New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-29
RUSSIAN SHIPS AND coALING STATIONS

| RUSSIAN SHIPS AND COALING STATIONS
One unmistnkahle lesson Of this war is the
need OF widely and well distributed coalins
statione 10 a naval power. Russia is suffering
severely, and is likely to suffer more. for lack
Of them. Not long ago It was said that her
squadron in the Red Sea would remain there
indefinitely, TO intercept japanese and contra
band commerce. Then It was reported that
It was going back to the Baltic. The rea-
son was Of course that it could not GET sup
Plies OF coal from neutral ports on the Red
Sea. If Russia had succeeded in her Abys-
slnian intriCues Of few years ago and had Sc
cured coalin- station on the coast near Obok
she might now easily bar the Red Sea against
all Japanese commerce ana all commerce I'm
contraband goods intended for Japan As il u.s.
she must withdraw her ships and leave the
way open. The statement that she will leave
her torpedo boat destroycrs at Algiers until
July when they viii rejoin the fleet she VIII
then send from the Baltic 10 Japan. IS scarcely
credible. AlCicrs IS a neutral port, ana is not
likely thus 10 be made a base of belliCereut
operations. II the boats stay there until July
they VIII probably have TO stay there until
the end OF the war.
In July. we are told a formidable fleet VIII
be sent around from the Baltic. TO wrost from
Japan the mastery of the Eastern seas. The
first date set was June, but it is now seen that
the feet cannot be got ready before July. or
what WILL or may, II consist There are the
Osliabia now on her way back from the Red Sea;
the Alexander III. now practically completed
at Cronstadt; the Borodino. nearing completion,
and the Orel and the Kuiaz Suvoroff. which
were launched I'm 1902 and may be got ready
this summer. II is said the Slava VIII also
sail in July but as she was launched last sum-
mer 1t IS a little doubtful II she can hc got
ready 50 soon. We hear, too. Of the Paul and
Andrew, but can find no record Of any such
ship yet launched. There are, then, five or six
hattleships preparing to 81 10 the East. These
are all fine vessels larger and stronger than the
Retvizan and resembling the Czarevitch. which
lies disabled a Fort Arthur. They are not. how
ever. as large or as swift as the big Japanese
battleShips There may be also from six TO
nine cruisers, rs follows: The fine Aurora. the
small and rather slow Almaz, and the strong
but painfully slow Dmitri DonskOi, now in ser
vice. and the Svetlana, the KornilOf and the
Rynda. three rather small and slow cruisers,
now at Cronstadt. Ii is said the Oleg, the Izum-
rud and the Jemtchug viii also go. They have
not yet been launched. and it seems doubtful II
they can be got ready in time. The Olcg will
be much Ike the lamented Variag, and the
others will be like the little Novik. Taking both
strength and speed into account, not one Of
these cruisers is comparable in efficiency with
any Of a dozen japanese cruisers There are
also ut Cronstadt three batteships and three
cruisers Of anuquated type and build, which
Russia would almost certainly not venture u
send on such q voyage and for such purpose.
Finally. there will or may be a large number
OF torpedo boats and destrOyers.
Such a fleet would be strong. We may seri-
ouslv doubt whether it would be more than
a match for the japanese feet. Certainly it
does not appear to be- on paper But If the
Port Arthur and NladvoStOk fleets could hold
out until this new feet got around there,
the three united would certainly overmastcr
the japanese The question arises, however.
How is this feet TO get to the scene Of
war? The distance Is more than thirteen thou
sand miles One Of the ships, tho Kornilof.
can carry coal enough to take her the whole
distance without replenishing provided she
goes at not more than ten knots an hour. But
not one Of the others can carry enough to take
her more than twO-thirds of the way, even
at so low a rate of speed. They must, then,
get coal on the way But how? Neutral ports
cannot furnish il. They can let n belgerent
shin have only Just enough coal TO take her 10
her nearest home port and if, after getting such
a supply, the ship should 20 on toward the
enemy. instead OF toward home, the next neU-
trail port would have 10 refuse 10 let her take
any more There remains, then the plan of
taking a supply along, in GOLFERS. That IS n
costly and cumbersome system, and is likely 20
impose upon the feet Il slow rate Of progress.
Ii also makes the feet much more vulnerable
10 attack by the enemy. There IS, moreover
the consideration that a feet at the end Of
slow voyage Of thirteen thousand miles, chiefly
through tropical seas would be In a foul cond-
ton and unfit for efficient service without dock
ing and cleansing But, Of course, no such IA
ciities would be available. and in that plight
and perhaps with empty or nearly empty bunk
ers the Russian fleet would have to meet
superior japanese feet in first rate condition.
clean and fresh from the docks and with full
bunkers II is not If course certain that Rus
sia's possession Of coaling stations in African
and South Asian waters would have turned the
scale in the naval war. There can be ques-
ton that it would be of very great value to her.
and that her present plight demonstrates the
practical necessity OF such stations TO n great
naval power