VOL. XLV. 0. 13,875.
PORTLAND, OREGON, MONDAY, .MAY 29, 1905.
PRICE FIVE GENTS.
TOGO WINS II
IT VI
Russian Fleet Routed
in Straits of Corea.
BATTLE RAGES FOR TWO DAYS
Fighting Began Saturday as
, Fog Was Lifting.
TOKlO IS VERY SILENT-
able Offices Arc Guarded and
Little Information Is Allowed
to Leak Out Kcgarding
Great Xaval Fight.
According to the latest information
the battle between the Russian and
Japanese naval forces for the su
premacy of the Oriental tea?, on which
hangs the outcome of the Far Eastern
struggle, has begun, if it has not termi
nated decisively. All the dispatches
received by' the Associated Press point
to a Japanese victory, though .it Is not
yet known that the full force of Vice
Admlral Rojestvensky's fighting ships
took part in the contest, which, ac
cording to the ' dispatches, took place
in the comparatively narrow waters of
the Straits of Corea.
The first Information came in a dis
patch from the American Consul at
Nagasaki to the State Department "at
"Washington, telling that the Japanese
bad sunk one Russian battleship, four
other warships and a repair ship In
the Corean Strait, and this was fol
lowed by a dispatch received by the
State Department, the date of which
was not given, that "the Japanese
government has mle the announce
ment that its fleet had engaged the Rus
sians in the Straits- of Corea Saturday
and had held them."
The State Department also received in
formation that two of the vessels re
ported to have been sunk were the
sister battleships Orel and Borodino,
and that three of the other ships were
cruisers.
From Tslntau. the German port on
the Shantung Peninsula, came a report
that a running naval engagement took
place ' near the Island of Oki in the
pea of Japan, 200 miles northeast, of the
.Straits of Corea, and that the whole
Russian fleet did not participate, the
slow, vessels having "been sent around
Japan. '
Russian sources give no news of the
battle, while the Japanese government,
following its custom. Is silent an to
either the battle or its outcome.
LONDON. May 29. Many dispatches
from Tokio and other points appearing
in the morning newspapers, are filled with
more or less authentic details of recent
movements of Vice-Admiral Rojestven
sky's ships and surmises and rumors of
the results .of the battle between the
Japanese and Russian fleets, but add
nothing reliable to the dispatches re
ceived by the Associated Press corre
spondents. According to the Daily Telegraph a pri
vate telegram was received In London
last night in a very high quarter, to the
effect that Vice-Admiral Togo had gained
a great victory. Based on the meager
details already received here most of
the newspapers are ready to believe the
Japanese have secured a victory.
The secrecy maintained at Tokio , ap
parently extends to the European lega
tions. At any rate. Baron Hakashima.
the Japanese Minister here, declined to
see newspaper correspondents, much less
to talk of the battle.
The indications from many of the dis
patches are that Rojestvensky sent some
of his vessels through the Tsugaru Strait,
with the view of mystifying the Jap
anese. Mas Come From Vladivostok.
A dispatch to a news agency says that
two RuESlan -warships were sighted Sun
day afternoon at Masukl (Mashlkc). in
Shiyarl Province, Hokkaido, steaming
southwest,- but it Is not known whether
they belonged to Rojestvensky or if they
were from Vladivostok.
It is assumed here that the Japanese
government will follow its customary plan
not to allow details to be .published until
the action has been completed, and it
is believed that .the fight has been of a
running character.
The Daily Telegraph's Tokio icorrespon
dent says that an intermittent fog pre
vailed in the- Sea of Japan Saturday. It
occasionally lifted, when there was bril
liant sunshine. A high wind prevailed,
with a rough sea. ,
The Russian ships .were first sighted at
C o'clock in the morning approaching Tsu
Islands, under cover of a fog, which,
however, lifted, and the squadron retired.
This squadron- is believed to have con
sisted of six first-class ships, and, ac
cording to information received, 21 more
Russian warships were not far away.
Nothing definite is known, however, says
the correspondent, and the authorities
sserely reported that cannonading was
proceeding.
