Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-03

be dispatched to the Far East has fin
ally prevailed.
Inc argument that no comple We
tory over the Japanese is possible an
Tess the command of the sea is W'eSttu
from them could not be overcome ana
'l"uSh much valuable time has tech
lost and the moment seems lnaus-
piIious it is officially minated that
I'LL lrreF"cahle De. Ision has been taken
10 d!spatch the Baltic +ieet even II u t
tort Affhnr SQUADRON should De ahlll-
ilittd before its arrival there
U IS realized that the sql AKRON
Wh'ch on Paper is about equal III iSit-
illS streheth to that of the Japtle7c
ilee'' VIII be much better able TO en-
c"uille: The fee now than next s'riiiS
me Japanese ships have had All WIZ
ter 10 clean, repair ana rctit.
VINE 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 strong
holu doeS not. apparently. enter Srcat-
~ MO the calculations of the admiral
y. IN" only thing expected OF the
Port Arthur squadron is to break out
OF the harbor ana inflict as much dam
age as possible upon Admiral Togo's
fleet. such ships as escape are expect
ed 10 make their way t. NadlVostok,
where the repairs upon the cruiser 10
Satyr are understood to have been
practically completed and those on the
kosSla ana Gromoboi are nearing COM
pletion.
The question of the war in the Far
East Will depend upon the issue of the
sea hSht alter the arrival Of the BaitIc
1ieet. iitdlNostOk, although ice bound
in winter for commercial ships. can
taSllN be Kept open for a fleet OF war
vessels by means of ice breakers. If
the Japanese fleet is caught in such a
weakened condition that the Baltic
ships are able to win Il victory officials
here hold that other problems will
solve themselves and. with japanese
communications severed, the Japanese
army on the main line will be at the
mercy of Russia This boldly an
n"unccd program seems to stake the
whole issue upon sea fighting.
The japanese ships it must be re-
melnhercd have been in active service
seven months. No matter how greatly
the efficiency Of tn" guns and speed
Of the vessels have been impair ed. the
crews of Admiral To@n's ships have en-
joNcd the prestige of continuous VIC
tories. while opposed to them will BE-
tn" fleet of brand new ships. more Or
less uEtricd. and nom. Of which have
yet ed Il shot in actual warfare. ana
whose crews have never Yet been UNI
der fire.
The Associated Press hears however
that important conditions are attached
to the program outlined above. Ac-
oordn% to this information the Baltic
fleet VIII be started for the Far East.
but the continuation OF the voyage to
its. destination will drl2nd primarily
upon how the ships themselves stand
the test Of actual sailin" and secondly.
upon the developments in the Far Fast.
Should all go well with the squadron
on thu voyage and Rear Admiral Wren
be able to strike a ling blow upon
Admiral Togo even if half of his ships
80 to the bottom, the Baltic squadron
will be hurried on with all possible
speed.
If defects develop in the vessels or if
Wren fails utterly, the squadron can NJ
the worst return and await the compile
tion of other ships now building. Nothing.
| it is argued will be lost and much may
I've gained by the mere departure OF the
squadron and the fact that it MAY have
tn be rcckOncd with later may make Nd
miral Togo wary about risilng his ships
when the time comes for Rear Admiral
Wiren's sortic. and thus Civ" the latter
Il better opportunity 10 ESCAPE.
No official dispatches from the front
were published on Sunday. The military
ed remain unchanged. Numbcrlcss stu-
ries are atloat regarding important COM
! mandS with the army and the disposition
| of the various prominent officers whose
names nave been mentioned IL connection
| there with. but nothing conclusive has We.
| been given out. 1t is merely evident that
preparation for the dispatch of fresh
| troops is being pushed as RAPIDLY rs pos
| Siblp