Golden Hill was observed at noon. Only five or six Russian warships were sen ling forth smoke. As to the others, which were all on an uneven keel, retreat was impossible, but nothing seemed less to their taste than to fight, even under the protection of the forts.
The Mikasa fired the first shot, and the other vessels followed. Some of the enemy's shots hit us, but caused very small damage. Almost all our shots told and the "Shimose." powder was so effective that where our projectiles hit, they scattered destruction. The Asahi, Izumo, and Azuma, were not struck even once. The Third Fleet was stationed far in the rear. Each ship fired for 10 minutes on an average and I was wounded in five minutes.
Firing was not renewed. All the Princes of the Blood on board were safe. Prince Kacho, on board the Mikasa, directed the 12-in. gun in person and hit the enemy's ship. Prince Yamashina, on the Yakumo, also fought bravely.
The squadron celebrated the "Kigensets" elsowhere—"Japan Times."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.