River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-04-13
BIG SEA BATTLE
PROBABLY NEAR
RUSSIAN FLEET OF FIFTY-oNE
VESSELS PASSES SINGAPORE.
JAP SHIPS IN CLOSE TOUCH
Squadrons Only Few Miles Apart
and Enga cement Which May De-
eide Mastery of the Seas
Is Imminent.

battle between the fleets of Togo and
ROjestvensky, which will carry with it
the control of the sea and settle the fate
of Russia so far as further progress of
the war is concerned, is at Nand, and
here and in all the capitals of Europe
news of the outcome is anxiously
awaited.
The battle will be fought in the China
sea. This is more certain by the news
from Singapore that the Russian fleet
has passed that port steering in north
eastward direction. Once in the China
sea, Rojestvensky will have to fight.
His instructions, based on his action in
entering the China sea, show that he
was ordered to make for Vladivostok.
Few believe that this can be accom-
plished, and the admiralty experts de-
clare he has deliberately entered a
trap from which there can be no es-
cape. Togo for months past has been
cruising in and near the Straits Of
Malacca, with scouts covering a wide
range and in constant communication
with him by wireless telegraph and
other means. And it is through suffer
ance, naval experts believe, that battle
has not been given sooner.
Togo's Plan Revealed.
Togo's plan, as interpreted here, indi-
Gates an intention to get behind che Rus
sian fleet when it is once fairly in the
China sea, and then run it down. Ro-
iestvensky's squadron is incapable of
making any speed, as the result of the
long voyage. Their bottoms are foul,
fleet, on the contrary, is in the best pos
Sible condition, the boats having been
thoroughly overhauled and cleaned
after the capture of Port Arthur. Be-
Eides this, Rojestvensky is hampered by
the large number of GOLFERS accompany
ing him, and which must be protected at
all hazards.
Togo's fleet, from the best informa-
ton available, is supposed to be off the
northwest coast of Borneo, and in a po-
sition to move quickly as strategic ex.
igencies demand.
South from Vladivostok somewhere is
the fleet of Admiral Kamimura, which
months ago destroyed the remnants OF
the Russian navy in Japanese waters
Nothing has been heard of his where
abouts, but it is safe to assume that it
is acting in conjunction with Togo and
will be heard from at the proper time.
Comparison of Fleets.
Ship for ship and in weight of metal,
Rojestvensky's fleet is superior. Against
%l;e tbo tro;pod commemorative ond hot
ter craftsmanship of the Japanese and
the corps d'esprit and confidence begot-
ten of long series of victories. On
the other hand, the Russians have been
under a constant strain from the mo-
ment of leaving the Baltic seas for the
long journey. The reports about the
numbers of the Russian ships vary, but
at any rate 35 battleships, cruisers, col
liers and torpedo boats have passed the
port Of Singapore. The Japanese squad
ron, reported off Horstburg light March
IA, consists of 20 ships.
Togo Between Two Fires.
st. Petersburg, April 10.-There is
reason to believe that Vice Admiral Ro-
jestvensky's entrance into the China
sea has been followed by orders for the
cruisers Gromoboi, Rossia and Botatyr,
which have been ready for some time at
VladivoStOk, to put to sea. Whether it
is the intention to send them south i'm
ity OF Vladivostok is not known. Their
appearance outside the roadstead of
Vladivostock would constitute poten-
tial threat against Admiral Togo's
rear which will compel the retention in
or dispatch of a number of heavy fight
ing ships to Japanese waters. Thus Ad-
miral Togo seems to be virtually be-
tween two fires.
Time for the Olive Branch.
The peace influences in the govern
ment urge that this favorable stategic
position presents ME psychological mo-
ment for offering officially the olive
branch to Japan, reasoning that
no matter how confident the Jap
anese government may be of To-
COS victory, it cannot overlook
the possibility of defeat, nor fail to ap-
preciate the complete disaster which
would follow the transfer of the mas
terry of the sea to Russia With so much
depending upon the issue, they argue,
both countries have mutual interests in
avoiding an actual test, and it is not inn
possible therefore that a new move in
the direction of peace may come. just
as the world expects to hear the call to
quarters for the greatest naval battle
of modern times. Certainly the spirits
of the war party have been greatly
raised By Rojectvenskys success in
penetrating to the China sea; and the
prospect of naval battle, even with the
odds against Russian victory which
would change the entire complexion OF
the situation has aroused something
like flash of enthusiasm in many Rus
sian breasts.
Squadron Passes Singapore.
Singapore. April 10-Fifty-o ships OF
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's second Pa
cific squadron passed here Saturday.
The most important fighting vessels OF
the squadron, including the battleships
Kniaz Souvaroff, Alexander H.. Boro-
dino and Orel, with their complement of
cruisers, torpedo boat destroyers, etc,
did not arrive, and their whereabouts is
discriminating