The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-04-23
DETAILS OF WAR STORIES
NOT GIVEN IN BRIEF CABLES

than a repetition Of General Souvo-
rouf's famous telegram sent during the
Turko- Russian war, reading: 'Ismalia
lies at the feet of Your Majesty
The Novosti complains especially at
the absence of newspaper kilograms
from the numerous correspondents at
the front, arguing that it will weaken
popular interest in the war, resulting
in cutting down the stream of contribu-
lions to the war fund
ST. PETERSBURG, April 16, 2:20 p.
m.-One of the highest authorities at
the Admiralty makes the following
statement to the Associated Press:
You can deny with absolute assur-
ance the reports that the enemy was
in any way responsible for the disaster
to the Petropavlovsk. Admiral Maka-
rolf never left the harbor without drag
ging for mines. We believe the Petro-
pavlovsk's boilers blew up. They We're
of the old Scotch type. We also con-
slider it quite likely that an unexploded
Whitehead torpedo caused the Pobie-
da's injury, as the explosion occurred
just at the water-line.
Vice Admiral Skrydloff's 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.
Skrydloff is considered to be one of
the ablest seamen and strategists in
the Russian Navy. He is the natural
successor of Makaroff. whose comrade
he was during the urko-Russian war,
both distinguishing themselves. The
papers unanimously commend the selec-
ton in the highest terms.
The Novosti, reviewing the naval sit
uation, argues that there is no cause
for despair, the ships left at Port Ar
thur and Vladivostok still constituting
what Captain Mahan calls "a fleet in
being which leaves the japanese not
free 10 act.
THE KOREAN PALACE FIRE.
SEOUL, Korea. Friday, April Is, 8
p. m.-The Emperor received in audi
ence this evening the members of the
diplomatic corps. The Emperor had
apparently recovered from the shock
caused by the burning of the palace
and was calm, making inquiries as to
the health of the ladies of the legations.
ETC. His intimates report that he is
still nervous. however. Many Koreans
believe that the burning of the palace
has a political significance in that 1t
| viii force the Emperor to return to the
Kyong Box palace. in the outskirts of
the city, where the Queen was assassin
ated in 1895 and from which the Emperor
fed RI fba E,,,r-;e,, leera+,oo The E,rn-
peror, however, refused to return.
claiming that the palace is haunted by
the murdered queen. He prefers to re-
main in the imperial library, in the
Kiuseiken building, where he took
refuge during the fire. until The palace
is rebuilt. The electric plant, which
was totally destroyed together with
| thousands of dollars worth of instru-
merts, and machinery will be reinstat-
ed
The heaps of smoldering ruins are
| being guarded by a Gordon of vigilant
soldiers stationed one foot and a half
apart around the palace walls The
superstitious populace is excited and
| depressed over the fire, regarding it as
an evil portent. The fire furnish
ed a wonderful spectacle. The steep
mountains about the city were lighted
up as though it were day, hurrying
crowds of frantic Koreans and Jap
anese troops arrived on the scene in
double quick time. There was extreme
fear for the American legation for a
time. American marines formed a
bucket brigade and United States Min