The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-06-02
TWELVE wARSHIPS ARE SUNK
RUSSIAN FLEET REPORTED DIS,
PERSED WITH THE JAPs IN
FULL PURSUIT.
JAPANESE LOSSES ARE SMALL
LOSE ONE CRUISER AND TEN
TORPEDO BOATS SAYS THE
LATEST REPORT.

TOXIC, May 80, 10 a. m.--Rojestven.
sky's fleet has been practically anni-
hIated. The Navy department Off
ciaiIy announces here that twelve
Russian Warships have been sunk or
captured. In addition to this several
war vessels of the auxiliary type were
also sunk.
The first information came in dis
patch from the American consul at
Nagasaki % the state department at
Washington, telling that the Japanese
had sunk one Russian battleship, four
other war ships and a repair ship in
the Korean strait, and this was fol-
lowed by dispatch received by the
state department, the date of which
was not given, that the Japanese
government had made the announce
ment that it's fleet had engaged the
Russians in the Strait of Korea Satur-
day and had held them" The state
department also received information
that two of the vessels reported
To Have Been Sunk
were the sister battlesnips Orel and
Borodino, and that three of the other
ships were cruisers. From Tsingtau,
the German port on the Shantung Pc
ninsula, came a report that a running
naval engagement took place near the
island of Oki in the Sea of Japan, 200
miles northeast of the Strait of
Korea. and that the whole Russian
fleet did not participate, the slow YES
sells having been sent around Japan.
Russian sources give no news of the
battle, while the Japanese govern
ment, following its CUSTOM is silent
as to either the battle or it's outcome.
Japan IN Pursuit.
London. May 80. - The Toxic cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says that
the Russian fleet has been dispersed,
that several ships have been disabled
and that the remainder are in flight
with the Japanese pursuing.
Japs Lose Torpedo Boats.
Tsingtau, May 3O.-There is a run
ming naval engagement between the
Russian and Japanese fleets in the
Straits of Korea near the Islands of
Oki. 1t is reported that the whole
Russian feet is not participating, all
the slower vessels having steamed
around Japan. The Japanese losses so
far are stated to be one cruiser and
ten torpedo boats.
Took Advantage Of Fog.
London, May 3O.-The Times Toxic
correspondent says that kilograms
from apparently trustworthy sources
show that Vice Admiral Rojestvensky
approached Tsu island in the fore
noon of May q during fog which
cleared up in the afternoon, when the
Russians were sighted by the Japan
ese. The battle commenced between
2 and o'clock in the afternoon. There
was a strong breeze blowing, with a
high sea.
Tried to Force Passage.
A dispatch to the Times from Paris
says a private telegram from Chefu,
probably from Russian sources. re-
ports that Rojestvensky began to
force a passage of the Korea strait
Saturday night without lights in two
lines, one on each side of Tsu island.
Heavy firing is said to have been
heard in the strait between $50 and
10: 80 o'clock at night, when it ceased.
The same dispatch says one of Rojest-
vensky's ships returned to Kiachou
Friday night, having been badly dam
aged by a collision with another ship.
Great Victory for Japs.
According to the Daily Telegraph a
private telegram was received in Lon
don last night in very high quarter
to the effect that Vice Admiral Togo
had gained great victory.
Based on the meager details already
received here most of the newspapers
are ready to believe the Japanese
have secured a victory.
The secrecy maintained at Toxic
apparently extends to the European
Legations. At any rate Baron Haya-
shi, the Japanese minister here, de-
clined to see newspaper correspond
ents, much less to talk of the battle.
A dispatch from Shanghai says that
Japanese warships arrived In the Off
ing at Woosung Saturday and at
tackled the Russian ships, but later
dispatch says that the Russian trans
ports are to stay In the vicinity OF