Coaled Fleet Oft Luzon.
It has now been discovered, the cor
respondent continues, that Rojestvensky's
.ships cealed along the coast of the Island
of Laaea on May 22, and on the follow
ing day taeiy cruise about north of
bunker coal from colliers. Then Rojest
vensky decided to divide his fleet into
several parts. He traversed the Bashec
Straits and steamed in a northeasterly
direction. On thp,moming of May 23 the
Russians were southwest of the Luchu
Islands, and the slow converted cruisers
and transports were sent to Shanghai,
while the main squadron went to Tsu
Island.
A dispatch from Shanghai says that Jap
anese warships arrived In the offing at
Woosung Saturday and attacked the Rus
sian ships, but a later dispatch says
that the Russian transports are to stay
In the vicinity of Shanghai, while the
vessels of the volunteer fleet are to
leave for either German or French ter
ritory. It is reported that Rojestvensky's
squadrons used Chusan (one of a group
of islands off .the east coast of China.
In the Province of Chekiang) as a naval'
base, and it is also stated that the
Chinese authorities ordered the vessels
to leave Woosung by S o'clock Saturday
night or to haul down their flags. The
Russians, the dispatch said, were tempor
izing. British Fleet Hurries Xorth.
It is reported from Hongkong that the
British fleet is leaving for the north at
full speed.
The Dally Telegraph's correspondent and
the Dally Telegraph Itself both discredit
the rumor that the Japanese will attack
the Russians at "Woosung, which rumor
lacks confirmation from any other quar
ter, though the Shanghai correspondent
of the Morning Post, cabling May 2S, says
that the firing of big guns was heard
outside Woosung Sunday night.
The same dispatch says that the Rus
sians allege they are merchantmen and
are entitled to remain at "Woosung, while
the Chinese Admiral now declares that
he will not permit the ships, to leave
and, the dispatch adds, the Chinese war
ship Haichl has cleared for action.
The Tokio correspondent of the Daily
Mall says that 15 of Rojestvensky's ships
appeared east of Tsu Island at 2:45
o'ejock on- Saturday morning; that at
10 o'clock that morning the fleet was
passing ten miles southeast of Tatzlkl,
and that cannonading was heard.
FIGHT BEGINS AFTER STOR3I
Sound, of Big Guns Is Heard on
Mainland.
PARIS, May 2D. No official advices have
thus far been given out concerning the
naval combat In Far Eastern waters, and
those now arriving from Tokio are of
the most meager description. The news
papers this morning fully reproduce the
dispatches from the United States and
London without comments thereon.
The Journal's special war correspon
dent, Ludovlc Nadeau. who was taken a
prisoner at" Mukden and sent to Tokio,
cables from Tokio under date of May 2S
that the authorities there are observing
the strictest secrecy regarding the naval
battle. He says that on tho morning of
May 27 a large Russian fleet appeared In
the Tsu Straits, entering the channel
between Tsu Island and Klushiu Island,
where the belligerents came In contact
immediately, their cannonading befog
heard at Shtmonosckl.
The tempest which raged in the Japan
Sea for some days previous, the cor
respondent says, had settled down, and the
sea was more calm. A later dispatch
from the same correspondent puts the
public on guard against false rumors, re
Iterating the statement to the effect that
the Japanese authorities were observing
the strictest silence regarding naval move
ments and that there was also a most
severe censorship, which It is impossible
to escape.
Sighted Off Bay of Manila.
MANILA. May 29. Five warships were
sighted off Corregldor Island, In the en
trance to the Bay of Manila, this morn
ing, headed south. It Is believed that
they were Japanese vessels. On Satur
day two ships were sighted 120 miles west
of the Bashee Straits by the British
steamer Tuen Sang.
Cables Closed to Dispatches.
TOKIO. May 28. (7:45 P. M.) Ab
solutely no news concerning the ope
rations of the Japanese and Russian
fleets was obtainable here today. News
papers arc held under absolute leash
and all telegrams and cables are closed
to press dispatches.
