RUSSO JAPANESE WAR

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 19

RUSSO JAPANESE WAR

!" A -GREAT 2JAVAL BATTLE. ©RELIANT JAPANESE VICTORY. TWO BATTLESHIPS AND ELEVEN OTHER SHIPS SUNK. TWO BATTXcESHIPS AND FOUR OTHERS CAPTURED. ISC. PETERSBURG, May 24. Admiral Birilefi has l)een appointed commander of the Tacific -fleet, with the lights and .authority of a commander of an independent .force. LONDON, May .23. After Saturday's repulse the Russians retreated to the right of MaTien-ho, leaving a few companies on the left bank. These were subsequently defeated, and retreated .northwards- in disorder. It is .reported in St. Petersburg that General lineviteh Jiad telegraphed) that the Japanese had iegun an offensive movement all «long -the line. There are reports in Tokio of the capture of a junk with jaaany Russian officers aboard, who ,are supposed to be a reconnaissance party from Vladivostock. 'The' American fleet at Cavite intends only to allow the Russians sufficient coal to reach Vladivostock. "The Tiroes* St. P-etersburg correspondent reports that tne peace sentiment is so overwhelming that in the event of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's defeat the warlike minority must give way. At is connaentry stated in Tdkio that the railway from Harbin to Vladivostoek has been cut. May 24. The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent reports that the best information indicates tn*at the Baltic fleet is now in the Pacific. Skirmishing continues. The Russians on the right of the JLiao have retreated to Tu-lun, 17 miles west of Faku-men. - General Lineviteh and General Kourapatkin are .constantly bickering and telegraphing their mutual complaints to the Czar. The Russian Foreign Office denies that Admiral Rozhdestvensky contemplates seizing a .base north of Luzon or anywhere else in the iPldlippines. May 25. A fog sprevails in the Bashi Straits, separating Formosa and the Bashi Islands, "belonging to the Philippines. French advices from St. Petersburg indicate that Oyama has been .-immensely J^einforced. Advices in 'St. .Petersburg state that General Rennenkampi was severely defeated when attacking the Japanese in a position unnamed. There were several hundred casualties, but the details .have been censored 'General Mistchenko, after a four days' | reconnaissance of the Japanese flank, retired on .Monday 20 miles to the northwest. 'General Lineviteh demands the recall of General Kourapatkin. Thg Russian ships in the Batan Strait OH the 19th stopped the Norwegian steamer Oscar, bound for Jfgasaki. The Russian fleet consisted of 14 converted cruisers and six destroyers. It is officially announced from Luzon that 50 warships, supposed to be Russians, passed eastward of Batan Islands on the 20th, sailing to the north-eastward. A Tokio message indicates that many Jj^anese warships are -watching the Tsoschima, Tsugaru, and Soya Straits. May 26. General .Unevitch reports that the Russians dislodged the Japanese from the heights at Nantochondge and Chan-da-ohe, oiiiSlie^leTt bank of the Xtia-^ho, the Japanese losing scores. . Admiral AveLtan, interviewed, stated t&at Admiral Rozhdestvensky, though tnrwell, continued to command. He intended to .force an engagement. . The Daily Mail's Shanghai correspondent states that seven Russian Volunteer fleet cruisers and three colliers anchored outside Wu-^ung on Thursday afternoon. Other accounts say that a Russian cruiser •ecompanying the colliers left and steamed

