The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-05
How the Variag (Soya) Was Sunk

Admiral Uriu called upon the Rus
sian ships to leave the narLor or ne
would attack them. The captain of the
Variag refused, and after he had in
formed the commanders of the British,
French, italian, and American men-of-
war, the famous 8 three-captain pro-
test against any violation of the neu-
trality of Chemulpo waters was made.
The American captain did not join in
this protest.
During the night of the sth, Japan
ese transports steamed in and landed
1900 soldiers in Chemulpo The next
morning Admiral Uriu presented his
ultimatum, that if the Russians did
not leave the harbor by noon they
would be attacked in the harbor. The
japanese squadron, taking up a posi-
tion ten miles beyond the anchorage,
awaited the Russian action. The cap
tain of the Variag, brave but foolish
officer, went aboard the Talbot, the
Pascal, and the Elba, and babe an ar
feeting goodbye to his fellow COM
manders, and then, boarding his vessel,
steamed out of the harbor CALAMITY,
followed by the little korietz.
The result was inevitable The fight
took place near Round Island, TIE
Nariag opening fire first. On the Jap
anese side there were the cruisers Ma
niwa, Niitaka, Chiyoda, Takachiko,
Akashi, Asama, the largest of all, and
strangely enough Captain Ishii of the
Aso, was then aboard of her, and eight
torpedo boats. After half an hour q
conflict, in which the Korietz took no
part, the Russian ships put back to
port, he Nariag having a heavy list
to port, whilst the Korietz was prae-
tleaily unchanged. The number of
Russians killed was forty-one and the
wounded sixty-eight. The steering-gear
of the Sariag was badly damaged and
the decks were shambles. The Japan
ese, possibly fearing trap, did not
pursue. At clock the Korietz WAS
blown up, and later the Variag was set
on fire and her Kingston valves open
ed. sinking about 6 clock.
Much discussion was Immediately
aroused in Chemulpo and,Seoul whether
the Russian captain had acted merely
vaingloriously and foolishly or really
heroically. 1t was thodght that he
should have taken the crew of the Ko-
rietz aboard the Variag, and, with her
great speed, attempted to run the
gauntlet of Japanese vessels. His YES
sci was able to make % knots, and
should have given him a fair chance of
escaping, even through the powerful
Gordon Admiral Uriu placed beyond
Roze Island
The foreign warships in Chemulpo
harbor took the Russian crews aboard.
The Variag at that time had no gun
shields, no telescope sights. no wire
less telegraphy, and was not properly
cleared for action when she steamed
out of the harbor. Attempting TO
maneuver at high speed, her steering
gear Immediately went wrong.
Lieutenant Commander Moses, U. S.
N. of the Naval Station, saw the
Variag as she lay sunk in Chemulpo
harbor, only her stacks and part of the
upper works visible. He stated when
the squadron came into Honolulu har-
Dor the other day that it was almost
impossible to think the Soya was that
sunken warship
The japanese went to extremes to
raise the Variag, spending immense
amounts of money to salve her and re-
bnild her as prize of war. When fin
ished, she was renamed the Soya, and
is now commanded by Captain Sato.