The Ore! and Borodino are of 13.516 tons displacement each, heavily armed, well
protected, and were designed to make IS knots. They measure 237 feet by 76 feet,
with 26 feet draft, and both have a lofty spar deck fully 30 feet above Use water
line, extending from the "bow to the Quarter deck. Forward is mounted a pair of
12. 4-Inch puns In -a turret protected by 11 Inches of Krupp armor. Another pair of
guns of the s!Ee-eie to ascuate4 aft. There are 36 other gun of the Intermediate
USUI FLEET
IS ANNIHILATED
Twelve' Warships - Are
Sunk or Captured.
CONSORTS ARE " DESTROYED
Official Information Given Out
by Japanese.
VICTORS' LOSS NOT GIVEN
One Cruiser and Ten Torpcdo-Boats
Are .Reported to Have Been Sunk
by Guns of the Russian
3Ic"n-6f-"Var:
TOKIO, May ZV. (2 1 15 1 31.) It In
officially announced that Admiral Ro
Jestvcneky's fleet has beca .practlcally
aanfhllated. Twelve ivarshlpsj have
been sunk or captured and tvro trsH
porti and two torpedo-boat tleatroycrn
hae been unnlc.
BATTLESHIP BORODINO IS SUNK
Jnpancse Announce Destruction of
Five Other Ships.
WASHINGTON, May 2S. A dispatch
was received at the State Department
today saying that the Japanese gov
ernment has made the announcement
that its fleet had engaged the Rus
sians in the Straits of Corea Saturday
and; had held them. The reported
sinking of the battleship Borodino is
mentlonej Jn a dispatch received at the
State Department today from the Con
sul at Nagasaki. Following is tho text
of the Nagasaki dispatch to the,State
Department:
"Nagasaki, May ,2$. Japanese sunk
the Russian battleship Borodino and
four more warships and a repair ship."
The other dispatch follows:
"Tokio. May 27. Japanese fleet en
.gaged the Baltic squadron this after
noon in the ' Straits of Tsushima, which
was held. Cannonading heard frorh
shore."
The belief in naval circles in" Washing
ton Is that the Japanese resorted to a
free use of their torpedo-boats In their
attacks on the ships of Admiral Rojest
vensky's fleet. The Japanese have a
large number -of torpedo-boats In their
fleet, and they demonstrated their effec
tiveness In the operations around Port
Arthur. Naval officials here tonight ex
press the opinion that it was unlikely
that such serious losses as those re
ported had been Inflicted by ordinary, fire.
RIDDLED BY THE KASAGA
Battleship Orel Was First Hit by
Three Torpedoes. '
SPECIAL, CABLE.
TOKIO, May 29. (10 A. M.)-The latest
rumors about the navy department are
to the effect that besides the Borodino,
the battleship Orel was sunk In the ear
lier fighting. She Is reported to have
been torpedoed three times and after
wards fell a victim to the cruiser Kasaga,
which practically riddled her. None of
the other Russian vessels sunk are Iden
tified by the rumor here.
The reports of Japanese losses are very
vague, but persistent, and It would not
be surprising to learn that same suf
fered at least serious damage.
The corps of correspondents here this
SUNK IN SEA FIGHT
RUSSIAN BATTLESHIP OREL.
morning appealed to the' highest officials
for permission to send such news as they
have in -their own way. but their request
was courteously refused.
HOJESTVEXSlvY ".TRIES . RUSE
Sends Ships to Shanghai to-Deceive
. . Admiral Togo. " ,
CHEFOO, May 2S. (Noon.) Private
telegrams from Corea- to the Japanese
Consul here state,- that a battle was
progressing -yesterday afternoon at or
near the Corean Straits between the
main portion of the Russian squadron
and the Japanese fleot under command
of Admiral Togo.
-Telegrams almost Identical with the
above nave been received here and an
nouncs thai a large portion-of the
Russian fleet' was sighted approaching
the Corean Straits Saturday, headed
fpr tiie channel - between the Tsu
'Islands and the Japanese -coast.
According to the best Information
received here recently, the main por
tion of Admiral, Togo's fleet has been
almost constantly at" Masampho Bay.