northwards. It is surmised) the vessels are intended to divert the attention of the Japanese from the main fleet or to facilitate the escape of the three Russian vessels interned at Shanghai. A Hanover firm supplied Russia with a large number of automobiles suitable for , war service in Manchuria. JSixty transports were seen off Saigon on Sunday, half of them with full cargoes. General Rennenkampf's ;heck was due to an audacious attempted raid on the Japanese lines. He was nearly surrounded by the Japanese cavalry, infantry, and artillery. His retreat was precipitate, .half ■& brigade of Cossacks being either killed or wounded. The authorities at Macao have granted a clearance to a Chinese steamer which has been renamed the Caecilie and chartered by a German newspaper to follow the Baltic fleet. Her supposed destination is Manila. The Daily Chronicle's Sofia correspondent reports that Bulgaria purchased four Argentine armoured cruisers and three destroyevs. She sells them to Russia in return for five million roubles' worth of railway rolling stock. Two thousand Russians left Libau last week to accept delivery of the vessels off New Guinea. May 27. Reuter's Tokio correspondent reports tnat the 'transmission of all information regarding to-day's historical events in Korea Strait, between Korea and Japan, - was refused. The Taotai has ordered the Russian Volunteer fleet, which is suspected of try■ing to load coal, to leave Wu-simg within 24 hours. Russia ignores the protest, alleging that Japanese merchantmen arrive daily at Shanghai.. General Linevitch reports that General Mistchenko, with portions of the Caucasian Brigade and detachments of the Trans-Baikal Cossacks, attacking a height southward of Fa-ku-men on the 19th, annihilated two Japanese companies and captured one company, two machine guns, and 334 prisoners, including five officers. Russian correspondents in Manchuria complain that, although the Japanese cavalry has appeared 20 miles north-west of Kun-tu-ling, the rear of the Russian headquarters, General Kourapatkin, who refused to surrender his luxurious train to General "Linevitch, indulges in constant ' pleasuring with Princess Reuss and other Russian ladies parading as Red Cross nurses. There is much evidence that neither She army -nor tlie nation has any heart for the -war. General Lmevitch abstains from frivolities. The Times says that St. Petersburg news to the effect that Russian troops are about to -enter Mongolia to check a supposed .Japanese flanking movement causes consternation among diplomatists, who fear it is the first step in the annexation of Chinese territory. Uussia is pressing the Chinese Government to draw the frontier 20, and not 60, miles west of Ti-ehi-ling to restrict Japan- • ese operations. j May 28. j j Admiral Rozhdestvensky passed Tsushima and the Korean Strait in two columns, the battleships on the starboard and the gunboats andi cruisers on the port ««ie. Seventeen of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's , ships anchored off Saddle Islands on , Thursday night. At is i>elreved they j coaled dbefore proceeding north. I Three British steamers loaded with coal i for Hongkong were detained at Moji. I Reuter!s Agency at Tsing-tan .reports that on Saturday a great naval battle was proceeding in the Korean Strait, near OssimS. Mr Griscom, -the United States Minister ai> ICokio, reported to his Government that the Japanese AdnrhKtlty made an announcement of the fighting .strength of the Baltic fleet, which was sighted on Saturday morning leading for Tsushima Straits. The American Consul at cables that one Russian battleship and five other Russian ships were sunk in the Korean Strait. Tokio reports that the Japanese earalry on the 25th occupied Hsu-mien-cheng, 18 : miles north of Chang-tu. Famine prevails on the island of Sagha- . lien, off the coast of Siberia. Many -persons are eating dogs, and no "flour is i obtainable. : May 29. ' It N is reported at Chi-fu that three Rus- < sian armoured cruisers and several colliers ]

