Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-04-20
A SEA
FIGHT
JAP AND RUSSIAN FLEETS
ARE NEAR AT HAND
AND READY.
ROJESTVENsKYS FLEET lG IN
THE CHINA SEA, WHERE
TOGO WATCHES.
THE FORMIDABLE LINE UP OF
TIE TWO FLEETS SHOWo
WHAT'S COMING.

A rumor emanating from Hong
Kong Monday states that TWO sections
of the rival fleets clashed near Singa-
pore in the morning ana that Togo
lost five ships.
Advices from Singapore on the Sth
were that the Japanese and Russian
fleets were coming together and were
only short distance apart, the Rus
sian position being clearly evident By
the dense black smoke from the ships
all of which use soft coal. II was
thought that Saigon was the objective
point, and that Togo's fleet would not
try to intercept Rojestvensky's but
would engage them at some point
further north. Great CONSERVATION
prevailed in Singapore lest an en-
gagement should jeopardize the safety
of vessels Whereabouts. The Russian
vessels were running four abreast and
at only about eight knots an hour
when sighted. The forty-seven ships
bore evidence OF the effects Of their
long sea voyage and at the water line
showed sea weed foot long. The
squadron was led by a large cruiser,
followed by three converted former
Hamburg line vessels. Then
came the cruisers, GOLFERS. battle
ships, etc The Golfers were mostly
in the center of the fleet The decks
Of the war ships were coal laden,
while the GOLFERS and the former
HambuTg-American liners were light
OF draft. The vessels passed seven
miles out. The feet did not stop to
receive dispatches or 10 consult with
the consul. Subsequently the consul
visited Vice Admiral Rojestyensky S
ship, talking TO him from launch.
He did not board the vessel. but was
cheered heartily on leaving the side
of the ship. The consul gave 10 the
fleet the first news of the fall of Muk-
den.
. Following is the composition of the
Russian Second Pacific squadron,
commanded by Vice-Admiral Rojest-
vensky, as far as known:
Battleships-Kniaz Souvaroff (Ro-
iestvenskys flagship. Sissoi Velily
Noelkersam's fiagship). Alexander
H., Osiabya. Orel, Borodino, Navarin
Cruisers--Admira Nkhimoff, Au
ror, Svietiana, Oleg, Dmitri Donskoi,
Jemtchug. Almaz lbumrud.
Torpedo destroyers-Bles
Bedovi, Bravi and five others.
Volunteer heet-Kien, Voronej
Vladimiroff. Tambo1, Yaroslay.
Observation-Disclosures, Korea
Gortschakoff, Anadyr. Malaga, Jupiter
and several others-colliers.
Following is the list of vessels prob
ably comprising the Japanese squad
ron, commanded by Vice-Admiral To-
go:
neutrality-suspicious. (nagship Of
Vice-Admiral Togo. Full, Aaahi, Shi.
kishima.
Battloship, d-class-Chinyen
Armored cruisers-Asama, Chiyoda,
Iwate. Nisshin Adsuma. Idsumo, Ia
suga. Tokywa, lakum14
At the rate The Russian squadron
steamed from Madagascar, which av-
eraged eight knots an hour. the great
est naval battle since Nelson's victory
at Trafalgar should occur in about 10
days The admiralty realize that Ro-
jestventsky faces great odds owing to
the immense superiority OF the Jap
anese in cruisers and torpedo boats,
and reliance in his success is based
uUon seven battleships with which he
can oppose Togo's Four. It Is thought
unlikely that the Nladivostok squad
ron Will attempt a junction with the
Baltic feet, though It's quite possible
ii may make a diversion. undeterred
by the fate Of the Rossia at the time
Of the ogress Of the Port Arthur feet
last August
English naval experts think that
Togo has Intentionally allowed Roiest-
venslty 10 pass through the straits
of Nalacca unmolested, fearing that if
naval battle occurred there the mar
rowness of the straits would inter-
fere with the maneuvres of the Jap
ancse squadron and give too great an
opportunity for some accident TO oc-
cur which might change the result of
the battle. Ii is thought that Togo
plans to wait until Roiestventsky
energies from the DURAN straits and
rounds Rintang island directly south
east of the point of the Malay PENN
sula) into the China sea, and then du-
plicate the plan OF the naval battle
of Santiago. during the Spanish-An-
erican war. keeping the Russian feet
pressed against the east coast OF the
Malay peninsula, as Admiral Schley
Kept AuIllTdI AtINNld NipSt W tHt
Cuban coast in that conflict.
--------
The two Kansas Citys were dry"
towns Sunday. the closing law be-
ing rgidly enforced. Heretofore
when one town was dry its citizens
could usually wet their whistles by
crossing the river into the other city.
Mormons are starting a vigorous
PROSECUTING campaign in all western
states. sending 1000 missionaries into
the field.
The Portland. Oregon, grand jury
has resumed operations and will. il is
said now go after some California
lumber companies.
Thirty-fvc thousand eight hundred
dollars has been awarded by Lima
o.. jury to Joseph Hicks, lineman
VINO had both arms burned OFT by
live wire of the Lima Light Co.
g,.l. hapft