The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-29
interpret the Rigid Censorship
in Toxic as Being in
RuSsias Favor
REPAIR SHIP is GREATEST
LOSS TO RUSSIAN FLEET
Emperor Nicholas Is Greatly Dis,
tressed by Dispatch Sent from
Naeasaki by the Way of
Washington.

st. Petersburg May 20, 2:15 a. MN
this momentous hour the Emperor the
admiralty and the Russian people are
waiting breathlessly for the japanese to
furnish authentic news of The fate OF
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's fleet IN
which the hopes of the Russians are
centered The official disposition is to
construe Tokios silence favorably, but at
the same time the strategic reason for
such silence is recognized.
The public altering the premature jub-
ilation of Sunday night, is inclined to
reverse its attitude and to become pessi-
mistic.
The report sent to Washington by the
American consul at Nagasaki of the sink
ing Of five Russian warships, including a
battleship and repair ship, was accepted
as the most definite and the most au-
thentic piece of news received up to mid
night, and undoubtedly produced a bad
impression The fear expressed that the
battleship sunk. might have been Ro-
jestvensky's flagship, the Kniazsouvaroff,
OF. which the japanese undoubtedly would
concentrate their fire.
Filled with Modern Machinery
The sinking of the repair ship Kam-
chatka which was filled with the most
modern machinery, might, ii was thought,
prove later to be a more severe loss
than that of a warship, but at the ad-
miralty where crowds congregated Sun
day afternoon and evening, the opinion
was expressed that If Rojestvensky had
CLEARED the gateway to the sea of Japan
with no greater loss than that reported
by the American consul, the passage had
not been dearly purchased, especially If
later reports should prove that the Japa-
nese losses were anything like equal pro-
portionately
Probably no one In Russia displayed
such intense anxiety as the Emperor.
Early Sunday morning he summoned
Grand Duke Alexis, his admiral. Admiral
Avelan, head of the Russian admiralty
department, and Admiral Wirenius, chief
of the geenral staff of the navy to Tsar-
skoe-Selo and remained clossted with
them up to a late hour last night, i'm
patiently awaiting information and por.
ing over charts.
Gave Nothing but Rumors.
The only news received by his majesty
from Russian sources were dispatched
from Russian agents and consuls at Chi
nese ports, which could give nothing
but current rumors. The only time the
Emperor left the members of his cabinet
was to attend service in the chapel Of
the Alexandra place when the chaplain
prayed for Rojestyensky's success.
The Emperor was greatly distressed
when the Washington dispatch containing
the information sent By the consul at
NagasaBi arrived. The newspaper dis
patches naturally created the widest
speculation. Some of the officers Of the
admiralty who on Saturday were inclined
to think the ships of Woosung were
hampering the warships unnecessarily,
or that 1t. was a division of no fighting
value, dispatched to confuse Togo and tc
throw him off the scent, thought on Sun
day it was possible Rojestvensky might
after all divided his fleet. and that the
Japanese were awaiting the arrival Of