The San Francisco call., 1905-05-29
JOY TURNS
TO DESPAIR
IN RUSSIA
News of Loss of Warships
Brings Sudden Ending to
the Celebration in the
Streets lof st. Petersburg
Roiestyensky May Be in
Communication With Vlad-
iyostok Squadron Within
Next TWenty-Foure Hours

ST. PETERSBURG. May o. o:I5 a. M
Ip this momentous hour the Emperor.
the Admiralty and the Russian public
are waiting breathlessly for the japanese
10 supply authentic news of the fate of
Vice Admiral Roiestvensky and his fleet,
in which the hopes of the Russians are
centered. The official disposition is to con
strue rokios silence fayorably, but at
the same time the strategic reason for
silence is recognized
The public. after the premature demon
stration of Saturday night, is inclined 10
reverse rs attitude and to become pessi-
nistic.
The reports sent TO washington by the
American Consul at Nagasak of the sink
ing OF five Russian wGrships, including
battleship and repair ship, was accepted
as the most definite and the most au-
thentic piece Of news received up 70 mid
night and undoubtedly produced a bad
impression The fear was expressed that
the battleship sunk might have been
Rojestyensky's flagship. the Kniaz Souva-
rof, on which the japanese would un-
doubtediy concentrate their fire. The
sinking Of the repair ship Kamchatka,
which was filled with the most modern
machinery, might, il was thought
prove later to be a more severe loss than
that Of 8 warship. but at the Admiralty,
where the crowds eongregated on Sunday
afternoon and evening, hope was ex-
pressed that II RoJestYensky had cleared
the gateway 10 the Sea of Japan with no
greater loss than that reported by the
American Consul. the passage had not
been yearly purchased. especially if later
reports should prove that the japanese
losses were anything like equal proper
tionately.
CZAR'S INTENSE ANXIETY.
Probably no one in Russia displayed
such intense anxiety as the Emperor.
Early Sunday morning he summoned
Grand Duke Alexis. high admiral; Ad-
miral Avellan, head of the lf1issfan' Ad-e
miralty Department. and Admiral Wren
irs, chief Of the general staff Of the navy, ]
TO Tsarskoe-Selo, and remained closeted
with them up 10 a late hour last night
tmpa atiently awaiting Information and nor
ing over the charts. The only news re-
ceived by his Majesty from Russian
sources were dispatches from Russian
agents and Censuls at Chinese ports
which contained nothing but current rl,=
mers: The only time the Emperor left
the members OF the Cabinet was to attend
service in the chapel of the Alexandra
Palace. when the chaplain prayed for
Rojestvensky's success.
The Emperor was greatly distressed
l.
ing the information sent by the Consul
at Nagasaki arrived.
Inc newspaper dispatches naturally
created the widest speculation. Some of
the officers of the admiralty who on Sat
urday were inclined TO take the view that
the ships off Wusung were empty col
liers sent 10 the rear to avoid hampering
the warships, or that ii was a division Of
little fighting value dispatched to confuse
1r-l - ~
thought on Sunday that 1t was possible
Rojestvenshy might after all have divid-
ed his feet and that the Japanese were
awaiting the arrival Of the second Rus
sian division before making general an
nouncement.
COULD NOT RISK A DIVISION.
The majority OF the naval authorities,
however. continue to believe that Rojest-
vensky could not risk a division of his
fighting ships. Those of an optimistic
turn hope that Rojestvensky did actually
throw Togo off the trail and escaped him.
as the French feet eluded Nelson on the
way to Egypt. and that they encountered
only torpedo boats IN the Straits of Ko-
rea- This opinion. though. is not gener-
ally shared, and the great majority think
that Togo's scouts were able to keep IN
touch with the fighting division and that
the japanese lay in walt for Rojes,-
vensky IN the narrow waters where a bat
tie is reported TO have taken place.
Nevertheless. practically nobody be-
lieves that Togo offered open battle, the
consensus of opinion being that the Jap
anese. favored by q stage Of the moon,
which was at three-quarters full, waited
.and delivered series Of torpedo attacks
Saturday night with such aid as their
heavy ships could offer without running
too much risk Mines may have played
an important role and, perhaps. been re-
sponsibIe for a large share of the losses
reported At any rate: the result is not
fully satisfactory to the naval authori-
ties
1t is possible that a running light at
long range took place on Sunday, from
which better results are expected as
the naval authorities generally do not
believe that torpedoing could be re-
newed on Sunday night in the open
sea.
The cruisers Gromoboi and Rossia of
the Vladivostok squadron probably