Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-05-20
JAPAN'S LOSS
IS RUSSIA S GAIN.
Former Loses Two War Vessels
Which Causes the Latter
Much Rejoicing
SEA EQUILIBRIUM RESTORED.
When Jap Fleet Appeared Place Lo'
Gated and at Night Mines We're
Laid There.

st. Petersburg, May 2O-The loss Of
at least two japanese warships Is Off
cially confirmed. A message dated
Port Arthur, received by carrier pigeon
at Mukden, was ansmlted to the en-
peror early yesterday morning, saying
that two Japanese warships had been
lost Off that port. The message fol-
lowed the emperor TO Koursk, and no
one here knew Of its contents until late
last night when foreign kilograms
brought fun details Of the Japanese
loss
Early in the afternoon reports of the
sinking Of the shikishima and the Full
on the authority OF Russian refugees
from Dalny began to circulate and
aroused the most intense excitement,
The greatest enthusiasm was manifest
ed. Without reference TO it's effect on
the campaign the people regard the
disaster as divine interposition in the
Russian cause.
1T Is pm offering to Russia upon the
day Of Ascension and tie emperors
birthday. and It is sign that God Is
with us" was the remark generally
heard.
If a stranger entered the city tonight
he would find it decorated with flags
and bunting and Illuminated devices as
though in gloriication of victory,
but this Is not really so, as the decora-
tions are In celebration Of the empcr-
or's birthday.
In naval circles the Japanese catas-
trophe Is a matter Of rejoicing, though
regrets are expressed that brave men
have lost their lives, Just as Japan
voiced its sorrow TO the world when
brave men went down with the Petro-
pavloysk. But this feeling of sympa-
thy is swallowed uD In the greater
Thanksgiving for the blow inflicted ON
the sea power Of the enemy. II Is point
ed out that the Hatsuse was one OF
Japan's finest battleships, and that the
loss of two, and possibly four warships
at intervals of few days, cannot fail
to deeply affect Japan and to influence
the course OF campaign.
The general STAFF tonight Is without
direct news Of the sinking Of the Shi-
kishama and the Full, but there is an
impression that IL may he true. The
reports, at any rate, have infused fresh
life and enthusiasm in official circles
where II Is believed that the tide Is
turned.
No surprise is expressed by the adj
miralty at the Japanese vessels strk-
ing Russian mines, the admiralty ex-
pecting such mishap TO Vice Admiral
Togo, particularly since the naval
commanders at Port Arthur have faith
fully duplicated the plan which result
cd In tho afntEinn a tho DaIpAnu
Wherever of Port Arthur the Jap
anese squadron appeared during the
day, that same night Russian torpedo
boats stole out and carefully planted
contact mines which, below the sur
face, would not be touched by the de-
stroyers, but ships OF heavier draught
cruising in the mine fields would be
sure to strike them.
The favorite point selected by the
Japanese for bombarding IL Liao III
shan promontory, and the water there
has been thlcky sown with Russian
mines, Other POINTS beside Lao IT,
shan have also been mined, and II has
been dangerous for the Japanese ships
to cruise In those waters.
The effect Of the disaster undoubted-
ly will be TO cause Admiral Togo to be
more cautious, for he must save his
squadron for the contest for the SUI
premacy Of the sea with the Baltic
feet when It arrives in the Pacific.
The loss Of the ships, irrespective of
other casualties which may have oc-
CURED, Is Of the most Importance, ac-
cording TO the general staff members
of which pointed out to the Associated
Press that II tends to restore the equil-
ibrium afioat, Despite the number of
casualties In the Russian fleet. II has
really lost only one battleship, the
Petropavlovsk. II Is true that the Ret
vizan and the Czarewtch were torpe-
doed at the beginning Of the war, but
both were safely towed into Port Ar