Toga awaited him there; at what particular point is immaterial, for the
Straits are but sixty miles wide, which space is halved by the Island of
Tsushima, whence the Straits have the alternate name—Tsushima. In such
narrow waters, wherever the Japanese Admiral might be, he was certain,
by an extensive scouting system, to receive notice timely enough to
ensure intercepting his enemy. The notice came by wireless telegraphy
early on Saturday, May 27, from cruisers off Quelpaert Island, 150 miles
southwest of Tsushima; and as the Russian fleet, heading for
Vladivostok, drew up with Tsushima, the Japanese battleships were seen
rounding its northern point. As regards the position of the Russian
ships, it seems certain, that, upon sighting the enemy, they formed in
two columns of vessels. One contained the armored ships, a very
heterogeneous assembly in size and qualities, composed of battleships of
the first and second class, armored cruisers, and coast-defence
ironclads. The second column was of lighter cruisers. This took the left
hand, toward Tsushima, while the battleships were on the right, toward
Japan. At the head of the battle column were three battleships; two of
the first order of strength, 13,516 tons, the third of 10,000 tons,
between them.
Admiral Togo divided his principal force of fighting ships into two
squadrons. One, of four battleships and two armored cruisers, he kept
under his own immediate direction. The other, of six armored cruisers,
which are battleships of superior swiftness, but somewhat lighter armor
and armament, was intrusted to Admiral Kamimura. The first of these
approached from the north of Tsushima; the second, and faster, followed
a little later from round its southern end. The head of the Russian
battle column received the weight of the Japanese fire, and the superior
speed of the latter enabled them so to choose their positions as to keep
their fire concentrated on these leading ships. Kamimura’s attack was on
the rear, and after that the battle soon became general. There was also
a third Japanese squadron, of vessels not belonging to the armored
fleet. These alone had been shown by Togo, until the Russian was
committed to the passage of the Straits. They are said now to have
attacked the other side of the Russian column. In brief, while Togo
threw the weight of his force upon the head of the enemy’s order, he
provided that the remainder should be so occupied as not to render
serious assistance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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