THE FIRST BATTLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12546, 13 April 1904, Page 5

THE FIRST BATTLE.

AN' INTERESTING LETTER FROM OHEMULPHO. We have received the following interesting letter from a correspondent who was at OliQinulpho, iu Cores, at the time of the opening engagement of the war, when Japanese warships sunk the Russian cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Corectz: — "After a few days' stay in Shanghai (expecting to hear ovary day that war was declared between Russia and Japan, and that our journey to Co re a would be abandoned) we left Woosung a# Monday (February 1), and arrived here tUhamuJphn) on Wednesday, February 3. We started discharging the cargo we had for this port (4500 tons of railway material for the Seoul-Fusan railway) on the following day, expecting to occupy about 20 days, nr there are no facilities here for handling! heavy girders, which have to be put into lighters and sent ashore, a few at a time.

"At night we heard that the hanks here anil at Seoui (30 miles by rail) bad received instructions to safeguard their Interests, as war was fo be expected shortly. " In port at this date were the following naval ships: One British (Talbot), one French, out Italian, one American gunboat, one Japanese, and two Russians, the Cofeetz (gunboat) and the Varyag (cruiser, first-class). "On Sunday, February 7, the Japanese proceeded to sea at ten p.m., showing hardly any lights. " On Monday, at three p.m., the Russian gunboat steamed out of the harboui, but. at about half-past four returned, followed by a Japanese squadron, consisting of two battleships, fout cruisers, eight destroyers, and thran transports. The latter immediately started disembraking 2500 troops, and at about ten p.m. they started leaving again, and by six a.m. on the 9th all had left. "About a-quartei to nine a.m. on February 9 a cuttei from H.M.s. Talbot brought us instructions to shift our anoliorage, as we were in the line ef fire should there be trouble in the harbour; at the same time the Russians reserved orders from the Japanese to clear out, and that if they were not out of the harbour by noon they would be attacked in the harbour.

" At ten a.m. they commenced clearing for action, the gunboat Coreetz housing her topmasts.

" At twenty-five minutes past eleven they both ste-atliod ewuy foi the entrance to the harbour. On arriving there at five minutes to twelve a.m. they were immediately engaged by the Japanese, and heavy firing continued until about twenty minutes past on? p.m., when the Russians returned, anchoring about two p.m. The cruiser was on fire aft, and showed a few shot marks about hot, but the gunboat was apparently uninjured- Both were flying their colour*.

" Tho fire on the cruiser was put out, but at half-past two the crew of tiie gunboat were seen to be leaving their vessel, until at a-quarUr past three there only remained on board tho captain, one sailor, and one boy, who stuck by thsir captain. At four o'clock she blew up with a terrible explosion, having been blown up intentionally to prevent her falling into the Japanese hands. "At half-past four the crew of the Yaryag were seen to leave " their vessel. At five p.m. the burst into .flame aft, and shells continued to 'explode (which had been left lying round the deck). Her magazines had been flooded, but she had three live torpedoes in her broadhide, which caused a good deal of consternation on the other cruisers, for should a shell strike one it was almost certain that one of the ship.i would get tho benefit of it, but nothing happened, and at six p.in. she slowly turned on the port side, and sank, being tired and scuttled purposely. "A little later a Kussian mailboat, from Shanghai, en route to Port Arthur, via this port, slowly steamed close to the sunken gunboat, and was tired, burning all night until early next morning, when she settled down.

" All three wrecks aro visible at low water. Just before the cruiser sank a Japanese cruiser and two destroyers came ill, reconnoitred, and put to sea again. "A Japanese cruiser came in, and at noon all ships fired a Royal salute, with the Japanese flag at the main. '"To-day (February 13) two Japanese transports, escorted by a gunboat and a cruiser, came in, anchored, and started disembarking 5000 troops at once." ■