Advices from a reliable quarter re
ceived, here are to the effect that three
Russian battleships. three armored
cruisers, and several colliers were off"
Shanghai Friday. It ' Is believed that
VIce-Admlrai Rojestvensky sent suf
ficient ships to the vicinity oT Shang
hai in order to Induce the-belief that
his main fleet was there, while the
majqr portion of It pushed on toward
thc'Gorean Straits.
Several Russian colliers were at
Shanghai at 'J o'clock Sunday night.
Private telegrams received here from.
Shanghai say that as fast as the car
goes of the colliers are consumed the
vessels are dismissed by Vice-Admiral
Rojestvensky and return to Europe.
FOG RISES AND FLEET APPEARS
Battle Said to Have Started Saturday
Afternoon.
LONDON. May -29. The Times' Tokio
correspondent says that telegrams from
apparently trustworthy sources show that
VIce-Admlral - Rojestvensky approached
Tsu Island at U A. M. In the forenoon of
May 27, during a fog, which cleared up
In the afternoon, when the Russians were
sighted by the Japanese. The battle com
menced between 2 and 3 o'clock In the
afternoon. There was a strong breeze
blowing, with a high sea.
A dispatch to the Times from Paris
says that a private telegram from Chefoo.
probably from Russian sources, reports
that Rojestvensky began to force a pas
sage to the Corean Straits Saturday night,
without lights. In two lines, one on each
side of Tsu Island. Heavy firing )s said
to have been heard In the straits between
9:30 and 10:50 o'clock at nlgh"tifcwhen
It ceased. ijp
The same dispatch says one of Rojest
vensky's shlpsroturnc.d to Xla'chou Fri
day night, having' been badly damaged,
by a collision with another ship.
JAPS LOSE TORPEDO - BOATS
Ten of Little Craft and a Cruiser
Lost Off Oki.
TSING-TAU. May 29. There is a run
ning, naval engagement between the
Russian and Japanese fleets in the
Straits of Corea, near the Islands of
Oki. It Is reported" that the whole Rus
sian fleet is not participating, all the
slower vessels having steamed around
Japan. The Japanese losses o far are.
stated to be one cruiser and ten torpedo-boats.
The Island of Oki Is in the Sea of Japan,
about 200 miles northeast of the Straits
of Corea, where the battle between the
Japanese and Russian fleets Is reported
to have had Its beginning.
"Togo Will Inform You."
PARIS, May 29. I:53 A. M.)-Later
editions of the morning papers here ex
press the fear 'that the Russians have
met with defeat In the naval combat.
The Matin, remarking 'that the dis
patches from "Washington are far from
reassuring, recalls the words of VIce
Admlral -Rojestvensky when he entered
Far Eastern waters:
"If I am victorious I shall Inform you.
If I am -vanquished Togo will inform
you."
IN COREAN STRAITS
'battery, asd the vessels carry two submerged-torpedo tubes and two above water.
A special feature oX ; the veels- Is'.taelr vertical longitudinal bulkheads ef eighty
inch "areacc. rBenlng( threagheut 'lie".whoielegth of the frhlp at a. dtstaaee of ulna or
ten -feet, (aboard treat 'the c&)p'a sMes." derigved to localise the effect of a' blow from
a torpedo. - . i .
E
T
I
Russian Fleet Thrown
Into Confusion.
THE PREY OF SWIFT CRAFT
Attack Made Toward Dawn of
Sunday Morning. '
RUNNING FIGHT- FOLLOWS
Admiral-Togo With All His Bis Ves
sels Gives Stern Chase to the
Fleeing WarslUps of
the Czar. -
BIG AVAR CRAFT LOST rOV
BOTH SIDES.
Since the war began the losses In
bis rtilps to' the fleets of the bellig
erents have been as follows:
Russia.
SUNK AT PORT ARTHUR
Royarln, blown up by a mine.
Itetvlzan. sunk by gun Are.
roltava, holed and sunk.
Pallada, torpedoed and half-ub-
merged. '
Peresvlet. hulled by shell Are.
Pobleda. hulled by shells.
Petropavlovsk. blown up by a mine.
