Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1906 — ROJESTVENSKY IS FREE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ROJESTVENSKY IS FREE.

Russian Admiral Acquitted by Court Martial for Surrendering to Japs. Admiral Rojestvensky, whose trial on the charge of surrendering to the enemy after the battle of the Sea of Japan was held before a court-martial at Kronstadt. Russia, was acquitted after the court had deliberated for nearly ten hours. Four officers of the torpedo boat destroyer Bedovi, who were placed on trial with the Admiral, were found guilty of having preineditatively surrendered the Bedovi and ail four were condemned to death by shooting. But, on account of extenuating circumstances, will be requested to commute the sentences of the four officers to dismissal from the service and to be deprived of certain rights which they would otherwise enjoy. , The battle of the Sea of Japan, which deckled the Russo-Japanese war, was fought Xlay 27 and 28, 1895, on Tsu Island, in the eastern channel of Korea strait. Russia’s fleet was commanded by Admiral Rojestvensky and Japan’s by Admiral /Togo. At the beginning of the fight Togo signaled- to his ships: “The destiny of

our empire depends on this action. You are till expected to do your utmost.” Rojestvensky’s faulty disposition of his ships in double line, with his cruisers between bis battleships and the enemy, was a disastrous error. The Russians, seeing they would be beaten, tried to escape. The fight and pursuit lasted all of the afternoon of May 27 and all day May 28. It resulted in the annihilation of the Russian sea force. Three vessels of the line —the Aurora, Oleg and Zemchug —under Admiral EnQuist—escaped and reached Manila. All the others were destroyed or captured, except two crippled vessels that reached Vladivostok. Russla’s losses in men were 3,500 killed and 7,000 prisoners. Japan’s losses in ships were three torpedo boats and in men the total casualties were about 1,000. That ended Russia’s hopes of victory and a few weeks later the negotiations were opened which resulted in the treaty of Portsmouth.

VICE ADMIRAL ROJESTVENSKY.