Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-13
THE HOSTILE FLEETS.
Prospect of Raising the Siege Of Port
Arthur From the Sea.

at is quite evident said The Stars
war expert today, that to raise the siege
of Port Arthur on the side of the land the
Russians will require a great superiority
of force AS the Japanese can bring up
troops faster than the Russians can do
So it seems plain that such an advance
will not soon take place. Turning then to
the side of the sea let US look at the
chances for the relief of the fortress In
that direction.
"A comparison of the fighting strength of
the two fleets can be easily made as the
necessary data are found in many publica-
tions. The principal elements Of compare
son are tonnage, twelve-inch guns and six
inch guns.
The Japanese have six battle ships, the
Mikasa, Asahi, Shikashima, Full, Chin Yen
and Yashima, with displacement OF
rs 49, tons, twenty-four large guns and
sixty-eight guns of medium size; seven ar
mored cruisers, Adsuma, Yakumo, lWate,
Idsumo, Tokiwa, Asama and Niasln, with
displacement OF 66,4iS tons, twehty-t"o
large guns and 100 medium guns; twelve
protected cruisers, kasagi,- ChitoSe, ltsu-
kushima, Hashidati, Malsushima, Taxa
sage, Naniwa, Takashiho, Akitswshima,
Idsumi Niitka and Itsushfma, with a 0ls-
placement of Al 212 tons, eight large and
fifty-two medium guns
persistent reports have been made from
Russian sources that some OF the mos.
powerful of these ships nave peen odInaseu
in one way or another. In the absence OF
corroborating circumstances these claims
are not noticed in making this estimate
ITO meet this powerful force the Rus
sian fleet is divided between Port arthur,
Vladiyostok, the Mediterranean and the
Baltic The Black sea fleet, not now being
available. is not counted At Port Arthur
there are the three battle ships Peresvlet,
Poltava and Sevastopol, with dlspiac e.
ment of $4,000 tons, IL large guns and 80
guns of medium caliber; the armored
cruiser Bajan, with 1890 tons d1splace-
ment, 4 large guns and II smaller guns
the three protected cruisers Askoio: Piazza 90 naa
and Noyik, with a displacement OF $3.50
tons and 32 guns of an average CAMPER OF
six inches Total at Port Arthur, seven
vessels with a displacement OF 59,OGO tons,
16 large guns and ~ smaller guns. a.
Vladiyostok there are the three armored
cruisers Gromoboi, Rossja and Rur1k, with
n displacement of 80, 4S7 tons, 10 large guns
and "a guns of medium size. In the Meol-
terranean sea and In the baI'ic nsa I'm
completion are the seven battle ships EN-
peror Alexander III, Orel, Borodlno, COUNT
Souyaroff, Navarin, Sissoi WehKl ana Us
Ufaba and the armored cruiser Aurora
all with total displacement vi ST. s;ns
Zach side has numerous smaller Vesseis
which would cut no particular inquire III d
great naval battle, so that only Vessels
have been counted which have displace.
ment of over 5000 tons and which are or
modern and recent type In torpedo boats
and destroyers the japanese have about
two to one of the Russians, but these also
are left out of consideration, as their prln-
cipal function would be near land.
'.'rhe grand total is, thus. for the Rus
SLAMS eighteen vessels of the first class.
with a displacement of 1SI.111 tons, carry
ing fifty-four large guns and 2o4 guns OF
medium size against twenty-five japanese
ships of the same class. with a displace-
ment of 1872 1875 tons, carrying fifty-four
large guns and DO guns of medium size
IN JaDanPSe
that here given is not likely, but it is re-
ported that several of the damaged battle
ships at Port Arthur will soon be repaired
and thus add to the strength of the section
of Russian ships at that place.
From these figures it appears that the
Russians can hope for success only In case
they are able to concentrate their widely
dispersed fleets. To do this they will need
an admiral with great ability, as much
holiness as is ever granted to man, and 4
large supply of pure luck