Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-19
A STUNNING STROKE
Effect of Admiral Jeszen's s
Defeat Sunday.
ALMOST IN DESPAIR
FEELING PERvADING THE RUS
SIAN ADMIRALTY.
No Doubt That the Vladivostok Squad
ron is Destroyed-Heroism
of the Combatants.

ST PETERSBURG, August ia feel
ing almost akin to despair reigns In the
much-tried Russian admiralty. The ofticlai
report of Admiral Jeszen, coming on the
heels of the known losses sustained by the
Port Arthur squadron in its desperate
sortie of August 10, and the anxiety over
the fate of the warships still unaccounted
for. not only confirming the sinking OF the
Rurk but showing that the injuries sus-
tanned Nv the Gromoboi and Rossia in the
fight with Vice Admiral Kam1muras
souadron, were even greater than antic-
ipated. completes the crushing nature OF
the blow 10 Russias ill-starred naval
forces in the far east So far as the I'M
mediate future is concerned the admiralty
does not disguise the fact that the Vladiv-
ostok squadron is destroyed. The effect
upon the public is also most depressing.
Heroism Of the Fighters.
The only consolation found Is In the
words of praise bestowed on the officers
and men and the unequal character of the
fight Russian naval experts by the sys-
TEN of co-efficients figuring that the infe-
riority of the Vladivostok squadron In
armor and guns 90 to 200. In some
quarters of the navy there Is also dis
position to censure Rear Admiral Jeszen
standing by her would have meant that the
Gromoboi and Rossia would have shared
her fate. The chief mystery at the ad-
mralty here is why Vice Admiral kamt-
mura drew off when Admiral Jeszen's ships
We're at his mercy. The only explanation
is that his squadron must have suffered
such frghtful damage that it could not
continue the battle.
1t is confirmed that the losses of officers
and men on board the Rossia and Gromoboi
were 30 per cent of the former and 20 per
IS lntt c1Ar thn dra nj
havoc caused by the fire from the jap
anese ships, even at a range exceeding
three miles. Private reports say the decks
of the Rossia were Veritable shambles.
The long reports received from Admiral
JosZen and Capt. ReitZenstein, commander
of the cruiser Askold, concerning the fights
of the Vladvostok and Port Arthur squad
rons, while adding somewhat to the de-
tails of these engagements, do not carry
the naval situation In the far east beyond
the dispatches previously received by the
Associated Press.
Six Missing Warships Located.
Capt. Reitzenstein apparently unable
to throw any further light upon the all-ab-
sorbing question of the whereabouts Of the
vessels of the Port Arthur squadron. Both
the admirars and the captains reports are
unqualified in their praise of the courage
and devotion shown by the officers and men
In the face Of overwhelming odds, but they
make it plain that all the vessels thus FAR
further active service, in view OF the pres-
ent lack of facilities of the Russians for
making repairs in the far east.
Later In the day the admiralty received
official Information that Vice Admiral
Prince Ouktomsky's Ave battle ships and
the protected cruiser Pallada are at Port
Arthur. A telegram from the Russian con-
sui at Chefoo does not mention whether
the vessels are damaged. and makes no
reference to the report from Tokyo that
gunboat of the type Of the Otvajni had
haap nj liaON nrOmONtOry owing
to a collision with a mine.
IL Is stated that Admiral Withoft's last
signal during the battle of August 10 was
to remember that the emperor's orders were
not to return to Port Arthur.
The following is revised list OF the sur
vivors OF the cruiser Rurik. which was
sunk by Vice Admiral Kamimura: Twenty
officers, four of whom were wounded; VI
non-commissioned officers. sixteen Of whom
were wounded; 525 sailors 100 OF whom
were wounded. The total NUMBER OF men
rescued Is 612
Detailed reports of the injuries sustained
by the Gromobot and Rossia naturally are
withheld but no doubt exists that they are
serious enough TO require going into dry
dock So far as known there is only one
dock at Vladivostok, and 1t Is now occu-
pied by the Bogatyr. Consequently this
will make the repair work slow.
Proposed Union Of Fleets.
The hope of accomplishing the cherished
plan OF the admiralty of uniting the two
coming of the Baltic feet seems now al
most destroyed. as the fighting strength Of
the Port Arthur squadron has been greatly
reduced and there is no longer any possi
bilty of aid from the VladivOstok squadron
Nevertheless the admiralty expects that
the battle ships, II they return TO Port
Arthur, to sally forth again. even to cer-
tain destruction. But the whereabouts of
the battle ship division and of the pro-
tected cruisers Diana and Pallada are not
NSil hare IN ha hSn alv cfah lISh
The weight of opinion continues to corre-
spond with the foreign reports that the
battle ships are back at Port Arthur, but
some of the officials at the admiralty cling
to the hope that they escaped. Chefoo re-
ports received here today apparently leave
no doubt on this point, and Emperor WILL
iam's request that the German naval at
= taches at Port Arthur. Captain HOFFMAN
and Lieut. Won Gilgenheim be Instructed to
leave the fortress is generally regarded as
conclusive.
Reported Torpedoing Of Cruiser.
The authorities here are without infor-
nation In regard to the reported torpedoins
OF Russian cruiser of the Pallada type,
which. they say. must mean the Diana.
The reports OF both Capt. Matousevitch
and Capt. Reitzenstein indicated that these
cruisers were with the Novik throughout.
hut nothing has been heard of either since
the naval battle of August 10.
Both the official Russian reports agree as
to the main details of the engagement and
the manner In which the big ironclads 'in
the form of a gridirop backed and counter
tackled" as they delivered their broadsides.
Put a veil is drawn when the cruiser di-
vision escaped and the Czarevitch was dis
abled.
The newspapers here received the official
advices this morning too late for comment.
The spirits OF the people may be judged
from the fact that although this Is a holi-
day there are no crowds In the streets, but
the churches were thronged by whole fam