The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-07
Full Squadron Is Formidable.

The first four Of these five battleships
are new and each is of 1856 tons dis
placement. The Oslabia is less than a
thousand tons smaller and is only six
years old, so, if these ships have had
anything like intelligent care, they will
be likely to prove squadron of offense
far more powerful than anything Japan
can concentrate against them in the
battleship line.
With these battleships Admiral Ro-
jestyensky is taking with him along the
African coast the two new first class
protected cruisers, Oleg, and Aurora,
each of which is in excess Of 5000 tons
There are also two old armored cruisers,
Admiral Nakhimoff and Dmitri Don
skoi. With them are seven transports
loaded down with munitions of war,
and at least two hospital ships and the
usual conveys of colliers and dispatch
boats. 49,, 49,
First Division Leaves Suez.
The first division of the Baltic fleet,
after having. passed thru the canal
sion includes the two old battleships
Sissoi Veliki and Navarin, each Of
which is under 10000 tons; the second
class cruisers, Svietlana, Jemtchug,
Izumrud and Almaz, with a tonnage
under 1000; six torpedoboat destroyers
and eight transports.
It is known to be the purpose Of the
Russians to hide out this first divi-
sion somewhere in or upon the Indian
ocean just as long as Port Arthur re-
mains in the possession Of Russia.
To Free Vladivostok Fleet.
y This first division, under command of
Rear Admiral Foelkersam, second in
command to Roiestvensky, will meet
the battleship division, as I have pre-
viouslV explained, in the Indian ocean.
The combined fleet then will proceed
first Of all, of releasing what is left Of
the Russian fleet at Vladivostok,
where there are the three cruisers, Ros-
sia, Gromoboi and Bogatyr. If they
can form a junction with the Baltic
fleet there ought to be something doing
in the east some time this winter.
!. Outweigh Strength of Japan.
According to reports made to the navy
department, the japanese now have
only four first class battleships actu-
ally in commission. They. are the Mi
kasa, Asahi, Shikishima and Fuji. Ap-
proximately, they are of the same ton
mage and general weight Of metal with
the five frst-class battleships Of the
Baltic feet now on the way around
battleships which went thru the Suez
canal to add tonnage and weight of
metal to the Russian fleet.
Where the Japanese are particularly
strong is in their possession of num-
Der Of swift, fairly well armored and
heavily armed cruisers. Their list in
cludes eight armored cruisers and nine
protected cruisers, fully two-thirds of
which, it is said, are ready for active
service.
Russia Bent on Death Struggle.
There is no doubt in the minds of
naval critics here that Russia will fight
to the end. They believe the cZar Is
navy is determined to wipe out the stain
inflicted upon its reputation by the sue
cessive defeats in front of Port Arthur
It is understood here that Stoessel has
been sustained in his heroic defense OF
Port Arthur chiefly by the understand
ing that if he can hold out month o.
six weeks longer the Baltic feet. viii
come to his rescue or will make direct
attack on some of the seaport towns o1
Japan so as to force an Immediate recall
of large portion of the besieging Jap
anese army.
Claim to Know Enemy's Plans.
I was told today that the japanese
secret service claims to have received
an advance copy Of the plans Of Ad
miral Rojestvenski, and that they have
been Informed of the secret meeting
place in the Indian ocean. However
that may be, naval experts here say
the Japanese feet of necessity must re
main in Corean waters, and in the imme
diate vicinity of Port Arthur, at least
until the fortress is captured and posi-
blyuntil there has been decisive battl,
with the main army of Russians il
Manchuria. For this reason it is as
sumed the junction Of the two divisions
of the Baltic fleet will be made some
where in the Indian ocean without an,
serious opposition on the part of tn,
Japanese.
The greatest weakness Of the Rus