The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-10-08
PIN FAITHON FLEET
SAID RUSSIANS RECOGNIZE HELP.
LESSNESS
While Japan Retains Mastery of
the Sea-DeCided to Despatch
Baltic Squadron Even if Port
Arthur Fleet Is Annihilated Be-
fore It's Arrival There.

st. Petersburg, Oct. 3.-Announce-
ment is made that Emperor Nicholas
Will visit Reval on Tuesday to bid fare
we'll to the Baltic squadron. After
months of preparation and several false
starts, it is believed that the squadron
is at last on the eve of departure upon
its long journey. A division in the
admiralty has existed throughout the
period of preparation regarding the ad-
visibility Of sending out the squadron,
but with the decision to double the
size OF the Menchurian army and press
the war with vigor, the logic of those
who for months have insisted that ev-
cry available ship should be dispatched
to the far East has finally. prevailed
The argument that no complete VIC
tory over the Japanese is possible un-
less the command of the sea is wrested
from them could not be overcome :,
and, though much valuable time has
been lost and the moment seems inaus-
picious, it is officially intimated that
an irrevocable decision has been taken
to dispatch the Baltic fleet, even if the
Port Arthur squadron should be ami
hllated before its arrival there
Will Not Wait Until Spring.
1t is realized that the squadron,
which, on paper, is about equal in
fighting strength to the japanese feet,
will be much better able to encounter
the foe now than next spring, after the
Japanese ships have had all winter to
clean, repair and refit.
While hopes are still entertained
that Port Arthur may be able to hold
out until the appearance of the Baltic
fleet, the question of the fall of that
stronghold does not, apparently, enter
greatly into the calculations of the ad-
miralty. The only thing expected of
the Port Arthur squadron is to break
out of the harbor and inflict as much
damage as possible upon Admiral To-
go's,feet. Such ships as escape are
expected to make their way to Vladi-
vostok, where repairs on the cruiser
Bogatyr, are understood to have been
practically completed and those on the
Rossia and Gromoboi are nearing COM
pletion.
Stake Issue on Sea Fight.
The question of the war in the far
E asst will depend upon the issue Of a
sea fight after the arrival of the Baltic
Nlol oil III
in winter for commercial ships, can
easily be kept open for fleet of war
vessels by means of ice breakers. If
the japanese fleet is caught in such a
weakened condition that the Baltic
fleet is able to win victory, officials
here hold that other problems will
solve themselves, and, with the Japan
ese communication severed, the jap
anese army on the mainland will be at
the mercy of Russia.
This boldly announced program
seems to stake the whole issue upon
sea fighting. The Japanese ships, it
must be remem bered, have been in act
i've service seven months. No matter
how greatly the efficiency of the guns
and the speed of the vessels have been
impaired, the crews of Admiral Togo
ships have>enjoyed the prestige of con-
tinuous victories, while opposed to
them will be a fleet Of brand new
ships more or less untried, and none Of
which have fired shot in actual war
fare, and whose crews have never yet
been under fire.
Nay Change Program.
The Associated Press hears, how
ever, that important changes are at
tached to the program outlined above.
According to this information, the
Baltic fleet will be started for the far
East, but the continuation of the voy-
age to it's destination will depend pri-
marily upon how the ships themselves
stand the test of actual sailing, and,
secondly, upon developments in the far
East. Should all go we'll with the
squadron on the voyage and Rear Ad-
miral Wirenius be able to strike tell
ing blow at Admiral Togo, even if
half his ships go to the bottom. the
Baltic squadron will be hurried on
with all possible speed. If defects de-
velop in the vessels, or if Wirenius
fails utterly, the squadron can, at the
worst, return and await completion Of
other ships now building. Nothing, it
is argued, will be lost and much may
be gained by the mere departure of the
squadron, and the fact that it may
have to be reckoned with later may
make Admiral Togo wary about risk
ing his ships when the time comes for
the sortie of Admiral Wirenius, and
thus give the latter better opportun-
ity to escape.
Nay Build Big WaferwOrks.