New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-11
THE ENEMY SIGHTED.

Such are the events up till now which We
recall 10 memory. Haschidate is just express
ing his opinion that the Russians will try TO
steam along the Corean coast II possible, when
we hear a sudden noise. and, scurrying under
the bridge. a signal man leaps up the steps to
and reports from the man on duty that TO
the west some fifty miles distant. smoke Is to
be seen on the horizon. We regulate the tele-
scope and there. sure enough. pillars of smoke
distinctly visible. I count six and Haschi-
date thinks he can distinguish even eight. The
row IS soon TO begin theni
give ct once the necessary orders. have as
much ammunition as possible brought UP. the
guns manned and all ready for fighting In
the mean time the smoke columns approach at
n high speed. and soon We can distinctly recog-
nizs the dark forms Of the ships. There are at
least thirty forty big ships-indeed, the whole
Russian fleet ] give the engineer, through the
speaking tube, the order to slow down, as I
expect an order from the rear admiral Sure
enough. a signal appears not long afterward on
the flagship OF the admiral: Torpedo boats to
the attack and then retire toward US again. L
give Immediately the order 10 the engineer.
Meanwhile We have approached the Russians
They have, Of course, noticed US also, and we
ran distinctly see how the battleships and trans
port ships slow down; the cruisers, on the con-
trsry, keep UP their speed. The FOREMOST
large cruiser Of some 6,ODO tons (Whlch AFTER
ward proved itself to be the vladimir Mono
nach) holds course directly toward US.
Suddenly a white cloud of smoke appears from
the vladimir Monomach. and directly after
ward the first shot rumbes over the water. The
prologue TO the great drama begins. second
end a third shot follow. The other cruisers be-
gin 70 fire, and the first shells pop, far from our
bow, into the water. The Vladimir Monomach
still steers directly for under incessant fire.
one can distinctly recognize the moving forms
OF the sailors busy at the guns. Now is the mo-
Inent for me to act, / have the helm turned
port; then I order full steam ahead. and give
IA q louder voice the command 10 the gunlSFs:
Tubes clear for action TO starboardF
In a few seconds we arrive at a distance Of
400 yards. The boat Tushes with ever increasing
speed through the waves, the engines hammer,
The whole ship-the bridge, the funnel and the
upper deck-vibrates, and the spray falls on the
boat from all sides, preventing us from seeing
anything for the moment. The Russians sa-
lutte US now with storm Of shells one after the
otner strikes my boat One hits the forecastle
ano one lo-cm. shrapnel tears away part OF
the bTldge. Nevertheless I remain unhurt, but
Jour or my crew who standing under the
biloge are severely wounded by flying splinters
All this happens in few seconds. When We
nave arrived at a distance of about 200 yards ]
command in a loud voice. Fire. Both torpe-
Goes shoot out at the same time and the other
guns also do their duty. ] below 20 the man
81 the helm through the tumult OF the ele-
!lents and the booming Of the guns, Helm hard
70 port" The helm swings round, and in a few
seconds we are steaming back at the same high
speed at which We arrived