The San Francisco call., 1908-07-21


which was annihilated by the japanese
in the sea of Japan in May. 1905, died
here last night from heart trouble.
1t is believed that the heart affection
resulted from injuries received by Ad-
Riral Roiestvensky III the battle of the
Sea of Japan.
Sinovi Petrovich Roiestvensky was
about so years of age and fer many
years bore the reputation of being one
of the most cool headed and scientific
naval officers in the Russian service.
He was Admiral AleXieff's second in
command of the Russian squadron in
the far east in the Russo Japanese war.
In 1902 he was promoted to the rank
of rear admiral and made an aide de
camp to the emperor, succeeding Ad-
miral AVielan as chief of the naval
headquarters staff and head of the in
telligence department of the Russian
military In this capacity he super
vised the equipment of the second Rus
sian Pacific squadron, which he after
ward commanded and took to the far
east.
STARTS TO MEET JAPANESE
During the late war between Russia
and Japan the latter country having
scored great advantages on land Ad-
miral Rojestventsky was ordered early
in August, 1904, to have his squadron
in readiness for proceeding from the
Baltic around to Vladivostok. This
voyage resulted in the annihilation of
the Russian Baltic fleet.
The start was made from Libau on
October 16 of that year and, passing
around Denmark, the Russians encoun-
tered the British North Sea fishing
fleet off Dogger bank. The warships
fired on the fishermen, mistaking them
for torpedo boats, which led to
strained state of affairs between Great
Britain and Russia that at one time
threatened to result in hostilitieS be-
tween the two countries. An interna-
tional commission of inquiry, however,
which met at Paris, after a complete
investigation, excused the admiral for
his action, while condemning the firing.
Rojestvensky was later joined by
Rear Admiral Voelkersan and his di-
vision of the squadron. The Russian
combined squadrons, consisting of AZ
vessels, passed Singapore April and
coaled and reprovisioned off the coast
of AMMAN and the Island of Hatien. On
May the division commanded by Rear
Admiral Nebogatoff, consisting of nine
ships. ioined forces with Rojestvensky
and the united fleet sailed north to
meet the Japanese.
GREAT BATTLE ENSUES
The battle of the sea of Japan, other
wise the battle of Tsushima, was the
result of this meeting. 1t was the
greatest naval struggle since Trafal-
gar Entering the straits of Tsushima
between Korea and Japan, the Russian
fleet was attacked by the Japanese un-
der Admiral Togo, the opening shots
in the fight being fired about 2 o'clock
on the afternoon of May 81.
The battle lasted until the afternoon
of Nav rs and included a general en-
gagement and torpedo attack on the
night of May 81. The Kniaz Souvaroff,
the flagship of Admiral Rojestvensky,
was blown up; the admiral, himself
seriously wounded, was rescued by a
Russian torpedo boat destroyer, which
was afterward captured by the Japan
ese, who took Rojestvensky prisoner.
Admiral Voelkersan was killed in the
coming tower of the Oslyabia and Rear
| Admiral Nebogatoff was taken prisoner.
Twenty-one ships of the Russian fleet
were sunk. including six battleships
and four cruisers. Five Russian ships
were captured The Russian loss was
estimated at 1000 killed or drowned
and more than 1000 officers and men
taken prisoners. The Japanese in this
engagement lost three torpedo boats,
116 officers and men killed and 53S
wounded.
A naval court of inquiry June z, 1906.
| presented an indictment against Ad-
miral Rojestvensky for surrendering to
the enemy. but on July 10 the admiral
was acquitted on the ground that he
was not in his full senses Che was found
unconscious from several injuries by
| the Japanese) and therefore not ac-
countable for what happened at the
| t;~,a 80