New-York tribune., 1904-08-15
4 FLEET OUT OF BEING.

There is no longer a Russian fleet in being
In East Asian waters. The baffled sortie from
Port Arthu: has been speedily followed with L
disaster TO the Vladivostok squadron, and TO-
dav neither portion of the Russian navy there
is IN condition for service. Admiral hamimura
nas al last his hour Of triumph. He has been
much blamed for his apparent inability 10 cope
with the Vladivostok ships, his critics ignoring
the fact that his task was IN its very essence
one of extraordinary difficulty As matter OF
fact, he has done very well all along Now he
has crowned bis career by destroying one or
the finest three cruisers in the Russian navy
and putting the other two TO flight in a badly
damaged condition. 1t may be that the Rossia
and the Gromobo! will get back TO port. They
will scarcely come out of 1t again.
Now this, in brief, Is what has happened:
The Russian ships were driven ont OF Port Ar
thur by the land fire of the approaching Jap
anese army. They made n gallant sortie, at
well chosen time, and at the same momen: the
Vladivostok squadron came down TO help them
and TO Join them. The Port Arthur feet con
sisted Of the six battleships Sevastopo. Pores
Wet Czarevitch Poltava, Pobeda and Retyi-
zan-all that ever were there except the Petro-
pavloysk. which was sunk long ago-the four
cruisers Askold Movie Diana and Palsda-all
that were there excppr the Bayan which did
not appear at all, and had probably been dis
abled by the Japanese fre-and eight torpedo
boats and destroyers. The Vladiyostok squad
ron consisted OF the Rurik. the Rossia and the
Gromoboi, the fourth member. the Bogatyr, be-
ing presumably still ont of commission as a
suit of her recent disaster Now let us see
what became Of them. The CZarevtch was
riddled almost 10 destruction, and lies helpless
I'm dock al Tsing-Chau. The other hattleshpS
have put back into Port Arthur. ut least three
Of them badly damaged OF the cruisers. the
ASkod reached Woo-Sung in almost a sinking
condition. ana now lies helpless there. The
fleet Novik escaped to Using Chan with little
injury. and next day was compelled 10 leave
that port for parts unknown. The Paada is
either IN asylum Mt Using Chau or missing.
The Diana returned 10 Port Arthur. OF the
eight smaller craft, one went 70 Che-FoG and
was seized by the japanese, two are reported
at Tsing-Chau. one is at WooSung two are
ashore near Wei-Hai-Wei and one has been
reported Off the COrean coast. or the splendid
Nladivostok squadron. the Burik was sunk in
the Corean Straits. and the Rossia and the
GromOboi. badly damaged, fed 10 the north in
the Sea Of Japan. It is said there arc three
Russian cruisers near the Saddle Islands Per
haps they are those Russia IS said to have
bought from Argentina. II So there would
seem TO he no haven for them but some neutral
port.
There IS, then no longer q Russian "deet in
being in those waters There is n helpless
remnant Of j feet in the shelLswept harbor Of
Port Arthur and there are smaller remnants
scattered about the waters and shores Of East
Asia At no point viii it be possible for them
10 make any serious stand against japanese
mastery OF the sea- On the other hand, the
Japanese seem 10 have suffered no loss of YES
sells whatever. Their fleet is practically as
strong as it was before. The Japanese position
in the war Is immeasurahly strengthened. The
Russian Baltic fleet was TO have set out for the
Far East today. Gould It have got thither and
effected junction with the Port Arthur and
NladiVostok detachmentS, unimpaired. the Jap
anese might have lost the control of the sea and
thus have been hOpelessy beaten In the war
But now? If the Baltic feet goes there will
he none TO meet It, and no port open to It, and
the narrow seas will be in possession OF
stronger enemy. In such circumstances its
going thither would be an errand of despair