Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-07
CAUSES FOR VICTORY
EFFECTIVENESS OF JAPANESE
GUNNERs NOTED.
Tragic Incidents on the Russian Ship
Orel Narrated-Battered Terri
bly, by Shells.


Special Cablegram to The Star
TOKYO, June 7.-As to the causes of the
annihilation of the Russian fleet in the bat
tie OF the Sea of Japan the Japan Mails
critic points out that the Japanese gunners
habitually practiced in rough water, hold
ing that, unless he was effective from an
unsteady platform, the marine artillerist
was of little use. The Russians habitually
did their practice in smooth water. THE
high seas that prevailed May 27 were dis
tinct advantage to the Japanese. The sink
Ing of the battleshfps Borodno and Alex
ander III and other Russian ships was
due to their fore and aft water-tight COM
partments.
When one side of compartment was
pierced and filed with water the equilib-
rum of the ship was destroyed and the
nrlng from the pierced side was stopped.
The ships in these circumstances eventually
sank. The unparalleled effectiveness of the
Japanese torpedo attack Is still the sub
ject Of discussion. Many believe that sub
marines or some new explosive improved
the torpedo practice. Among the Japanese
the theory that the Russian ships were de-
stroyed by submarine mines is persistently
held.
A very tragic incident occurred on board
the Russian battleship Orel, which was
conveyed to Sasebo. The commander of
the japanese battleship Asahia, Captain
Togo. was in charge of the prize crew,
and found in Captain Yunik, the wounded
commander Of the Orel. an old friend.
They were comrades together in st. Peters
burg. Their meeting in the cabin, where
Captain Yunik was dying, was of the most
affecting description. That night ten of
the Orel's crew attempted to blow up part
of the magazine. The Japanese discovered
the attempt just in time. Eight of the
nobly tried to atone for the disgraceful
surrender by Admiral Niebogatoff at the
Liancourt Rocks.
Another tragic incident on board the Orel
was the throwing overheard by the Rus
sian sailors of a dozen wounded comrades
who were begging to be put out of their
misery. This was done before the Japa-
nese could interfere to prevent it. Captain
Yunik repeatedly apologized for the dis
orderly conduct of his men. The gallant
officer expired on the morning Of May 30
off Maizuru and was buried at sea with
all the honors OF war.
The orel's Terrible Battering.
BY Associated Press.
TOKYO, June Z. 6 ANA correspond ant
of the Associated Press has been permitted
to inspect the Russian battleship Orel, now
lying at Maizuru. The Orel received ter
rible battering. Her hull shows forty gap
ing holes pierced by large shells and many
smaller ones. while the superstructure, her
upper works and upper decks were riddled
by shells, steel fragments and splnters.
The starboard forward Pinch gun was
smashed ten feet from the muzzle either by
shell explosion.
A fragment of the gun went over the
bridge. smashing the rail, and, after carry
ing away the breech of a 12-pounder. buried
itself in the signal locker From the main
deck upward the condition of the vessel
was terrible to behold. Steel partitions
were smashed, the gangway was broken
and stanchions wrecked. Gear of various
kinds covered the decks. and the state of
the alleyways shows that the ship was
afire several times.
The main armor belt is intact. The tur-
ret armor generally withstood the battering
from shells. although two Of the 6-inch
,urrets were rendered unzerviceable by
shots which struck close to the.r base. Sew
sral smaller guns were dismounted and
smashed. gruesome sight was bulk
head despatched with blood, fragments Of
flesh and hair.
The Orel Is sound structurally although
1t will be necessary to practically recon-
struct from the water line up. The condi-
ton of the ship shows that the crew un-
derwent terrible ordeal before they sur
rendered.