The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-02
Horrible Stories of Slaughter on
BOjestyensky's Warships.
The Losses Probably VIII Total
Above 10000.
TREACHERY CHARGED.
Ugly Reports in Circulation Re-
garding Some of the Crews.
Accused of Binding officers and
Hosting White Flag.
TREACHERY CHARGED.

st. Petersburg, June 2.-The Rus
sian press this morning still is ad-
vocaung more vigorously than ever
the summoning OF a national assem-
bly,, even the reacuonary Sviet joining
in the general chorus. In view of the
current rumors, it is most significant
that the papers which are more or
less in the confidence of the govern
ment unanimously take the position
that representatives of the people
should decide the question OF. peace or
war.
All censorship is now removed from
foreign dispa atches and the people are
appalled, at the horrible stories of
slaughter on board the Russian ships.
The admiralty has not yet been able
to estimate even approximately from
the foreign advices the loss of men
but as the ships were over. rather than
under manned, the total will be
greater than the ordinary complement
of the vessels would indicate and prob
ably viii exceed 10000 if only about
1000 were saved.
Requiem masses are being cele-
brated constantly in all the churches
and chapels for the repose of the souls
OF the slain although the distracted
relatives are unable to learn definitely
the rate OF those dear to them. The
admiralty up to the present time has
been unable to throw any light on the
situation except to announce the
safety of those who have reached
NladivOstok.
Ugly Stories.
Ugly stories are circulating in this
city of the decentralization and even
treachery of the crews of several of
the Russian ships during the battle
and it is even said that the crew of
the battleship Orel bound their Of
hcers and hOisted the white flag. The
origin of these stories, which are dis
credited by all naval men here, can
not be traced as the only direct in
formation comes from Japan but
doubtless they are based on the trou-
ble among the crew of the Orei be-
Lore her departure for the far east.
She was sunk al her dock before she
lett CrOnstadt and later at Libau the
crew was mutinOus. Indignation
against Rear Admiral Nebogatoff is
growing. The epithets coward" and
traitor are coupled with his name
especially since the receipt of the
Toxic dispatches showing that his sur
render was not in the heat of battle
but with the land close under his lee
10 which his crews could have es-
capped after the destruction of the
ship.
Corb ervat3e Russians are alarmed
at the possibility of disorders tl vari-
GUS parts of Russia as a result of the
disaster and a feeling of disqlS Setude
Tor the future is manifested every
where.
The Jemtchug Was Sunk.
Toxic, June 2.-The reported sink
ing OF the Russian cruiser .Jenntc11Ie,
In the recent naval battle, has been
confirmed.
Threw Wounded Overheard.
Toxic. June at is planned to
bring the battleshiD Orel to Yokosuka.
where the emperor viii visit her
a remarkable story is in circulation
concerning the wounded on the Orel
1t is said that on the opening of the
hight 500 men were killed and wound
ed and that the groans and shrieks Of
the wounded exercised so harmful an
effect that it was decided to throw the
mortally wounded into the sea
one hundred and forty it is said,
were thrown overheard. Those slight
ly wounded were then fastened to the
mast to prevent their interference
with the fighting of the ship.
1t is impossible to obtain any con-
6rmatiOn of this story, but later re-
ports indicate that the crew of the
Orel fought with desperate bravery
throughout the day previous to their
surrender.
NebOgatofTs Men NIutinied.
New York June "Details from a
trustworthy source leave. little room
for doubt says a Times dispatch from
st. Petersburg, that Admiral Nebo-
EdlDL sailors IluLlIllGQ curing the
battle of the sea of Japan and either
threw the admiral and many officers
overheard or, according to another
version. bound them in their cabins
and hoisted the white flag.
Eight men in NebogatOff's squadron
were, it is again asserted. hanged for
muutiny while still in the Red sea.
NebogatOm Is Censured.
st. Petersburg, June According to
the dispatches from Baron Ferzen, the
battleships remaining in the fight We're
still in squadron formation when he
was cut off and this Increases the deep
resentment felt here at the surrender of
the ships the Novoe Vremya even de-
claring the officers ought to be court
martiaIed and shot for hauling down
their flags and turning their ships over
to the japanese. The paper cites ar
ticles of the naval regulations forbid
ding a commander to surrender except
as a last emergency after taking meas
ures to destroy his ship. 1t points out
that it required only the opening of
the sea cocks to send the ships to the
bottom. The crews would be given a
good chance of life, the paper says. and
cites the example of the cruiser RurilS
of the VladiVostOk squadron which af-
ter the fight with Admiral Kamimura
in August last went down heroically
with colors flying
The report from DournOvo Of the tor
pedo boat destroyer Bravia telling how
that boat was disabled on the first day
of the fight and escaped to VIadivostok
through the midst of a hostile flotilla
Of desroyers being obliged even to burn
her woodwork to reach the harbor
ava akens a gleam of satisfaction and
though the Izumrud failed to reach
VIadfvostok her destruction al the hands
of her own crew is regarded with almost
equal pleasure.
The aaddest note for st. Petersburg is
struck by the destruction Of the battle