Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-08-22
TO SINK HIS FLEET
ADMIRAL OUkTOMSkY HAS HIS
ORDERS.
Port Arthur Fleet TO Make Another
Sally at All Costs and to Die
FightinS---II So"tie Is ImpOssi.
BILE Fleet Is to BE Totally De-
strOyed.

St. Petersburg, Aug. 20-Acute
anxiety prevails regarding the situa-
ton at Port Arthur on account of the
desperate character of the fighting re-
ported taking place, though the war
Office does not seem to believe that the
danger of the fall of the fortress is so
imminent as is generally believed.
According to advices received by the
war Office there is still an ample sup
ply of ammunition and provisions
there.
While it is realized that the Japan
ese probably outnumber the defenders
six or sevenfold, the great strength of
the forticfiations, it is believed, will
do much to make up for the disparity
in mum bers.
Upon one point there is absolute
unanimity here, namely, that if the
fortress falls the fleet will not fall into
the hands of the Japanese. On this
point the admiralty's instructions are
of the most imperative character.
Vice Admiral Prince Ouktomsky has
been ordered, should the worst come,
to sally forth for death struggle, and
there is no question here that these
instructions will be carried out both
in letter and spirit, but if for any rea-
son "a final sortie proves to be impossi-
BILE, the admiral is to destroy his ships
and to make certain that their wreck
age shall be absolutely irreparable.
Baltic Fleet Waits.
In the meantime Vice Admiral Ro-
jestvensky's Baltic Squadron, includ-
ing the battleship Orel, is standing off
Cronstadt with steam up. 1t is popu-
larry expected that the squadron will
sail at any hour and it is quite true
that it is ready for almost immediate
departure, but regarding the question
of sailing there is difference of opin-
ion among the naval authorities.
1t is held on the one hand that the
immediate sailing of the squadron
would be the best policy, on the theory
that should it arrive within two
months it would find Vice Admiral
TogO's fleet in an infinitely worse con-
dition than if the Japanese were al
lowed the whole winter 10 repair and
refit the ships.
Other officials hold that it would be
unwise to risk sending the Baltic
squadron to the far East until the sit
uatiOn at Port Arthur has been cleared
and until it is known what conditions
the squadron would be likely to find
OH its arrival.
Admiralty in Despair.
A feeling almost akin to despair
reigns in the much tried Russian ad-
miralty. The official report of Vice
Admiral Skrydloff coming on the heels
of the known losses sustained by the
Port Arthur squadron in its desperat e
sortie of August 10, and the anxiety
felt over the fate Of the warships unac-
counted for, not only confirming the
sinking of the Rurik, but showing that
the injuries sustained by the Gromobo
and Rossia in the fight with Kami-
mura's squadron were even greater
than anticipated, completes the crush
ing nature of the blow to Russia's i'll :
starred forces in the far East.
So far as the immediate future is
concerned, the admiralty does not dis
guise the fact that the Vladivostok
squadron is destroyed. The effect on
the public is also most depressing
The only consolation found is in the
words of praise bestowed on officers
and men and the unequal character
If the ficht