In Dutch newspapers is quite a lot of attention paid to this warship, not only dealing with her visit to the Dutch East Indies but also with her life during the war between Russia and Japan (8 February 1904-5 September 1905) of which she was one of the few surviving Russian warships.
The Askold was laid down at the Germaniawerft at Kiel, Germany on 8 June 1899, launched on 2 March 1900, commissioned on 25 January two years later, in March-December 1916 at Toulon, France refitted including replacement of her guns, de mobilized after December 1917, seized in Kola Bay in 1918 by the British Royal Navy and taken in service as the HMS depot ship Glory IV at Gareloch, Scotland, due to her bad condition the Soviet government wasn’t interested in getting her back and she was broken up in 1922 at Hamburg, Germany. With a displacement of 5,910 tons full load were her dimensions 132,5 x 15 x 6,2 metres or 434’7”x 49’2”x 20’3”. The 3 shaft triple expansion steam engines and 9 boilers supplied 19,650 hp allowing a speed of 23,8 knots and with a speed of 10 knots a range of 6,500 nautical miles. Her crew numbered 580 men. The armament consisted of 12-6”915,2cm) guns, 12-3” (7,5cm) guns, 8-2” (4,7cm) quick firing guns, 2-1” (3,7cm) guns and 6-15” (38,1cm) torpedo tubes. The armament consisted of a sloping deck 2-4” thick armour while the conning tower was protected by 6”.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 15 August 1904 reported that the damaged Askold probably with admiral Skrydloff on board arrived at Woesing, the fore port of Shanghai.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 15 September 1904 supplied more details about her condition when she arrived at Shanghai. As a result of the battle she had lost 1 officer and 12 men and were around 50 men wounded. The heaviest wounded were brought on land to the hospital with the message to be prepared for departure within a week. The ship was hit by around 200 shells and 24 hours a day were men working to repair her. It was believed that she was able to leave the port within 10 days for sea. Thoroughly repairs had to wait for better times. The 1st and 3rd funnel were literally riddled by the shells. The lower part of one funnel is close to the deck nearly blown away and the funnel aft smashed into two parts with ropes tied to each other. On starboard was the armour pierced by a 20cm shell just a few feet above the waterline while the shell was struck in a bunker. All over the ship caused Japanese shells a lot of damage and the hull showed old and new bursts, the steering engine seemed to be damaged but engines and boilers were still in good condition. The destroyer Grozowoy [Grozowoi] was not seriously damaged but looked quite filthy and neglected was on the 14th towed the river up and now lying next to the Mandzjoer.
The newspaper Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad dated 20 August 1904 published the tiding dated Shanghai 18 Augustus according to which the Russian warships Grovosoi [Grozowoi] and Askold there were visited by the chief engineer of the Customs Service and that the taotai decided that both ships were allowed to stat until 23 August. After this date they should be departed of stay and be disarmed. Chinese warships were underway. The Japanese consul general informed the taotai that a fleet was underway to capture both ships unless the Japanese government demands were accepted. The chief engineer reported however that both ships were not seaworthy. The Grovosoi [Grozowoi] could be ready within 10 days, about the Askold could be nothing said.
This photo is found on the url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Askold_(1902).jpg with as description the Askold shortly after her commissioning in 1902. The photo was made by an unknown sailor of the former Imperial Russian Navy. Source: http://ship.bsu.by/s.asp?id=5752
The newspaper Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant dated 16 February 1905 published a item based on tidings received by the British newspaper Daily Telegraph from Shanghai. The Japanese consul in that port informed the taotai that engineers in this port were making engine parts necessary to replace the missing on board of the there lying dismantled Askold. It was believed that the parts would be secretly brought on board and with the first opportunity would the Askold escape.
The newspaper Tilburgsche Courant dated 23 April 1905 republished a news item of the newspaper Morning Post dated London 21 April. This latter newspaper received a tiding dated Shanghai 20 April that the Askold loaded coal brought with 3 lighters and that she was painted to resemble a American warship. The engine parts and the collars of the guns, which were taken away when she was disarmed and dismantled, seemed to be forged and a pilot was hired for 3 months. Five Chinese warships were ordered to guard her. The newspaper Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad dated 25 April confirmed this item.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 29 May 1905 wondered if it was true that both ships were painted white and preparing for escaping from Shanghai. According to the newspapers Evening Standard and St. James Gazette was this intention again a prove of Russia neglecting neutrality principles.The newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 26 October 1905 reported that the Askold and other interned Russian warships were assembling at Tsingtao destined form there to Vladivostok. The newspaper Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant dated 15 November 1905 reported that she left that day Shanghai probably destined towards Vladivostok.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag: kleine courant dated 29 February 1908 reported that her commanding officer had to appear for a court martial to justify his behaviour during the mutiny at Vladivostok on board some months earlier. He choose to commit suicide before to have been questioned.
