New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-21
RUSSIANS CONFIDENT.
NauaL Movements Predicted-Situ-
alton at Port Arthur.

ST Petersburg May 900 changed is the
naval situation at Port Arthur by the Japanese
disasters naval officers say, that the officials
would not be surprised should Rear Admiral
wittsoeft so soon as his lame ducks" are re-
paired. make frequent trips to sea the late
Vice Admiral Makaroff did. in order TO harass
the enemy's operations along the coast of the
LIao-Tung Peninsula. They assert that the latest
advices show that the channel is free. despite
the Japanese statements to the contrary. and
they explain that the sole reason why the Rus
sian ships heretofore have not gone out is the
tremendous superiority of Admiral Togos fleet
The Admiralty officials now dscredit the re-
port that the Japanese battleships Shikishima
and Full have also been destroyed. 1t is be-
lieved that the Russian refugees from Port Dali
ny who circulated the report on arrival at Che-
Foo yesterday probably COMPOUNDED the Shikl-
shima and the Full with the Hatsuse and the
Yosh.no, The official advices. however snow
that the Kasuga, which rammed the Yoshino'
was damaged. and the opinion prevails that
she must withdraw from the fleet for time.
The views prevailing in high official naval
circles were set forth in the following statement
to-day:
We are not rejoicing at the japanese disasters
IT is the fortune of war. We are sorry that the
disasters caused the loss Of seven hundred men.
It is not sailors mission TO destroy Ire, put
only to destroy the enemy's ships. The japanese
loss evens up the naval forces at Port arthur.
We believe our squadron will go out again so
soon as the cripples are ready. That may be &C
cornplished within a fortnight The battieshlp
Czarevitch is the only ship which continues 10
give trouble. -,
II must be our mines off the Lao-Teai-Shan
Pron1ontory which caused the disaster TO the
Hatsuse The fact that two mines We're me-
essarv to sink the Hatsuse is q Vndcatlon o!
the hattleship. A single mine could not IN ltselt
have done enough harm TO sink such a great
ship so quickly. The case of the PetropaNloNSA
led 10 hastv judgments against battleships gen
erally but the discharge of the mine caused an
explosion Of her magazines and boilers.
The general staff took occasion to-day to deny
the report of a battle having been fought at
Kai-Ping. in which two hundred Russians were
killed. The Russians quietly withdrew from
Kai-Png. being unwilling to expose their torce
at that point to the attack OF column march
ing from the east. The execution of Kai-Pins
also shows it is said. that there is no truth in
the report that Kuropatkin has sent ten thou
sand men to retake that place.
No news has reached here of the engagement
at Kin-Chow, and the absence Of information Is
explained by the slowness Of communication
1t is reiterated that Lieutenant General Stoes-
sells plan does not contemplate imperilling the
fortress by the loss of too many men outside
The authorities rather believe their information
that he had almost entirely withdrawn inside
the fortress's defences several days ago.
Fear of General Rennenkampfs Cossacks in
Northern Manchuria, the authorities say may
explain the cautious action OF General Kurok in
establishing a strong base at Fens-W ang-Cheng
and hating the column which was marching on
Hai-Cheng. 1t may also be a solution of the
movements at New-Chwang. which at first was
reported TO have been evacuated, and, which is
now said 10 have been reoccupied by the Rus
slams, for If Kuroki has definitely stopped his
westward movement, Kuropatkin could safely
continue to hold New-Chwang.