"The battleship Petropavlovsk struck a mine, which exploded and the vessel capsized.
"Our squadron is lying under Golden Hill and the Japanese squadron is approaching.
"Admiral Makaroff apparently perished with the Petropavlovsk.
"The Grand Duke Cyril, who was saved, was slightly wounded.
"I beg humbly to report to your Majesty that those saved from the Petropavlovsk up to the present are Grand Duke Cyril, six officers, 32 sailors, all wounded. The bodies of four officers, a surgeon, and 12 sailors have been found.
"The Japanese fleet has disappeared. Details will be supplied by Rear-Admiral Prince Ukhtomsky, who has assumed provisional command of the fleet."
Swiftly upon the track of this first message there followed the brief account of a further disaster, which placed another of Russia's finest battleships hors de combat. Prince Ukhtomsky telegraphed that "during some manœuvring of the battleship squadron, the Pobieda was struck by a mine amidships on the starboard side. She was able to gain the port by herself and none on board were killed or wounded."
BLOWING UP OF THE PETROPAVLOVSK.
The Story of the "Petropavlovsk"