The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-08-19
MYSTERY CONTINUES.
Whereabouts of the Lost Russian q, 1
tIeships Not Surely Known.

st. Petersburg. Aug. is, 1880 a. NJ
The admiralty has no information that
Lieutenant Newton y. McCuliy OF the
United States navy, and Lieutenant DE
Cuiverville of the French navy, the
only two naval attaches at Port Ar
thur. Joined Rear Admiral Withoft's
Squadron when it left the port Wednes-
day morning last. Had they joined the
squadron they would presumably have
been in the flagship Czarevitch. The
absence of news as to their presence
with Admiral Without is taken to indi-
cate that they remained on shore. and
it is pointed out that it would be per-
fectly within the adlnirals province TO
decline TO take the attaches in case he
considered the enterprise too hazard
Gus. and so as not TO expose the repre-
sentativeS of neutral nations TO . ger.
1t is reported that Niceroy Alexieff
has left Mukden hurriedly for Eiadi-
Nostok on receipt of news that the i'll
ness of Vice Admiral Bezoubrietf has
taken n serious turn and that the ad-
miral was not expected 10 recover.
The exact whereabouts of the Port
Arthur battleships is still a mystery ON
which hinges Russian naval fortunes in
the far east. kilograms reporting them
back at Port Arthur have not been on
iirmed up to this hour. 1t is apparent
THAI Vice Admiral Togo either Car.not
or will not say where they have gone.
Admiralty officials declare they do not
know, but they refuse to believe that
out of five battleships not q single one
managed to break through to Nladi-
Vostoi.
The cause of the uncertainty is at
tributed partly by q distinguished
naval attache to the natural conse-
quences of a sea fight in the night time.
Vessels on either side might become
separated and he unable 10 rejoin their
respective fleets at daybreak, or pos
D. .11x In tap,,,tll TO ntapa ,,, I,,aI
enemy who might be in sight, rather
than proceed to their rendezvous.
That Rear ADMIRAL Togo's report of
his damage mentions only . few
ships is believed to indicate that the
others have not rejoined his feet. 1t
is more than probable that Admiral
Without, before going out. fixed y rem
devious tC which the vessels would go
ii separated, and it is likewise more
than probable that this rendezvous
was anywhere except Port Arthur, the
most likely point being between Shang-
hal and Kiusiu (the most southerly of
the three principal Stands of Japan,
which is on the circular route to Vladi-
vostok.)
h Czarevitch was evidently heading
for this point when she was compelled
by the damages she sustained to turn
aside and enter Using Tau.
In this connection it is interesting to
note the presence at the Saddle islands
of four battle ships, and later said to
be four cruisers, presumably the Pal
lada. Diana and Novik, escortins the
crippled flagship Askold. These YES
sells might lake advantage of the fact
that the acknowledgements cable is
laid near the Saddle Islands to sever
Japanese communication with the con-
tinent. Persistent reports that the
Russian vessels were coaling from col
Hers in these waters confirms the
{ hNnnfhaSjS that they had apreHl IN
rendezvous at this point en- route to
Vladivostok if they failed to keep TO-
gether, and then rush the Korean
straits
A telegram from Chefoo says that
three Russian cruisers at Using Tau
had hauled down their flags, and was
interdited by the censor because the in
formation reaching the admiralty is to
the effect that only the CZarevitch is in
that port.
In spite of the tone of the press. RUS
STA does not desire nor expect the pow
ers to take action regarding the
Ryeshitelni incident. The government
has simply placed the facts before Ja-
pan and China n awaits their action.
If Russia's representations are ignored,
the Associated Press can state that
Russia will feel herself free to take
such steps as she may be able to take
In the way of retaliation.
There are no developments in the sit
uation in Manchuria except the receipt
of a report by the general staff of the
continuance of rain, and reports Of a
general exodus of Chinese inhabitants.
who are fleeing northward from Lao
Yang i'll anticipation of coming mill
tary operations. The Bourse Gazette
prints a dispatch reporting the Japan
csc ave retired from Hal Cheng.
Tashichao and. Newchwang; but the
statement is hardly considered credit