The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-04
VAN ESSEN
 IS HOPEFUL Rosy View of the Russian Admiral'S Prospects. HAS A GREAT ADVANTAGE Coming Engagement Will Be
 at Long Range. Hero of Port Arthur Says Togo's ships Are Badly Battered--RoJestven-
 sky's Msrkmanship VIII
 Prove Surprise.
HAS A GREAT ADVANTAGE

St. Petersburg. May 4.-(2;f0 A. Ml Captain Won Essen, the hero of Port
 Arthur and one of the ablest of Rus
 sian naval officers, discussing with the
 Associated Press the coming naval bat tie in the Far East, took a rosy view of Rojestvensky's prospects and as- serted that he had a great advantage in many respects over the original Port Arthur squadron.
 Captain won Essen declared that the engagement between Togo and Ro- 1estvensky was bound to be at long range. He smiled at the idea that the
 Japanese might be able to disorganize
 or damage the Russian squadron by
 torpedo attacks. pointing out the impo-
 tency of such tactics after the first
 surprise at Port Arthur. Take the
 matter of telescopic sights for fn-i
 stance" said the Captain, which are
 almost indispensable in engagements
 ut the extreme ranges now usual. The
 Port Arthur fleet was without them and
 was unable to obtain the sights on account of the cutting of the communi-
 cations, while Rojestvensky's guns are all equipped"
 "Furthermore we know that Togo's ships were severely pounded in the bat tie of August 10. Without taking into consideration the unavoidable depre- ciation and the fact that, though re-
 paired, 1t was far from being good
 before the battle. the ordnance of the Iapanese ships suffered especially; and though some of the 12-inch guns may
 have been replaced, it Is impossipie that all can have been renewed Some of the smaller guns of the 1apanese ships actually went to pieces
 during the engagement After the battle we found large pieces or the muxzle of one of the Japanese ls-cen- timetre guns on board the Sevastopoi. The Japanese, however, were aDis " lns. Rren m ing a plant capable or puiioins sucn guns.
 .rhe battle will be decided by the 12-inch guns" continued the Captain. ~But may not Togo elect to conduct l q harrassinar warfare with his torpeno \ boats in the hope of sinking one ok tnS Russfan shipsY was asked.
 cone of the lessons of the present
 war" replied Captain. von Essen, -fs the ability of warships to defend them selves against torpedo attacks during naval engagements. After the open | ing surprises the Japanese torpedo poat
 hotilla accomplished pracucany l ho.n, | ing until the last act of the naval drama. the torpedoing of the Sevasto- | nol before the surrender of Port Ar | thur. and then 1t took five nights or continued attacks under the most favorable weather conditions-sneW squalls, etc.--to get one or the nun dreds of torpedoes home against sta- | tionary ship.
 Captain van Essen commented on the high state of efficiency to which Ad- miral Rotestvensky has brought his squadron dyring the long months or | the voyage eastward and says that the
 result of target practice with the big guns corroborated the opinion of the British critics that the marksmansnip of the Russians would be apt to sur 1 prise the Japanese.
 He discussed the possibility that | Rofestvensky will not incorporate Nebogatofrs ships in his lighting squadron, but will leave them to cover | inc transports; but he frankly declared | that he was ignorant of Admiral Roiestventsky's intention on this as
 well as on other points in the pre- sent situation in which the admiral | is keeping his own counsel Japa-
 nese letter captured in Manchuria con tains indications that the Japanese have naval bases in the north at the port of Sominato and in the south az fine port of Mekonna on one or the Pescadore islands.
 | Slight Disturbances.