Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-02-04
WHERE is RoJEsTvENskY9
Speculation in Washington Starts
From German Notice.

second Pacific fleet of the Russian
navy under the command of Vice Adj
miral Rojestve nsky? Is it still in
Madagascar waters, waiting further re-
Inducements before continuing It's
voyage to the Pacific. or has it gone on.
and is it within the zone where two
Japanese battleships and four armored
cruisers under command of Rear Adj
miral Uriu are cruising?
internal troubles in Russia have so
absorbed the attention of the officials
in Washington they have given slight
attention to- the progress of Eojestven-
sky's command The question has
again become Il burning one in view
Of the ascendency, which the Russian
government has attained over the dis
contented elements in the empire.
1t is now regarded as certain that the
fleet will not return to Russia, and it
is considered probable that part, IL not
ALL of it has by this time reached Cha
gos Islands, a group lying to the south
ward of India. There are still some
members of the general board of the
navy who believe the fleet will never
reach the Pacific, but this. view is
not generally accepted. in view of some
interesting information which has just
reached the state department.
Germany Factor Again.
Germany has come to the front
again as friend Of Russia. She is
now aiding the fleet she helped to
equip to reach it's destination. She
recently issued notice raising tom
mage dues on shipping touching at
Marshall islands, which lie in the Pa
cific considerably to the eastward of
the Philippine islands. The notice has
arouXed suspicion in Japan, which con-
siders it probable the Russian fleet
will make a wide detour III order to
escape Urls squadron, and may stop
at one of the Marshall islands for
coal.
What is considered more probable,
however, is that Germany has issued
the notice in regard to Marshall ISL
ands in order 10 confuse the Japanese
and distract their attention from the
Caroline islands. which are more con-
venient for the route the Russian
ships would like to pursue.
Admiral Uriu Fighter.
Admiral Uriu was selected to the
command on the Japanese squadron
now cruising in the Indian ocean, be-
cause he was considered the most
dashing officer in the service. If he
ever gets in touch with Rojestvensky's
fleet his countrymen predict he will
never let go until he has fought a de-
cisive battle. Reports received by the
state department show that the Rus
sian fleet arrived in Madagascar wat
l. 1o1s h0f
they have remained there until now.
The violation of neutrality would be
so palpable that Japan could justly
complain to France, which owns Mad
agascar and cannot afford to permit it
to be made Il base of operations by
either belligerant.
From Madagascar it is believed Ro-
jestvensky has gone, or will steam, to
Chagos islands, distance of 1850
miles, where lie will refill his bunkers
with coal taken from the Golfers. No
one believes he will go by the straits
of Singapore or the straits of Sunda
into the China sea; both of these
straits are watched by Japanese cruis-
ers and he would come into prompt
collision with the Japanese fleet. 1t is
expected he will sail from Chagos ISL
ands to Sampong bay, al magnificent
harbor on the southwestern coast of
the island of Sumartra and take coal
from golfers at that point and pass
thru Lombok straits to Banca islands
to northward to the Celebes group.
Will Sail Around Japan.
Leaving Banaca islands he will steer
for Bonin islands, to the southeastward
of Japan, stopping en- route at the
Carolines for more COAL In the long
voyage he must make more than 5000
miles from Chagos islands, and, includ
ing coaling and stoppages for other
causes, he cannot possibly reach the
vicinity of Japan under two months.
BY that time his gunners will have
had considerable practice, and he
should have trained his fleet in man.
and he will be in good condi
ton for action. In spite of this, how
ever, the general consensus of opinion
among naval officers in Washington is
that If he meets the Japanese he will
be destroyed.
The Dogger bank inquiry is develop
ing facts which emphasize the opin-
ion held by American naval officers
that the Russians either mistook the
British trawlers for torpedo boats or
made the awful mistake of firing upon
their own ships.
Sensational Report Denied.
London. Feb. 4-The foreign office
declares that there is no foundation
for the report that conferences have
taken place Mt Berlin between Chan