The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-27
N A Y A | CRITICISM
ST. Petersburg Paper Discuss
es Recent Accident.
y
"REMEMBER MAKAR0FF"
Reform in the Personnel of the
Navy Is Demanded.

st. Petersburg, April 26.-The Novoe
Vremya today contains a remarkably free
criticism OF the Russian navy which reads
as follows: 1T would be well to put az
obelisk in front of the admiralty inscrib-
ed Remember Makaroff. His death
should be the signal 10 destroy the old
order of things of which he fell a victim
after heroically doing his best with the
defective weapons at his disposal Maka-
roff's death marks new era for the Rus
sian navy. The old days marked by
muddle of carelessness and ineffiCiency
are over and we have learned our lessons
The nation understands them just as well
and learns from the first lesson the neces-
sity of reform of the personnel of the
navy. The present system of promoting
officers according TO the number of nauti-
cal miles they sail may work we'll in a
highly efficient navy, but it is absurdly
dangerous for ours, where the capacities
of officers fiuctuate. AS result many of
our best officers are discouraged into re-
tirement
1.-THE present war is unlike any previous
war in that the whole nation is following
its phases with GREATNESS anxiety. Our
nerves are strained much as are those Of
the defenders of Port Arthur. We weep
over our reverses and rejoice al the slight
est success Like the English in the Boer
war. we are one Of the greatest Of the
world powers fighting a smaller one and
the sentiment of patrntisn overwhelms
all other considerations"
New Chwang, April 25.-The Russian
authorities here deny that here has been
any important engagements recently on
the Yalu river, but they report the de-
struction Of few japanese junks by the
Russian volunteers.
The japanese have not arrived at the
Yalu river in force. nor have they crossed
the river at any point The Russian
forces are still in possession of all points
on the west or Manchuril side of the
river. which they occupied originally and
consequently the execution of the plan of
falling back on Feng Hum Cheng and
Lao Yang. which is attributer TO General
Kuropatkin. the Russian commander-in-
chief, has not been begun.
BALTIC FLEET.
st. Petersburg, April 26-The report that
the Baltic fleet is to leave Libau Thurs
day for the far east is incorrect Some OF
the ships are just going into commission
and those being completed cannot be fin
ished before July The report may be
attributable to the fact that some school
ships are going out to train. the naval re-
serves
The battleship Bcrodino left the admi-
rally works today for Crnnstadt, to re
ceive her armor and heavy guns
The admiralty is giving earnest consid-
era zion TO all questions in Connection with
the dispatch in July of tha Baltic fleet to
the far east.
Vice Admiral Rojesteveasky, who will
col nmand it. and Rear Admiral Wirenius
halve been in consolidated All idea 4
following the ittr- route has been
a abandoned Inuced, it never wa tr.ous-
lys considered. Admiral Rojestevcnslly
Originally favored the Cane of Good Hope
route but it is more probable now that
C}olliers and supply ships well protected,
NH go by that route ana that the battle
sfhips and torpedo boats vill pass through
the Suez canal The two divisions will
rendezvous in the Indian ocean. For the
entire feet to proceed b. way Of the Cape
OF GOOD HOPE WOOtI iANOiNe 100 nlucn
time, the expenditure Of large quantities
of coal and the fouling Of the boilers and
bottoms of the fighting ships. which it is
important to avoid on account of the lack
of docking facilities at Port Arthur.
1t is understood that the admiralty now
entertains no fears regarding the restric-
lions imposed by the Suez canal resula-
tions. although Admiral Wirenius COM
planned of the strictness with which the
neutrality OF the canal was enforced.
There is evidence f d more friendly
disposition on the Irtrt of the British
authorities. 1t is sat that they pointed
out that they would have To hold contra
band fwar arriving at Liverpool from
America if landed. 1t the same time it
was suggested to the Russian oonsuls
that transhipment could take place in the
harbor and the authorities at Liverpool
even placed a barge at the consuls dis
posal
SPIES IN FRANCE.
ST Petersburg \ DriI % - The RuSki !