the commander
in-chief's plans. The admirals in com
mand of divisions knew no more than
the sub-lieutenants and had to rely
entirely on the signals of the flagship.
Admiral Nebogatoff. on whom the COM
mand devolved, had seen Rojestven-
sky only once after the juncture of
their squadrons and then only for Ia
minutes.
All the stories of extensive target
practice in Madagascar, it seems, were
false. During the entire voyage there
practically was no training in gunnery
worthy of the name and the big gun
practice was confined to three shots
per vessel. Ugly stories are told Of the
happenings at Madagascar. Some of
the crews certainly were unframed Ill
gunnery and, exhausted by the eight
months voyage under trying moral
and physical conditions, were no match
for the veteran Japanese, whose marks
manship was wonderful.
The latter concentrated their fire on
one ship until she was placed out of
action and then on another, thus sue
cessively sinking the Oslabya, Alex
ander III and Knia2 Souyaroff. Some
ships developed deplorable structural
defects. The Oslabya sank without
having a single hole below the water
line. Heavy seas entered the vessn.
above the water line, and the water
tight compartments, which were
changed several times during the voy-
age. did not stand the strain they hau
been calculated to stand ana burst.
flooding and heeling the vessel over
until she turned turtle.
Lack of homOgeneity among The
ships made it impossible to maneuvel
in harmony The Vladimir Monomach,
Admiral Oushakoff, and Admiral Senia-
vim had to lag behind, on this account
becoming easy victims. Finally the am
munition was exhausted after the Iirst
days fight
Even the very morning of the battle,
while the buzzing of the wireless in
struments on the Russian ships show
ed that the Japanese scouts were COM
municating his dispositions to TOGO.
Rojestvensky continued his careles .
maneuvering, and when the japanese
actually appeared the Russians were
caught in an impossible formation and
were attacked on three fronts. Ro.
jestyensky's position was cramped and
his transports were badly placed and
caused confusion, while the Japanese
were raining projectiles, even from ma
chine guns, Oh the Russian ships.
The latter were huddled together.
blanketing each others fire. Only the
leaders of the columns could bring
their guns to bear and even those the
unframed gunners fired wildly. ~
render matters worse the mines and
floating torpedoes sown in the paths
of the Russian divisions added to the
The Borodino. Admiral
Nakhlmof and Navarin fell victims 10
these Instructions.
1t is a heartrending narrative thar
Russia and the world should know.
The sailors and officers were not alto
gether to blame. The main fault lies
elsewhere. There were many heroes
among the Russians. Captain Rerkb
of the Oslabya committed suicide on
her bridge as the ship sank. rather
than save himself. There were tlou.
sands Of other heroes whose names tbe
world will never know.