Sevastopol, hulled and half-submerged.
BLOWN UP AT CHEMULPO
Variag. first wrevked by Japanese shot.
Korletz. hulled by Urlus ships.
SUNK IX COREA STRAITS
Iturlk. one of the Vladivostok squadron.
SUNK OFF SAG H ALIEN"
Novlk. one of the Port Arthur ships.
DISMANTLED IN FOREIGN PORTS
Czarevltcb. now at Klaochau.
Askold. In harbor at Shanghai.
Diana, sheltered at Saigon. French
Indo-China. .
Japan.
SUNK BT MINES
Hatsuse. went down near Dalnr.
'Yashlma. sunk east or. Port Arthur.
Mfyaka, lost In, Kerr Bay.
Halycn. blown up October 9.
RAMMED AND "WRECKED
Yoahlno. sunk In collision by the Ka-
suga. May 15.
A number of smaller craft has been
lost on Loth tides, but In this re
spect Ruwla is the heaviest sufferer.
Japan lost ffve transport sunk by the
raiding Vladivostok squadron, and lost
' 16 other vessels In the four attempts
that she made to bottle up Port Arthur.
SPECIAL CABLE.
LONDON. May 29. (4 A. M.) No details
of the fighting between the hostile fleets
have been received here as yet and none
Is likely to be until one of the Russian
ships reaches a neutral port or the Jap
anese government releases the censorship
on messages from Toklo. JThls latter 13
not likely untjl the fight Is over.
Only, the barest bulletins arc printed in
the morning papers here, but they all
point to a sweeping Japanese victory. In
fact, the correspondent of the London
Mall at Toklo. who is generally most
conservative, makes the bold statement
that the Russian Baltic fleet as a fighting
force has been completely wiped out, that
some of Its best vessels are sunk, others
are prizes of war. and the remaipder
fleeing before the Japanese vessels. Ho
adds no details, which is not surprising.
I inasmuch as the censor apparently got
T T
BOATS
In his work on his message, which reached
this city unfinished.
Just what has taken place is hard to
say, "but the naval experts think that
Togo attacked the Russians' Sunday morn
ing with his destroyers,- which have al
ready scored heavily In the past, and then
he followed up the fighting with hla whole
flleet.
Fight Is Still On.
That the fight Is not yet over Is the
opinion of many British naval men,
among them being Admiral Sir Edward
Freemantle. He was seen at the Naval
Club early this morning and asked for
an expert's opinion on the outcome of the
fight. He said:
"I believe, judging from the meager
information so far to hand, that the fight
ing Is still In progress, with all of the
advantage on the side of the Japanese.
-Judging from the earlier reports. Admiral
Rojestvensky's fleet was proceeding east
ward at a speed of about eight knots
an hour. He was undoubtedly attacked
by Togo's destroyers and torpedo-boats
under, cover of darkness just- before dawn
on Saturday. -
Thrown Into Confusion.
"These small craft likely got among
the fleet before being discovered and threw
them Into confusion, and the Russians
could hardly maneuver to advantage, as
their vessels were slow and badly encrust
ed with sea barnacles and marine growth.
"Inasmuch as Togo realizes fully that
If the heavier Russian vessels were per
mitted to reach Vladivostok, where there,
are already two first-class swift armored
cruisers, the Russians would be In a po
sition to ravage the coast of Japan, you
can depend on It he will leave nothing
undone to secure complete victory and if
not hampered "with 'orders from Toklo,
will sink and capture the entire Russian
fleet."
Similar opinions were expressed by other
naval experts who have studied the sit
uation. All of the papers this morning
agree that If Togo should destroy the
Russian fleet, the end of the war is In
sight.
Officials' Lips Are Sealed.
i
SPECIAL CABLE,.
TOKIO, May 29. The outcome of yes
terday's battle In the Straits of Corea Is
still withheld by the government, all
that is admitted being that six Russian
vessels have been sent to the bottom.
Chief among these Is the magnificent
first-class battleship Borodino. The name
of the others are not available at the
present moment, although one of them
Is known to be a repair-ship, formerly
one of the Hamburg-American liners. The
fate of the crews Is unknown, but all
are believed to have been lost.
