THE GREAT BATTLE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1349, 10 June 1905, Page 2

THE GREAT BATTLE

Tfie Japanese Attack,

Account by Russian Escapees

Russians Unprepared

Not Even Glearetl for Action

Toyo's Strateny

Press Association.—Copyright. London, June. 9 The JRnsaians at Manila (Philippines) assert that the Japanese com. pletely surprised Rozhdestvansky. They say that the vessels were not cleared for action, and that the' guns and crows wefre'not in position. There was no time to get the vessels into fighting trim, Two,lines of torpedoers suddenly appeared and enveloped the fleet, while Japauese battleships in the distance'poured in a hail of thirteeninch shells,

The Russian cruisers manned the port batteries and the battleships the starboard batteries to repel the torpedo.ers, but they did not attempt to man the others.

• The Japanese then executed a manoeuvre which threw the whole fleet into confusion,

Two encircling lines of torpedoevs met the southward fleet, and instead of continuing the circling they turned, in obedience to Togo's signal, and advanced at full speed between the Russian lines,

Hardly a battleship or cruiser escaped sorious damage, and all were practically helpless, and became demoralised. '

Not a shot was fired during the torpedoers* final dash.

Then Togo's battleships ami cruisers encircled the Armada, the big guns completing the destruction. Riutoff, captain of the Nakhimoff, states that whilo the Baltic Fleet waß at Kamrank Bay two French cruisers invited them inside the harbout 1 and allowed them to telegraph homo. ' ■