GREAT BATTLE OF TSU-SHIMA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 28 November 1914, Page 7

GREAT BATTLE OF TSU-SHIMA.

In the armaments engaged and th« fierceness of the lighting Tsu-shima has not been equalled in the authentic annals of the sea hefore the present war. [According to Sir George Sydenham i Clarke, in his .preface to Captain Lindsays translation, "Tsu-shima," a book | by, Captain Semenoft, commander of the Russian warship Suvaroff, the Russians had eight first-class battleships, the Japanese four; the Russians three coast defence armor clads, the Japanese none; the Japanese eight armored cruisers, the Russians three.

_ It was May 20 when the stately Russian vessels, wrapped in fog, approached the straits. Later in the morning a (large body of vessels was sighted, steaming in a. parallel course to the Rusjsians. The Orel opened fire by mis- | take and the Janancse withdrew.

At the Admiral's ordep four Russian battleships turned to starboard, as though to attack the enemy, and, then wheeling, formed in line ahead, parallel to the rest of the licet and somewhat ahead of it. The Japanese withdrew from range, and about half-past one in the afternoon four more Russian ships joined the advance line to starboard. The fleets were now in the wide eastern strait of Tsu-shima. At about a range of 9,500 yards the heavy Japanese vessels, with Togo in the Mikasa leading, steamed obliquely across the Russian bows and began a circling movement, which would enable the ! line to recross the Russian bows, the ships being so spaced that the Russians would be under a converging fire. ,' i The light cruisers, meanwhile, un- | known to the Russians, were inanoeu- j vring to attack from the rear.

To oppose the Japanese circling movement, Rojdestventsky' swung to starboard and opened Are at 8,500 yards. With batteries silent, the grim vessels of Togo swept onward to (i,500 yards. There was a series of flashes from the sides and turrets of the Mikasa and the vessels near her and shells began to explode on the Suvaroff and the Ossliabya.

The Japanese gunnery was unswerving. A heavy shell exploded against the eonning tower of the Suvaroff, and Rojdestvensky staggered back, his skull so injured that he could not speak. By now the Imperator Alexander 111. and the Ossliabya were in flames. A few minutes later three other Rhips of this division sheered off, wrapped in flames and black smoke.

Her steering gear carried away, the Suvaroff floundered about in the swells. While Japanese quick, firei'S swept her decks, ,gallant squads fought the fire with buckets, practically all her steam pipes having been severed. The Imperator Alexander 111. had become the flagship and she lad the Russians in a circle in an attempt to fool the Japanese and break through eventually to the north, but Togo followed in a parallel line until, as the Russians were pointing due south, he wheeled his ships in short half circles and was ready to cross the Russians' bows as they finally bore away to the north.

The Alexander was the next to drift out of line ablaze. The Borodino was now ahead, but as she tried to reform the Russian line one of the light cruiser squadrons appeared from the rear, commanded by Rear-Admiral Dcwa, who is now said to be attacking Kiao-chau. This threw the Russians into a huddled mass and doubt as to the outcome of the battle was at an end.

Away to. the west lay the Suvaroff, afire, the Admiral speechless with a fractured skull and Captain Ignaziua blown to atoms. From her mast a tattered Russian naval flag still floated and as a group of Japanese destroyers darted out to finish her sh> fought them off with his six quick firers which were still in commission.

Under the guns of enough Japanese vessels to blow her own of the water the Russian destroyer Buiny ran alongside *nd took off Rojdestvensky and a handful of survivors. •

When night fell the Japanese battle- ' ships withdrew and eighty toq>edd boats and destroyers which had remained under cover all day were unleashed. The night roared with the explosions of the hunted Russian vessels. With no light showing they sped through the heavy sens, but the enemy were relentless in their pursuit. The warships then renewed their attack. A squadron of Japanese vessels asked the Svietlana to surrender, but Captain Schein and his officers decided to fight, though they had had but 100 cartridges in the hold. ! As the shot was fired Captain Schein opened the sea cocks and the great vessel plunged beneath the wind tossed waters. The fighting was fraught with similar acts of heroism on both sides and Togo showed his appreciation of Eodjestvensky's gallant conduct by refusing to receive his sword when the Russian Admiral was finally captured on May 28. Only two Russian destroyers, the Br&wy and Gresny, and the cruiser Alinaz reached Vladivostock after the battle of Tsu-shima, the greatest naval battle of all time, previous to the present war.