New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
ANGLO-RUSSIAN unity.
Papers ReUiUe Talk of Alliance
The PetrOpnclOUSk's Loss.

St Petersburg April l6-The papers here.
which since the Anglo-French agreement had
been filed with news OF the holidays and the
stirring happenings OF the last few days. are
now discussing the treaty significantly ana in
friendly fashion. finding therein promise OF bet
ter relations with Great Britain and a new and
heavy blow to German prestige. the plan for
German hegemony having been already upset
by the Russo-Austrian and Franco-Italian
agreements. The Russ" says:
For France and. perhaps, for all Europe the
AnglO-French agreement is turning point.
France being drawn toward Germany
against her will Emperor William has made
1t one OF the principal tasks Of his life TO recon-
Gle France to her fate. but, besides the Berlin
road. there is one other open-namely, the Lon
don road. French statesmen had long antici-
pated the moment when they would have TO
choose between them. Germany is now aban-
doned to Involuntary isolation. France has left
her irreVocably- Her complete isolation VIII now
deOfnd upon Russia If the latter concludes an
agreement with Great Britain GerTnany's posi-
ton viii be critical
The prospect is so pleasing to Great Britain
that she will scarcely place unacceptable condi-
uOnS before Russia. Great Britain knows that
her agreement with France win become friend
ship If Russia desires to join the coalition. Ger
many understands that the Anglo French agree
ment VIII not weaken the dual alliance, which Il
simply supplements
The mystery Of the sinking of the batteship
Petropavlovsk has not been cleared up That
she touched mine placed by japanese torpedo
boats during the night is not officially ad-
mitted, but there is growing disposition in
official quarters to accept this the true ex-
PLANTATION. That the mine was laid by ruse OF
the japanese is generally believed, although
some fantastic speculation is INDUCED in The
possibility Of the introduction of an internal ma
chine into the coal bunkers Is advanced as an
explanation Of the explosion on board the bat
tleship.
All the papers scout the theory Of the destruc-
ton Of the Petrop avlovsk having been caused by
submarine boat except the ''Novoe Nremya,"
which contends that both the PetrOpavlovsk
and the Pobieda struck by torpedoes fired
from submarine Boats. affirming its conviction
that the two japanese cruisers which APP
peared with the feet for the first time on this
occasion brought with them couple Of English
or American submarine boats and limiting that
they might have been manned by British sailors.
one of the highest authorities at the Ad-
rniralty makes the following statement:
You can deny with absolute assurance the re-
ports that the enemy was in any way respon-
sble for the disaster to the Petropavlovsk Ad-
niral Makaroff never left the harbor without
dragging for mines. We believe the Petropav-
lovsk's boilers blew up They were Of the old
Scotch type. We also consider it possible that
an unexploded Whitehead torpedo caused the
Pobieda's injury. as the explosion occurred just
at her waterline
vice-AdmiraI Skrydlofs appointment to COM
mand the naval forces at Port arthur mas beeH
received with great satisfaction by both the
navy and the public. He is the natural sue
cessor OF AIakaroff, whose comrade he was dur
ing the Turco-Russian War.
Nine. Verestchagin has information to sup
port her belief that her husband is at the Rus
sian headquarters at Liao-Yang. Her friends
here do not doubt the accuracy Of the official
reports that the artist was on board the Petro-
pavlovsk when she sank.
A number OF foreign ambassadors. acting
under instructions, have extended TO Russia the
condolences Of their governments on the Petro-
pavlovsk disaster. Ambassador Mccormick did
not receive any instructions. but he took occa-
sion to express to the Foreign Minister, Count
Lamsdorff. his personal sympathy with the be-
reavement Of the families OF those lost on the
ship
The 'Novosti," reviewing the naval situation.
argues that there is no cause for despair, the
ships left at Port Arthur and Vladivostok still
constituting what Captain Mahan calls "a fleet
/ IN being" which leaves the Japanese not free
4 TO act.
The first two of the nine Siberian rifle brigades
have been ordered TO be converted into nine
divisions, increasing their numerical strength to
about hundred thousand men.
The Russ" prints a sensational telegram from
/ Moscow saying its correspondent has noticed in
the last three days that the Chinese are hur-
riedly. leaving that city, owing, 1t is said, to
orders received from China The report is rid
| iculed at the Chinese Legation here where II is
sia are good, the last case of friction regarding
| the Japanese instructors with the Chinese Army
having been satisfactorily removed.
There is considerable critlc4sIn ct the meagre-