were off Shanghai on Friday, and there are indications that Admiral Rozhdestvensky sent a sufficient number of ships to the vicinity of Shanghai to produce an impression that the main squadron was there, whereas the bulk of the fteet boldly proceeded to the straits southward of 1 Tsushima. Several colliers arrived at Shanghai on Saturday. As fast as their cargoes were consumed the vessels were dismissed, returning to Europe. It is believed at Tokio that the fleet at the Saddle Islands, comprised Admiral Rozhdestvensky's main fighting strength. After coaling they approached the straits in two squadrons. The silence in Tokio regarding the battle was well kept. Throughout Sunday it was announced that nothing was likely to be divulged for 24 hours. The newspapers were under an absolute censorship. The cable stations were closed to newspaper despatches. The Government had determined to prevent information of the slightest value reaching St. Petersburg. Advices at Washington received from Peking state that Admiral Rozhdestvensky was defeated and was fleeing northward. It is believed the sunken vessels include the battleships Borodino, Orel, three cruisers, and a repair ship. Viscount Komura has informed the Powers that the fleet engaged and held the Baltic fleet in Korea Strait. The Borodino was sunk. Hussian advices from Shanghai state that the Vladivostock squadron participated in the battle. Shanghai advices of Sunday's date report that five Russian battleships, three cruisers, and seven destroyers were off Tsu-shima on Saturday in a fog, which cleared in the afternoon. A Chi-fu report dated Sunday states that" the Japanese Consul's private advices from Korea state that the main portion of the Baltic fleet met and engaged the Japanese squadron in the strait on Saturday afternoon. The Times' Tokio correspondent reports thai the battle was fought in a strong breeze and with a high .sea. A private telegram received in a high quarter in London reports that the battle resulted in a great victory for Admiral Togo. A private telegram received at Berlin via Chi-fu states that one of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's ships proceeded to Kiao-chau on Friday badly damaged in a collision. It adds -that Admiral Rozhdestvensky began to force « passage on each side of Tsu-shima without lights on Saturday night. Heavy -firing was heard abbut 9 o'clock at night. It is repotted from Tokio th*at four Hussian warships, possibly Admiral Rozhdestvensky's light cruisers, passed Kurile Straits, -steaming westward, on the 25th. Reuter's Tokio correspondent reports that Admiral "Rozhdestvensky's fleet was practically annihilated. Twelve "warships were sunk or captured. Two transports and two -destroyers were ■ .sunk. TLiao-chau on Monday reports that a ■running fight is in progress in Korea Straits. The whole of the .Russian fleet was not there, all the slower ships steaming .round Japan. It is reported that Japanese losses heretofore consisted only of a cruiser and 10 torpedoers. St. Petersburg interprets Tokio's silence as a Russian victory. The Russian Admiralty approved of Admiral Rozhdestvensky's reported order of battle and entering JKorea Straits so as to enable the battleships to bear the brunt of the fighting. Admiral Avellan always thought Admiral Rozhdestvensky would pass of Japan, and the decision in favour of Tsushima is ascribed to the hope of giving Togo the slip. It is surmised in London that the con- ! dition of the Russian oca! bunkers dictated the shortest .route. The best available information ,at Chi-fu is to -the effect that the main portion of Admiral Toga's fleet was almost constantly at Masampho, in Korea. News of the impending battle was received at Tokio with elation, the people being confident Admiral Togo would "win a crowning victory. It is generally admitted that part of the Baltic fleet is bound to reach Vladivostock. Hopes are centred in the serious crippling of the main fighting ships..

