THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST.

Evening Star, Issue 12551, 8 July 1905, Page 5

THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST.

Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Cop/right JAPANESE CONCESSIONS. DESIRE FOR a"IASTTNG PEACE. " TOKIO, July 7. The Mikado's address to the Japanese plenipotentiaries states that if Russia desires to end hostilities in a way that will be MitisEaotoiy, Japan will direct her plenipotentiaries to do all in their" power to secure the re-establishment of j>eace on a durable basis. BASELESS AND CONTEMPTIBLE CHARGES. LONDON, July 7. Retelling" to I he engagement at Sa-mai-■lse. General Linievitch admits that the Russian? retired from the captured jiositioas. He declar,*> that tho Japanese suffered enormously, and asserts that the Japanese are using chuu-duni and copper bullets. A NEW LOAN. THE NEWS CONFIRMED. LONDON, July 7. Ittuici confirm.-- Baron Tahahashi's statement that a. Japanese loan of £30.000,000. bearing <]£ jier cent, interest, will be issued at £9O. Groat- Britain, America, and Germany will each take £10,000,000. [Tlie ]irice is the same as that of thc£3o,ooo,ooo foreign loan which was largely over-subseribed after the defeat of the Russians at Mukden in March.] I AFTER TSU-SHIMA. HOW ROZHDESTVENSKY WAS CAPTURED. THE OREL Aii A PRIZE. 'From Our, Special War Cop.itEsr-ONnKvr, Mr W. H. Donald.J HONGKONG, June 13. Little has transpired concerning the great naval battle, or rout, as it should be properly designated, since I advised you last, and few further details will l>e available until Japan's fleet is settled in home ports. It is now certain, however, that Rozhdestvensky had battleships on the east of the Japanese, where they were almost useless, whilst his cruisers were on the west, where tho Japanese main attack was delivered. His faulty formation was as much his ruination as the inability of his gunners to shoot straight, and alter the tii-s-fc attack it was impossible for him to regain control of his scattered fleet. Admiral Uriu. speaking at Shanghai, declared that lie saw several Russians sunk bv shell (ire, and was of thx> opinion that the Russians were too slow in endeavoring to stop up holes in tile battleships-. The Oiel had several holes above the waterlite, which were stopped. She was a. pitiful sigh-, when she. got, into Maizura Harbor. On both sides of tlie hull were holts and impressions made . by shoo striking above the water-line. She was not drawinn much water, and thick weeds on her hidl could bo seen below water. Her fote-" funnel was broken at tho middle. Her masts arid yards were damaged, and the torpedo nets" had been torn to pieces. On board the sight was truly desolate and depressing. At- the chart room, on the livst bridge," charts, signal books, and other articles were strewn all over the place. A portrait of the Czar in a gilt frame had fallen down and been trampled upon. The guns- had been demolished forward, and torpedo tubes broken. Only three boats remained intact, and the lenses in all the searchlights had been broken. A foul I smell floated up from the engine room, and, on inquiry, it was learned from a Russian officer that the remains of the men killed had been burned in tho boiler fires before the surrender. The chaired remains were piled up in the engine room, and and other human bones were seen. There were indications to 6how that the cabins of the officers- had been used for the storage of coal. . "During the voyage of the prize ship from. tlie scene of the lighting to Maizura seventy Japanese sailors, with loaded rifles, were stationed at various points of the vessel. Tbesre ajad a few stokers, who were in 'he | engine room, kept guard agajiwt the I prisoners who had surrendered. Ihe Bus-s-ians smashed the gear necessary for the navigation of the ship, and put one of the engine room fires out. Nor would they "iva any information regarding tlie vessel's navigatiug peculiarities. They were eating and drinking indiscriminately during the vo'vaoo. At night the vessel began to take water aboard, and listed slightly. Owing to the fact, that the electric light wires bad been broken, it was quite dark on board, except for a few straggling lights. Tho Russians became much excited when they fuund that the ship had listed. Some stripped themselves of their uniforms, and in other ways prepared to jump into the sea. For a time there was a good deal of disorder aboard, iwtd ihe Japanese officers threatened to use force, if necesI snv. Tho voyage proceeded at about ten i k"iiots speed. it was evident that tire Russians were in a mutinous spirit. They threatened to sink the ship if a- chance were found, and very careful guard bad to he kept near the magazine. It was some relief to the officers in command when the dt-strover Yugeri was sighted. On the following morning the Asahiu and Asama came from Maizura to escort the prize. From tltis time onward the prisoners behaved themselves and began to obev orders. . t Regarding the capture oi Admiral hozlii d(Ktvensky,° the following -story is told: At night on the 27th the Japanese destroyers Kas-umi, Usuagajno, and Sazanami were reconnoitring the positions of the Russian warships, taking advantage of the profound daiknt-ss. when they suddenly found themselves just in front of a line oi Russian ciuiscrs. As the K.tsumi »■« close to the ouemv. and there was a risk of her colliding with' the latter vessels, she changed her course, thus escaping danger ; but the Sazanauii and Usuagamo, having no other alternative, made a dash between two Russian cruisers, and proceeded to the rear of -the enemy. Seeing this, the Russians began to fire upon the three destroyers, but as their I nunnery was poor all the shells went over the Japanese and fell into the sea beyond. , Having escaped in this fortunate manner ' from a perilous position, the destroyers parted company, and proceeded on the special duties which kid been allotted them. ! The morning of the 28th proved of the kind very favorable for scouting, and at about 10 "a.m. those on the Sazanami caught ' sight- of two columns of smoke in the distance. The destroyers accordingly pro- ! eeeded in that direction at full speed to ascertain whether the smoke was from Japanese yessete or from those of the enemy. ! As it was soon apparent that both craft ! were Russian, the Sazanami opened a lwt fire upon them, whereupon one of them inade off. The other, however, came to a standstill, and made no effort to return vbe file. The Japanese vessels thereupon approached her with great cauriou, but quickly ' saw that she had hoisted the white flag on i her foremast, '■"hile tho red cross flag flew from her bows. Tho -Saganami signalled to i her to make known her condition, whereI upon she responded that her engine room j was damaged, and that she had exhausted her coal and water; also that she had two admirals on board. The Sazanami naturally regarded this ariEwer with, some suspicion, since it appeared, unnatural that two admirals should be on board a destroyer, as the Russian craft proved to he. However* the Japanese vessel sent some officers and bluejackets, armed with swords and rifles, to board, the Russian destroyer and ascertain the facts. It was then found that the destroyer was the Bidovani, and had Admiral Rozbdestvensky aboard, as well as> other officers., and some seventy bluejackets. The Russians stated that when the flagship Kniaz Suvaroff sank on the previous day, some of those wtto had 'been on board of her went to the destroyer, with a view of esxsiping to Vladivostock. The Japanese were gieatly moved at the anxiety of the Russians concerning Admiral • Rozhdestvensky, and at their earnest request that lie should not be iba w\mir»l aad