The Askold later visited the Dutch East Indies just before the outbreak of the First World War and of which visits was reported in the Dutch newspapers supplying also details about her background.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated Monday 13 January 1913 reported her arrival that morning at Tandjong Priok. She was described as a protected cruiser with a displacement of 6,000 tons, 12-15cm guns and 20 smaller guns, a speed of 23,5 miles and 5 high slim funnels. According to the item were on the grave yard at Shanghai 65 crewmembers bury, some were killed during the battle others died being wounded during that same battle. She is now complete refitted and shows nothing of the events in the past.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 17 January 1913 published a somehow less positive item dealing with the Askold. At that moment she was still anchored at Tandjong Priok and Russian sailors bought 3rd class tickets for the train to Batavia. However in the trains occurred problems between controlling personnel and sailors the latter sitting in the 1st and 2nd class cabins while refusing to go the 3rd class cabins. The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 20 January 1913 reported her departure to the ‘North‘. Her commanding officer was Tesché. The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant evening edition dated 7 February 1913 reported that according to the newspaper Bat. Nieuwsblad the Askold arrived on 13 January at Batavia coming from Singapore for a stay of 2 or 3 days and from there she would steam via Sabang towards Vladivostok.
The newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië dated 6 January 1914 reported that according to the newspaper Singapore Free Press the Askold left 25 December 1913 Singapore destined for Malacca and Sabang. At Sabang she was to load and from there to visit some ports on the island Java. The editon dated 20 January 1914 reported her arrival coming from Vladivostok and Padang with as commanding officer Smestonihoff. The edition dated 24 January 1914 published a item dealing with the opening of the Pasar Malam on the afternoon a day earlier. Sailors of the Askold visited the Malam eating enormous amounts of Rambo tans, saying against each inland woman loebloe (I love you) and in the saloons you could heard everywhere their ‘nasdarofja’s’. There were no problems also because there was hardly any police agent visible in contrary to what was normal. The journalist was very pleased with this while usually as he wrote were the best spots for the police or were they harassing the crowd. The edition dated 27 January 1914 published an extract of the police reports (presumably of Batavia?) according to which 3 deserted Russian sailors were arrested while four other sailors were brought by an inland agent to the commissary. The newspaper De Sumatra Post dated 6 February 1914 supplied more details about the visit of Padang. The day after her arrival was she visited by governor Ballot. Shortly afterwards went Russian sailors on land and visited the kotta meeting one serious problem. Both sides were not able to understand each other. Just the Russian officers were able to express themselves in French, German of English, the sailors with lower ranks were forced to use hand gestures. Despite this problem went everything well. The behaviour of the Russian sailors was every where decently and paid well. Two days later was it possible to visit the ships between 16.00 and 20.00 o’clock and for which opportunity both Russian steam barges and tugs were available to transport the visitors. The small Dutch steamboats Sumatra, Salida and Emmahaven were also overloaded with visitors which were all friendly received in board and showed around. When it became dark on board was Russian music played by an own navy band and showed dancers in national costume typical Russian dances. Finally were the Russian officers invited by governor Ballot for a so-called soiree dansante in the Ons Genoegen building. Except for the military brass band was also a civilian string orchestra present and ad midnight left the Russian officers while the Russian national hymn was played by the militaries. Her departure was to be the same night towards Batavia.
This photo is found on the url http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Askold_during_World_War_1.jpg with as description the Askold while in 1916 at Toulon. The photo was made by an unknown sailor of the former Imperial Russian Navy. Source: В. Я.Крестьянинов, С. В. Молодцов Крейсер «Аскольд», Krylov Shipbuilding Research Institute.History (1902).
The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 25 November 1917 reported that the Askold in the Mediterranean now was under British command.
The newspaper Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant morning edition dated 21 May 1921 reported that according to the French newspaper Echo de Paris the British government offered Krassin to sell two destroyers and the Askold to the Soviet government. The evening edition dated 17 March 1922 reported that the seagoing tug Humber of the Internationale Sleepdienst passed that day at 12.00 o’clock on a distance of 12 miles the Borkum lightship while towing the Askold to Hamburg, Germany.