The Daily Telegraph's Tokio correspondent reports that Genera) Mistchenko only extricated his force by a Drilliant and costly charge through infantry, cavalry, and artillery across the line of retreat. It is reported that the Japanese losses, apart from prisoners, was 500. Continuous heavy rains impede operations. It is reported in London that Russia has purchased the liner Kaiser Frederick for £275,000. May 29. Tokio reports that the Japanese -sank the Borodino, Imperator Alexander, Admiral Naklimoff, Dimtri Donski, Vladimir Monomach, Admiral Otchakoff, Svietliana, Jemchug, Kamschatka, and the transport Irtessim. They also captured the Orel, Inaperator Nikolai, Admiral Seniavin, and the Admiral Apraxine. The Japanese squadron is undamaged. Admiral Diebogatoff and 3000 men captured. Admiral Rozhdesventsky apparentlyescaped. Pursuit continues. Admiral Togo reports that on Saturday and Sunday he sank two battleships and 11 other vessels, and captured two battleships and four others. TOKIO, May 24. M. Kato, a former Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, interviewed at Tokio, declared that if Russia asked tor peace Japan would insist on an unconditional armistice, would require Russia to return Manchuria to China, recognise Japanese suzerainty over Korea, cede Saghalien to Japan, destroy permanently the fortifications at Vladivostock, and pay an indemnity of at least two thousand million yen. Such liberal terms would afford no occasion to the powers ior intervention. Viscount Katsura, the Premier, addressing the Japan Society at Tokio, eulogised the British alliance. The end of the struggle was iar Sift, but the people were prepared to fight to the last drop of their blood.-, > BJtISBANE, May 24. The .steamer Burwah, which cleared for Shanghai, is reported sold to Japan. THE OPPOSING FLEETS 1 . The composition and gunnery power of the two fleets has been often compared. A cabled summary on April 14 dealt solely with the strength of armoured ships. It was as follows : — JAPAN. Five battleships, with a<n aggregate displacement of 60,890 tons. Eight armoured cruisers, with an aggregate displacement of 73,686 tons. The primary batteries of the above ships are : — Twenty 12-inch guns, one lOinoh -gun, 30 8-ineii guns. , KTTSSIA. Seven, battleships, with an aggregate displacement of 87,344 tons. Two armoured cruisers, with an aggregate displacement of 14,724 tons. Primary batteries : — Twenty-four 12-inoh. •guns, four 10-inoh guns, and eight 8-inch guns. >. Since then/ however, there has been a junction between Rozhdestvensky and Nebogatoff, "and the proportion in gunnery strength has been greatly altered, .for armament is the important factor in the lesser ■squadron. It added two 12-inch, three 10inch, twelve 9-inch, and five 8-inch .guns to 1 "the Russian batteries, and as these -ships have been <so lately refitted, they carry, we may be-sxtre, the best, guns that Russia could provide. It is believed that the Japanese -have put heavier guns into -their ships nsince they were relieved from urgent duty by the fall of Port Arthur, and this may have .been overlooked in th» calculations given above. Presuming the Japanese had their full strength in action, the fleets would compare •as follows: — Japan. Battleships. Tons Mikasa „ „ .. i 5i 5j 200 S-, 33 * 1 " 15,200 Shikismma „. 14,850 Yashima 12,300 Fuji 12) 300 Cruisers. Asama 9,750 Tokiwa „ .. .. .. .. ._ 9 750 Idzumo ." g,'Boo Iwati „ .. 9,800 Yakvimo .. „ .. .. .. 9,850 Adzrnna „ .. .. 9,256 Nisshin 7,583 Kasuga .. _. . 7,583 Russia. Battleships. Tons. Kniaz Suwaroff .. .. .. .. 13,516 Borodino 13,516 | Orel .. .. 13,576 Imp. Alexander 111 13,576 Oslabaya 12,674 Sissoi Veliki 9,700 Navarin .. .. 9,500 Imp. Nicolai I 9,672 Coast Defence. Ad. Oushakoff 4,126 Ad. Seniavin • ... 4,126 Gen. Ad. Apraxine .. .. 4,200 Cruisers. Ad. Nakhimoff 8,500 Wmitri Donskoi .. „ .. 5,893 Vladimir Monomach. .. .. 6,061

Assuming that the 13 ships named form//" part of Togo's fleet, there ai % e, in additiiiu.* nine protected cruisers, the full strength irf fighting ships being 22. Against these nice ihe Russians have several first-rate cruisers in. the Aurora, Svietlana, Almaz, Izumrud, Gleg, and Jemtchug, and a number of converted cruisers, whose value in a sea fi^hti had to be proved, though in tonnage and! steam power they have all the requirement" of auxiliary cruisers. Amongst these are fcj;. Russ, Anadyr, ITuerst Bismarck, Kaiseria Maria Theresa, Kaiserin Augusta "Victoria! Kaiser Friedrioh, and Rion.