The San Francisco call., 1905-05-30

ST. PETERSBURG, May 80. 1855 a.
m.-After waiting vainly all day and
evening for direct news from the scat
tered remnants of Vice Admiral Re-
jestvensky's destroyed and beaten
fleet, the Russian Admiralty at mid
night no longer attempted to hold out
against the overwhelming evidence
pouring in from all directions that the
fleet on which all its hopes were CEN
tered had suffered a greater disaster
than did the combined French and
Spanish fleets at Trafalgar
More bitter even than defeat is the
Japanese claim of virtual annihilation
of the Russian fleet, with practically
no losses on their side, and many of
ficers cling doggedly to the belief that
Vice Admiral Togo also suffered hea-
vily
With every ship of Rear Admiral Ne
bogatoff's reinforcing division either
sent to the bottom or forced to strike
it's flag, and only six of ROjestvensky'x 3
original sixteen fighting ships absent
from The line OF vessels sunk or cap
tured, and with the Japanese pursuit
continuing, no naval authority has the
tenerity TO dream that Hussfa can
aanfn attempt to yrest the mastery of
the sea from japan In the present war.
The captured warships alone VIII
| supply Japan with ready-made rein
forcements whichN will be more than
a match for sa6 fourth Pacific squad
ron now abou: to sail from Kronstadt.
The Emperor was completely pros
trated by the news and, according to
reports, he broke down and wept.
The effect of the disaster will be a
terrible blow to the Government. The
futility of trying to struggle on land
is everywhere recognized, and the cry
peace at any price is sure to be
| raised. This time it is believed the
| Government cannot resist such a cry.
Indeed, the radical Liberals are
openly rejoicing in this hour of their
country's humiliation. They declare
that the disaster means peace and
the constitution and that the
deaths of thousands Of their fellow
countrymen. and the loss of over hun
dred million dollars worth of war
ships is not too big price to pay.
The friends of peace In the Govern
ment are already reproaching the war
party with having forced the issue be-
tween Togo and Rojestvensky. When
the feet appeared in the Straits of
MaIacca they tried vainly to persuade
the Emperor that the time was oppor-
/ tune for the opening of peace negotia-
I tions. but the war party convinced his
Majesty. and Rejestvensky. for the
honor of the navy. insisted that the
feet should be given a chance to re-
trieve the disasters suffered on land.
Diplomatists entertain no doubt that
, the belligerent faction will continue to
urge that the war be fought to the
bitter end but the friends of Russia
abroad, especially France, are now
bringing overwhelming arguments to
bear in favor of peace.
The Russian Government I'm this
crisis will turn to Delcassc, the French
Foreign Minister, in whose ability and
in whose loyalty as Hussfa's friend the
Emperor and his Ministers have Inn
appeared likely that President RO0se-
, welt would play big role in the peace
negotiations, hut now his share In apt
to be determined by Delcasse's decf-
sion. The latter may. of course, COM
slider it wise to place the negotiations
| In President R0oseveIt's hands.
The war party, however, will insist
now, as it did after the battle of Muk-
den, that peace is impossible on the
heels of defeat The members Of this
faction are already proclaiming that
the latest disaster in nowise alters the
situation on land, General Linevitch
having prepared his plans as If the
| fleet did not exist.
The censorship is taking the posi-
| tion that it is improper to accept the
Japanese reports in the absence of Of
fetal news. and has forbidden the pub
| lication of foreign dispatches giving
details of the defeat. Nevertheless
news OF the ma gnitude OF the disaster
spread like wildfre throughout the