A PITCHED NAVAL BATTLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12668, 2 December 1905, Page 5

A PITCHED NAVAL BATTLE.

DEFEAT AND CAPTURE OF LIEUT,

SCHMIDT

SIX VESSELS PUT OUT OF ACTION

Received December 2, 0.58 a.m

ST. PETERSBURG, December 1

Admiral Chukhnin has informed General Kaulbara that th© imutitieers on Tuesday night seized tlhe torpedoer Svi-

repoy and. three other vessels.. All hoist-

Ed the red flag. Lieutenant Schmidt, aboard the Svirepoy, steamed along with *th© doyal Black Sea squadron, whose crews did not respond to the reflbal cheers. During the course of the morning the rebels seized all the unguarded small craft. Airmed parties from the Otchakoff boarded- the. Pantaleimon, whidh was unarmed, removing ifae offi-

cers to the Otbhakoff, Lieutenant

Schmidt threatening to hang them if the troops interfered. Admiral Chukhnin. states: " W© w©r© compelled to tolerate this, as the fleet had been disarmed in view of the'men's dangerous attitude.

Seeing the activity of tihe mutineers increasing, tih© authorities resolved to at^ tack them. The field artillery in the afternoon fired on the rebel ships in the fjouthern harbour. Lieutenant Schmidt lowered Ma red flag and signalled:'

'Have many captured officers.' When th© sloop full of mutineers was sunk the Otechakoff opened fir© on the north shore battery, and the ships whose br©aqh blocks were restored replying, the Svirepoy attempted to attack the loyal «hips, but experienced a strong fire. The oruisers Kapibansaken, Pamyatamerkuvya, and tihe battleship Rotislaff and the Svirepoy and two other tprpedoere were put put <o| action. On© was .'.sunk. Th© Otbh^wcbfP fired"«ix ehots knd then hoisted the whit© flag, and the squadron ceased firing* A conflragation then commenced on the Otchakoff. Boats were sent to fetch-the wounded, and arrested Lieutenant!Schmidt, who was dressed as a common sailor.