New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-12
ST. PETERSBURG RUMORS.
In the AbSence of Ne5cS, POpulace Is
Fed on Ill Sorts of Stories.

ST. Petersburg, Feb. 11.-Students IN Uniform
and bareheaded this afternoon paraded in front
Of the Kazan Cathedral and went to the Winter
Palace. They were followed BY several thou
sand people singing the national anthem The
assistant chief OF police thanked the students
for their evidences OF patriotism. but he re-
quested them no longer TO disturb the Gar.
The crowds then returned. singing. TO the
cathedral AL the naval officers here attended q
service this morning at the Church OF st. Nich-
olas.
The rigid censorship still prevents the news
papers from receiving war news from either
Russian or foreign sources No news has been
received since viceroy Alexieff's dispatches. and
the public, consequently. Is stiH completely In
the dark All manner OF rumors are afOat.
The government. however. has taken measures
10 counterfeit their publication. forb!dding the
retail sale OF the principal offender, the St
Petersburg Gazette" The government ex-
pressed great dlspleasurs at the publication OF
the report OF Russian victory and the raising
OF false hopes among the population.
Nevertheless, the rumors circulated verbally
are greedily swallowed. According to one re-
port here. the Russian armored cruiser GrOmo-
bol recently sailed out OF V1adivostok, de-
stroyed twenty japanese transports OF Southern
Corea, and was herself sunk by japanese cruis-
ers.
Another story says that four vladivostok war
ships, under Admiral Stackelberg. have sunk
four Japanese transports.
The most circumstantial story current is a re-
port OF the sinking OF the Russian cruiser Variag
off Chemulpo.
Still another is TO the effect that the recent
japanese attack on Port Arthur was a feint 70
protect the passage OF transports bound 70
Shan Hai-Kwan 20 land japanese troops there
and effect a junction with the forces Of Yuan
Shi-Kai the Chinese commander in chief. and
attack the Russians IN the rear.
These are only samples OF the reports current
in the Russian capital The tone or the press
comment to-day is less bitter against Japan.
which Is perhaps significant
The report circulated here that the United
States has offered her good services IS comment
ed upon only by the "Novosu. which empna-
sizes the previous statements that intervention
IS Impossible. and says that 10 doubts whether
the offer OF good services In the strictest sense
would have any result. The paper adds that 1t
considers II strange that the United states has
made a distinction between China and Corea,
which. II points OUT Is also an Independents
country
All the Russian navigation companies having
vessels in Far Eastern waters are anxious about
their fate The volunteer fleet is particularly
concerned regarding the ElIaterinOslav, which
left VIadivOstolx February ,, and the NorO-
nej. which left Shanghai. tea laden, for Singa-
pore, February i. No news OF either Nessel
has reached here.
According 10 dispatches from Toxic and Nagasald
dated Yesterday the Russian volunteer feet trans
port Ekateriuoslav with several other Russian YES
seIs had been captured BY the japanese and taken
Saseho.
The variag rs told in previous dispatches. was
sunk with the Korietz. of Chemulpo. COrea. by the
Japanese feet under Admiral Uriu. --..-,
The report In st. Petersburg that the Gnlteu
States had offered her good services probably re-