DETAILS OF RUSSIA’S APPALLING DISASTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5603, 1 June 1905, Page 5

DETAILS OF RUSSIA’S APPALLING DISASTER.

TWENTY-TWO WARSHIPS LOST. UTTER DESTRUCTION OF THE CZAR’S SEA POWER. THREE ADMIRALS PRISONERS. REPORTED SINKING OF THE CRUISER GROMOSOL UNITED PHESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYIIIGHT, (Received May Si, 5.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 30, It is officially announced at Tokio that Admirals Rozhdestvensky and Foelkersahm are prisoners. A subsequent statement is to tho effect that Admiral Rozhdestvensky was wounded in the left arm when he surrendered. Up to noon on Monday 2223 Russian officers and men were rescued or had landed at various places under the white flag. Survivors declare that the attack was so sudden and complete, and Admiral Togo’s plan so different to what was expected, that the entire fleet was seized with panic. \ The long-range fire of the Japanese guns was deadly. The water was smooth during a moonlight attack by torpedo boats, which swarmed like hornets and encircled the Russians. It is believed that Japanese submarines participated in the attack. St. Petersburg reports state that many seamen, maddened by tho accuracy of the Japanese fire, leapt overboard. All th 4 Russian battleships were sunk except the Orel and the Impcrator Nicolai, which were captured. Tho Tokio correspondent of the “Daily Express” reports that the cruiser Gromoboi, with a crew numbering eight hundred, started from Vladivostock to meet tho remnants of Admiral Rozhdestvensky’s fleet, Tho Gromoboi struck a Japanese mine and sank, with all hands. It is believed that Admiral Skrydloff was aboard the cruiser. There was a heavy sea at the time of tho disaster. SYDNEY, May 31. Ti._> Japanese Consul here has been advised that four captured ships—the Orel, Imperator Nicolai, Admiral Apraxine, and Admiral Seniavin have been convoyed safely to Japanese ports.