What ships were engaged, or whether
Admiral Togo has suffered In proportion
to his Russian foe. Is not known. The
Japanese government has taken posses
sion of all the cable and telegraph offices
and wiy. refuse transmission to cipher
messages, or to any which contain Infor
mation of today's events other than that
which Is acceptable to the Japanese cen
sor. Expect News at Any Time.
SPECIAL CAB LEI
WASHINGTON. May 28. (Special.)
Information reached the State De
partment this afternoon from the
American Consuls at Tokio and
Chefoo that the long-expected na
val conflict in Far Eastern wa
ters between the forces of Admirals
Togo and Rojestvensky began on Sat
urday morning in Tsushima Channel
and "was still In progress at last ac-
(Concluded on Page 5.)
CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER
The Weather.
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, G3
deg.; minimum. 53 deg.-
TODATS Cloudy to partly cloudy and occa
sionally threatening: south to west winds.
"War In Far East.
Admiral Togo defeats Russian fleet in Straits
of Corea. Page 1.
Six Russian vessels are reported sunk. In
cluding two battleships. Page f.
Japanese losa said to include a- cruiser and
10 torpedo-boats. Page 1.
Russians are' anxiously awaiting detailed
news from great naval battle. Page 1.
Foreign.
Hungary roused over proposed removal of
Count Tisza from tho Premiership. Page 3.
King Oscar refuses to accept reeignation of
Cabinet .Minister, Page 3.
International conference on agriculture In
augurated In Rome. . Page 3.
National.
Senator Elk I as opposes calling of extra ses
sion of Congrers. Page -1.
Rails furnished Panama Railroad cheaper
than sold in the Lnlted States. Page 4.
Political.
'Tammany Hall Is under attack by New York
Civil Service Reform Association. Page
Domestic.
Labor unions in Chicago settle down for a
long struggle. Page 4.
Rio Grande" does immense damage in a Texas
valley. Page 3.
Mayor Weaver warns Phlladelphlana that
flght,. with gaa trust la not at an end,
Page 4.
President Alexander, of the Equitable, points
to Injustice la Justice Maddox ruling,
Page 5. vj"
: ""Pacific CohM.
Brave Northern Pacific messenger knocks out
chief robber at Bearmoutb and saves treas
ure. Page 3. y -
Galice ditch In' Southern Oregon breaks and
buries miner under tons of earth. Page 3.
Rattlesnake, acta as an alarm clock. Page 5.
Mldihlpraan breaks Navy record at target
ehootlsg. Pqse 10.
Maria e.
Steam vessel Inspectors searching for pilot
wno stranaea xoieao. ir-age a.
Puget Sound pilots laugh at Pilot Board's
revocation of licenses. Page 9.
Sport.
German schooner Hamburg leads with Ameri
can schooner Endymlon second In trans
Atlantic race. Page 5.
Pacific, Coast League scores Portland 5, Oak
land BT Seattle 5. San Francisco 2, morn
ing game; San Francisco 2, Seattle 1, af
ternoon game; Los Angeles 13, Tacoma 0.
Page 13.
Results of Eastern games. Page 13.
Pertlaad aa Vicinity.
Democrats of tha state give Dr. Harry Lane
a&anclal aid. Page 12.
Fourth Cavalry 'pitches teats- at Kxposltloa
ground. Page 9.
Efforts will be made to induce Harriman to
build through Central and Eastern Ore-
gw. Page 8.
Memorial services -held in many Portland
caarcRe&i Page 12. .
Fair gates cie4 to vtoiters uatll the oywiag
RUSSEANS ARE IN
GREAT SUSPENSE
Eate of Rojestvensky's
Fleet Is Awaited.
HOPE PASSAGE IS FORGED
Loss of Five VesselsWouId Be
Considered Cheap,
CZAR PORES OVER CHARTS
Conference of 'His Cabinet Is Only
Interrupted by Adjournment to
Chapel "Where Pray'ers lor
. Suceess Are Offered.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 29. (2:15 A. M.)