others were left on tSae enemy's craft, with the exception, of four officers, who were taken on board the fctozananri as hostages in case foul play should be attempted by tho Russian vessel during the voyage. The Saz*nami then took tho enemy's destroyer m tow, and proceeded towards Uteuri Is'.and at a speed of 10 knots. Considerable difficulty was experienced, as the sea was very high, with the result that the tow-rope twice broke; but, fortunately, the Akaehi was met wh-b, and with her" assistance the prize wa-s taken safely to Sasebo. It is stated that Admiral Rozhdestvensky was suffering from four wounds, three "of which are slight, but the fourth is a fractured skull, the extent of which has not yet clearly been ascertained. His pulse and temperature are normal, and there are no signs of nervous prostration. Commander K. Matsui, chief staff officer of the first; squadron under Admiral Misu, who was wounded, and is reported to have "been killed during the battle on May 27, was thirty-seven "vears old. As the battle commenced where the Tache Maru was sunk bv tho VTadivofitock squadron, the Japanese, who 'believe so firmly in the tutelary influence of the spirits of their dead, are now drawing larie inferences from the identity of the locality. Everything remains cruiet in Japan. Ihe Dilt will be asked to vote 200,000,000 yen for war expenses, and the vote is expected to pass without- a question, in view of the naval victory. Several of the Russian captured ves*-els have already been renamed and attached to tlie Japanese Navy. The Orel has Veu renamed the Twami, Nicholai I. tine Iki. Aprixini the Okinoshima, and Seiiirivin the Meshima.