Lot 20088 – Artist’s impression of sinking of Japanese Militar

Artist’s impression of sinking of Japanese Military transport ship KINSHU MARU in Sea of Japan, April 1904, by Russian cruisers of the Vladivostok Squadron under command of Rear-Admiral K.P. Yessen (inset top right). Card sent from St Petersburg to Germany. The ‘KINSHU MARU’ had refused to surrender and was sunk by torpedoes. As the ship went down officers committed suicide in their cabins and soldiers bayoneted each other rather than face the disgrace of capture. Only a few Japanese sailors and labourers were rescued from the water. The sinking of this unarmed vessel brought condemnation from the world’s press. Illustrated and described Casey, BJRP 92/93 (2005), p.64.