Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
MAY Be ANOTHER LOSS
Report That the Battle Ship
Sevastopol is Sunk.
ALEXIEFF'S FLAGSHIP
ANOTHER RUSSIAN VESSEL ALSO
REPORTED BLOWN UP.
Fears Are Entertained Now Over
Chinese Acknowledgements De-
ALEXIEFF'S FLAGSHIP

ST. PETERSBURG, April 16.-I:02 pm
A report has gained wide currency here
that the battle ship Sevastopol, at Port
Arthur has been lost, but at this hour the
Associated Press is authoctatively in
formed the government has received no
advices intimating that such disaster has
occurred On the contrary, the latest ac-
count received here was to the effect that
the Sevastopol was unharmed.
The Sevastopol was a sister ship of the
ill-fated Petropavlovsk, which was blown
up outside of Port Arthur, and was
launched at st. Petersburg in 1888. She
was of 1O9GO tons, and possessed a speed
of 1I5 knots. She was a well-protected
battle ship carrying fifteen and three-quar-
ter inches of Harveyized steel on the belt,
ten inches on the gun positions and with
deck three and one-half inches thick. The
armament was heavy and consisted OF four
twelve-inch guns, twelve siX-inch and
twenty-four guns of smaller caliber.
The six-inch guns are mounted in the four
turrets, with the exception of four. which
are emplaced in classmates on the main
deck The Sevastopol has always been re-
garded as in the front rank of battle ships
and corresponded to the French battle ship
Jaureguiberry in the manner of mounting
turrets.
London Reports Two Vessels Blown Up
Special Dispatch TO The Evening Star
NEW YORK, April 16.-A cablegram from
London says a dispatch from st. Peters
burg just received here reports that the
battle ship Sevastopol and another Russian
vessel have been blown up at Port Arthur.
Sevastopol was one of two Russian battle
ships reported left in condition for effective
fighting at Port Arthur. The other vessel
blown up may have been Retvizan, which,
although damaged, was used in harbor as
fortress
A ST. Petersburg telegram from Port Ar
thur states that three japanese warships
were damaged in the bombardment of that
place yesterday
Fears Over Chinese Activity.
A cablegram from st. Petersburg says:
The Picking correspondent of the Gazette
says that renewed military activity IN
China is causing fear that breach OF neu-
trality is being planned. Chinese troops
are being hastily armed and sent to the
frontier. and all officers at headquarters
have been put aboard trains bound for
Manchuria. General Ma Yum Kun has been
appointed commander-in- chief of the north
ern army, which has arrived at the Man
churian frontier. Chung ChuSeS are con-
stantly attacking Russian troops in Man
churia, causing considerable losses.
Disaster Not Charged to Enemy.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 10, 2:2O pm
One of the highest authorities at the ad-
miralty makes the following statement to
the Associated Press:
You can deny with absolute assurance
the reports that the enemy was in any way
responsible for the disaster to the Petro-
pavlovsk. Admiral Makaron never left the
harbor without dragging for mines. We
believe the PetropavlOvsk's boilers blew
up. They were of the old Scotch type. We
also consider 1t quite likely that an unex-
ploded Whitehead torpedo caused the Po-
bieda's injury, as the explosion occurred
Just at her waterline."
Vice Admiral Skrydlofrs appointment to
command the naval forces at Port Arthur
has been received with great satisfaction
by both the navy and the public. He is
great favorite with the jackies, who have
a song about him. Skrydloff is considered
to be one of the ablest seamen and strate-
gists in the Russian navy. He is the natu-
raj successor of Makaroff, whose comrade
he was during the Turco-Russian war,
both distinguishing themselves. The pa
pers unanimously commend the selection
in the highest terms.
No Cause for Despair.
The Novosti reviewing the naval situa-
tion, argues that there is no cause for de-
spair, the ships left at Port Arthur and
Vladlvostok still constituting what Capt.
Mahan calls "a fleet in being" which leaves
the japanese not free to act. The first two
brigades of the nine Siberian rifle brigades
have been ordered to be converted into
nine divisions, increasing their numerical
strength to about 100000 men.
The Russ prints a sensational telegram
from Moscow saying its correspondent has
noticed during the last three days that the
Chinese are hurriedly leaving that city ow-
Ing, IT is said, to orders received from
China. The report is ridculed at the Chi
nese legation here, where 1t is said that the
relations between China and Russia are
good. the last case of friction. regarding
the Japanese instructors with the Chinese
army. having been satisfactorily removed
as set forth in these dispatches April IA.
Alexieff in Command.
Viceroy Alexieff took over the command
of the Russian fleet at Port Arthur this
afternoon and raised his flag on board the
battle ship Sevastopol.