In this momentous hour the Emperor,
the Admiralty and the Russian public are
waiting breathlessly for the Japanese to
furnish authentic news of the fate of
Vlce-Admlral Rojestvensky and his fleet.
In which the hopes of the Russians are
centered. The official disposition Is to
construe Toklo's silence favorably, but at
the same time the strategic reason for
silence is recognized.
The public, after the premature demon
stration of Saturday night, is inclined to
reverse Its attitude and to become pes
simistic. The report sent to Washington by the
American Consul at Nagasaki of the sink
ing of five Russian warships, including- a
battleship and repair-ship, was accepted
as the most definite and the most authen
tic piece of news received up to mid
night, and undoubtedly produced a bad
Impression. The fear was expressed that
the battleship might have been Rojest
vensky's flagship, the Kniaz Souvarcff, on
which the Japanese would undoubtedly
concentrate their fire.
lepair-Sliip n. Heavy Lose.
"The sinking of the repair pvXajiM- -tchatka.
which was 1)1 led withtbe eetv
modern machinery, might, It -was: tkj)K.j
prove later to be a more severe loss than
that of a warship, but at the Admiralty,
where crowds congregated Sunday after
noon and evening, hope- was expressed
that If Rojestvensky had cleared tha
gateway to the Sea of Japan with no
greater loss than that reported by the
American Consul, the passage had not
been dearly purchased, especially if later
reports should prove that the Japanese
losses were anything like egual propor
tionately. Probably no one in Russia displayed
such Intense anxiety as the Emperor.
Early Sunday morning he . summoned!
Grand Duke Alexis, High Admiral Avel
lan, head of the Russian Admiralty De
partment, and Admiral "Wlrenlus, chief
of the general staff of the navy, to Tsars-koe-Selo,
and remained closeted with
them up to a late hour last night, impa
tiently awaiting information and poring
over charts. The only news received, by
His Majesty from Russian sources was
dispatches from Russian agents and Con
suls at Chinese ports, which contained
nothing but current rumors.
Emperor Hears Prayer for Admiral
Tho only time the Emperor left the
members of the Cabinet was to attend
service in the chapel of the Alexandra;
Palace, when the chaplain prayed for Ro
jestvensky's success. The Emperor was
greatly distressed when the "Washington
dispatch containing the information from.
Nagasaki arrived. Newspaper dispatches
naturally created tho widest speculation.
Some of the officers of the Admiralty,
who on Saturday were inclined to take
the view that the ships oft "Woosung were
empty colliers sent to the rear to avoid
hampering tho warships, or that it was a,
division of little fighting value dispatched
to confuse Togo and to throw him off tho
scent, thought Sunday that It was possi
ble Rojestvensky might, after all. have
divided his fleet and that the Japanese
were awaiting the arrival of the second
Russian division ,before making a general
announcement.
The majority of the naval authorities,
however, continue to lelleve that Rojest
vensky could not risk, a division of his
fighting- ships. Those of an optimistio
turn hope that Rojestvensky did actually
throw Togo off the trail and escaped him.
as the French fleet eluded Nelson on the
way to Egypt, and that they encountered,
only torpedo-boats In the Straits of
Corea.
Attacked by Torpedo-Boats.
This opinion, though, is not generally
shared. The great majority think that
Togo's ecouts were able to keep In touch
with the fighting division, and that the
Japanese lay in wait for Rojestvensky In
the narrow waters where a battle is .re
ported to have taken place. Neverthe
less,' practically nobody believes that
Togo offered open battle, the concensus of
opinion being that the Japanese, favored
by the stage of the moon, which was at
three-quarters full, waited and delivered
a series of torpedo attacks. 'Saturday
night, with such aid as their heavy ships
could offer without running too much
risk.
Mines may have played an important
role and perhaps been responsible for a
large share-of the losses reported. At any
rateA the result Is not fully satisfactory;
to the naval authorities. ,
It is possible that a running- Ogat at
long, raage took place Sunday, from wkfch
better results are anticipated, a the
naval authorities do Hat generally setters
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