On arriving about five miles from Soulina, the boats were formed into two groups, the first consisting of the No. 1, the No. 2, and the Tchesme, and despatched on their way. The working of their engines was scarcely heard, and all lights were carefully hidden by tarpaulins.
The first casualty that happened was the disabling of the Tchesme, by the electric wire of her towing torpedo fouling the screw, this obliging her to return to the Constantine. Aided by good fortune, and by the darkness of the night, the No. 1 and the No. 2 succeeded in getting close to (30 yards) one of the Turkish vessels, the Idglalieh, before being discovered, when they were at once hailed, and, not answering, a tremendous fire of big guns and rifles was directed on them from the Idglalieh, which was promptly followed by that of the whole squadron, though from the other ships nothing of the boats could be seen.
According to the Russians, the No. 2 succeeded in exploding her torpedo close to, if not in contact with, a Turkish vessel, but from eyewitnesses on board the squadron only one explosion was heard, viz. that of Lieutenant Poutschin's torpedo. Any way, no damage whatever was experienced by the Ottoman squadron. The No. 1 came down on the Idglalieh's starboard bow, fouled her cable, and swung alongside, exploding one of her torpedoes in so doing, but with no other result than a wetting to those of the ironclad's crew, who were on the forecastle. Alongside Poutschin remained for some minutes, but at last managed to get clear, and then was either sunk by the Idglalieh's fire, or, as he avers, on finding his screw foul, he sunk his boat, rather than let her fall into the hands of the Turks. Poutschin and four of his crew were picked up, after being some hours in the water, by the squadron's boats.
The No. 2 seems to have suffered severely, her funnel being bent, the axle of the steering wheel damaged, sixteen rivets were started, and the iron keel plate had dropped some 18 inches, and finally the lower part of her rudder broken, and one of the blades of her screw bent aft; part of this damage was no doubt the effect of the explosion of her torpedo, which was probably not in position, but unless she ran over some loose stones of the Soulina breakwater, the damage to her keel and rudder cannot be accounted for.
The second group of boats had followed up the first, but on hearing the noise of the explosions and roar of the guns and rifles they returned to the Constantine.
That ship, on observing the firing, endeavoured to close the land, but she grounded, and remained until daylight in a difficult position, but at last got afloat, and returned to Odessa with five out of her six torpedo boats.
Lieutenant Rojdestvenski, the Commander of the No. 2, received the 4th Class of the Cross of Saint George, and three seamen the insignia of the Order of Military Merit.
On the part of the No. 1 and No. 2, this was a most gallant affair, though unsuccessful, but as regards the remainder of the boats the less said the better.
Had the Turkish squadron slipped the instant the alarm was given, and steamed full speed in the direction of Odessa, the Constantine and her convoy might have been cut off. Both the Moorcademikhair and Feteh Bulend were 13 knot ships, and therefore considerably faster than the enemy. But, as usual, the Turks were far too dilatory to take advantage of the occasion.