The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-05-05

you a grip of the hand when you ap-
proach him that is not soon forgotten
and then listens to what you have fc
say. He considers moment, and out
jumps the decision. There IS no doubi
about the mind of the man when he has
spoken. His orders will result IN his as
signInent under Admiral Makaroff if the
two fleets effect a junction.
THE RUSSIANS ARE CONFIDENT
This completes the exposition of the
Russian forces, and rives an idea of the
character of the men who are to direct
them. 1t remains 30 be seen what use
it is contemplated to make of these
weapons. This is the absorbing topic of
conversation wherever the Russian mill
tary and naval tnen meet. The army,
filled with courage, is patting itself on
the back and telling the navy, IN good
natured way, that it will see that the
Japanese are defeated The navy ac-
cepts the banter, but it is determined to
avenge the initial injuries sustained by
the Port Arthur squadron. The other day
| met Baron Fersen, who served until
recently as naval attacle of Russia IN
WASHINGTON He will have command
of the IeIntchug. In blowing up his
ship" he said, the commander of the
Variag took the only proper course. 1t
is tradition III our navy never to sur
render; to oo down first. That tradition
will be observed" Baron Fersen made
this statement simply, without any
thought of vainglorious Boosting, and |
accepted his statement as an expression
of the views of every other officer who
will be attached to the Baltic feet.
Naturally, it is pure speculation to
discuss the plan of operations to be fol-
lowed / he General Naval Staff and
the General Army Staff have been con-
sidering this important matter separately
and together. Had the General Naval
Staff had its way" | was told by an
authority when I first arrived in St. Pc
tersburg, the Asiatic fleet of Russia
would never have been weakened by the
detachment of four arnlored cruisers and
their assignment to Vladivostok." This
statement is recalled now to show that
til General Staff has Just appreciation
of naval strategy. But what it has de-
cided upon cannot be known in spite of
nositive statements made by over-aIlx-
ious correspondents or by subordinate
military and naval officers at St. Peters
burg who believe that they themselves
possess the capacities of a thousand
Moltkes and who are eager to offer adj
vice to their seniors. But when all the
speculation is sifted down it resolves it
self into this The greatest care will be
taken to guard the Port Arthur squad
ron from further damage until the ar
rival of the Baltic fleet. The squadron
is not to engage in offensive operations
unless there should be an inferior force
with which it may have an opportunity
to deal. The torpedo-boat destroyers
and cruisers will be allowed to expose
themselves more freely than the battle
ships. The four arnored cruisers at
Vladivostok are also TO be kept intact II
possible. They will not lombard forti-
fed cities nor run over fnlnesa1r Jap
anese waters. The Baltic feet will leave
as early as possible for the Far East.
It will sail probably in June 1t will
90 at the most economical speed, burn
ing oil as much as possible and reserving
its coal for ships not provided with oil
burners and for active operations
France will not permit the ships TO take
coal from her ports. but she viii raise
no objection to their coaling from coli
Tiers within the shelter of her haYboTs.
Thus the Russian fleet can take fuel at
MarseilIes and again al Jibuti, opposite
Alden. Entering the Indian Ocean, the
feet will have passed the halfway point
between Port Arthur and Cronstadt. 1t
can, If deemed necessary, put into an
Indian or Ceylonese port, and demand