The San Francisco call., 1904-02-17
OF THE BOYARIN
HEAVY LOSS TO RUSSIA
One Hundred and Ninety-Seven Officers and Men
Perish on Cruiser Blown Up at Port Arthur

ST PETERSBURG. Feb. 16.-The re
port that the Russian cruiser Boyarin
was blown up last Saturday at Port
Arthur and that all Of her officers and
crew, 197 in number, were lost, is con-
firmed from a private source.
The BOyarin was 34S feet long, of
Al feet beam and Is feet draught. She
was of 22OO tons displacement and her
trial speed was 25 knots. Her arma
ment consisted Of six 4.7-inch guns,
eight 1.S-inch guns, two 1.4-inch guns
and three machine guns. She also was
fitted with six torpedo tubes. The
Boyarin took part in the engagement
Of February 9 at Port Arthur.
Information has been obtained at the
Foreign Office that Secretary Hays
proposition to limit the area of war
operations is considered PRACTICABLE"
and that a response VIII soon be forth
coming. Viceroy Alexieff is being con-
suited and the authorities are doubtless
awaiting an indication as to how the
proposition will be received by Japan.
The sympathetic reception given by
the powers TO Hays note and the rep
reservations the powers have made here
have undoubtedly had a good effect
upon official opinion and the Russian
Government shows a more friendly
SDlTlL Toward InG direct Representations
made by the United States.
The American Government is now
pressing for an answer to the request
that United States army officers be al
lowed to accompany the Russian field
operations, but il is explained that
Viceroy Alexieff, to whom the request
was referred. has not yet replied.
WAR MARS CARNIVAL WEEK.
Carnival week, usually the gayest Of
the year in Russia, opened yesterday,
but under the shadow of war the mer-
ry-making was only a ghost of that of
former years. In st. Petersburg all Of
the festivities, including balls, public
and private functions and fashionable
weddings, planned months in advance,
have been abandoned. Business, how
ever. is as usual suspended and thou
sands Of little Finnish sleighs, with
tinkling bells, which for shis one week
are allowed to compete with the regular
drosky drivers, whisk people through
the snow-cOvered streets at cut prices,
although their occupants evidently are
not possessed by the true carnival
spirit.
The rush Of crowds to buy extra
editions of the newspapers, the intense
activity at the War and Marine Min
istries and the crowds about the ad-
miralty, anXiously inquiring regarding
the Idle OF TeldllNeS, are grim remind
ers of where the thoughts of the peo-
pie are. Instead of the customary fes-
tivities the theaters gave double per-
formances for the benefit of the Red
Cross, and last night the artists ball.
one Of the biggest events of the social
season, which ii was intended to aban
don, was held in a hall decorated TO
represent the feast day of Renares.
The artists were attired in the garb of
Hindoos. with the object of swelling
the Red Cross Society's funds.
ISSUE OF CREDIT NOTES.
An issue of $4,000, 900 roubles credit
notes, secured by gold. was made on
February 13. The comparatively. small
influx Of circulating credit notes into
the treasures and the Imperial Bank
and the increased Withdrawals for the
Far East are assigned as the reasons
for this operation. The total of the
credit notes in circulation on February
IA was $50, 900, 900 roubles.
Admiral Wirenius has been instructed
to hold the Russian squadron. consist
ing of the battleship Oslabya, the cruis-
ers Aurora and Dmitri Donskoi and
number of torpedo-boat destroyers AT
Jibutih French Somaliland, until fur
ther orders.
A semi official telegram, dated from
the headquarters Of the Viceroy at