Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-04-15
Definite Official In
formation Received

formation Received
Russian word In the text Of the Off,
cial dispatch describing the Pobeida
means either mine Or torpedo" but
the qualifying verdict indicates some
thing moving towards the ship. This
dispatch puts an end to the idea pre-
vailing here that there has been an
engagement following the disaster to
the Petropavloysk. Il Is Nconsidered
remarkable here that the Japanese
did not take advantage Of the terri-
Bile advantage to attack Port Arthur.
Novoe vremya today reproduces a
lecture delivered BY Admiral IMakaroff
in 1894, on the subject Of the Victoria
and Camperdorn catastrophe in which
he pointed out the Inherent weakness
Of modern battleships and their liza.
bility to turn turtle even when their
water light compartments are closed,
because their armor and gins make
them top heavy.
After the official bulletins had been
published this afternoon there WAS ttlk
of the possibility Of the destruction
of the Petropavlovsk having been
caused by a submarine boat, but this
received little consideration in official
circles.
Channel May Be Blocked,
ST. PETERSBURG, April 15e-5:22
a. m.-Rumors are current here that
Vice Admiral Togo sent in a number
Of steamers on the night or March 81
and succeeded in sinking several Of
them and in blocking the channel
at Port Arthur. The rumors cannot
be confirmed at this hour.
The date referred to by the CORES.
pendent in the above dispatch, March
81, is probably according to the old
style, or Russian calendar.
Whole STAFF Persisted.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 15.
Vice Admiral Stark, formerly in com.
mand Of the Russia9s Sect at Port Ar.
thur in an interyis| today i quoted
as saying:
In my opinion tie petrobavloysk
struck on one Of the contact mines
laid Off Cape Lao Shan, but which
had been torn from its moorings by
the terrible storms prevailing last
week, and which drifted under stress
OF south gales into the roadstead. 1t
could not have been a mine. laid near
the entrance OF the harbor, because
the latter are not contact Mines but
are fired by ~elnectric wire from the
shore"
In naval circles there are those who
believe the explosion was internal and
not external. The word used in the
official dispatch literally means up
set which Is equivalent to turned
turtle. In support OF the theory Of an
internal explosion 1t Is declared that
the bodies Of the victims were fear.
fully burned, some reports saying Vice
Admiral Makaroff wal blown to pieces.
The loss or life involved in the trag.
edy Is more serious than at first cup.
posed. 1t being learned that Makaroff's
whole naval stan was on board the
Petropavlovsk.
Among the stories current, but from
what source It comes II Is not known,
is one TO the effect that Makaroff was
sitting In his stateroom with Rear
Admiral Molas. his chief OF staif when
the ship was blown up.
Alarming reports prevail regarding
the Grand Duke Cyril's condition. 1t
Is said he is an q high fever, aggra-
waited by the shock. which II Is fear.
ed may bring about . crisis. Mem
bers Of his family are greatly disturb
ed. The wounded grand duke Is ex-
ceedingly popular and Is heir TO the
after the Grand Duke Michael.
the emperor's brother. II being gen.
orally understood that the Grspd Duke
cynl's fathsr, wosld waive
hh rights In his soa's favor.