Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-30
AeANDoNs HOPE.
Continued from Page One.)
terrible blow to the government. The

terrible blow to the government. The
futility Of trying to stagger on land Is
eyervu here recognized and the cry for
'peace at any price" is sure to be
raised. This time. it is believed the
government cannot resist such cry.
Indeed. the Radical Liberals are OPEN
ly rejoicing i'm this hour of their coun-
try's humiliation. They declare that
the disaster means freedom and con-
stitution and that the deaths of thou
sands Of their fellow cOuntrymen ana
the loss of over 800 900 worth or
warships is not too big price to pay.
The friends Of peace in the govern
ment are already reprOachinG the war
party with forcing the issue between
Togo and Rojestvensky When the
feet appeared in the Straits OF Maiac-
ca they tried vainly to persuade Tue
EmrerOr that the time was opportuhe
for the opening of peace negotiatlons'
but the war party is convinced Ills
Majesty and Rojestvensky, Tor the
honor of the navy. insisted that the
feet should be given chance TO re-
trieye the disaster suffered Oh land.
Dirlomats entertain no doubt that
the belIjeerent faction will continue
to urge that the war be fought to the
hitter end but the friends of Russia
and especially France, are now BRING
ing overwhelming arguments to bear
In favor of peace.
The Associated Press has excellent
reason to believe that the Russian gov
ornment i'm this crisis will turn to NJ.
Delcasse. the French foreign minister.
in whose ability and loyalty as Rus
sia's friend the Emperor and his minis
tcrs have implicit confidence. Sometime
ago il appeared likely that President
Roosevelt would play big role in the
peace negotiations, but now his share
Is ant to he determined by NJ. Del
casse's decision. The latter may, of
course. consider it wise to place the
negotiations in President ROOsevelt's
hands.
The war party, however, will insist
now as they did after the battle OF
Mukden. that peace is impossible on
the heels of defeat. The members OF
this faction are already proclaimfnS
that the naval disaster in no wise al
tcrs the situation on land. Lieut.. Gen.
r.inevitch having prepared his plans as
if the fleet did not exist.
The censorship is taking the position
that it is improper to accept the Jap
anese reports in the absence of official
news and has forbidden the publica-
ton of foreign dispatches giving de-
tails of the defeat. Nevertheless news
Of the magnitude of the disaster spread
ike wild fire throughout the city and
the main facts were embelished in pic
!, II n nv,1i q
official declaration.
The admiralty is without reports of
the defeat. Private advices are said
to have reached the city from Vladl-
vostok according to which Rojestven-
sky is alive, but that he had narrow
escape. He is said to have transferred
his flag from the kniaz SouVaroH to
one of the battleships subsequently
sunk and that he was wounded and
picked up by torpedo boat.
A large portion Of the officers and
sailors of the fleet We're residents of st.
Petersburg and evidences of expectant
grief are seen on every hand. wives
and families are bes ie.ing the admi-
ralty and are visiting the churches TO
pray for the escape of their loved ones.
Many of the people of st. Petersburg
refuse absolutely to credit the news
From Toxic and are clutching at the
belief that perhaps it Is not official.
The government undoubtedly fears
the e5fact of the news of the disaster
uror7 tita country rs evidence OF which
Governor General Trepoff has taken
personal charge of the censorship III
St Petersburg.
Pear, demonstrations are generally
expecie,i, though pending the decision
of the government with regard to the
opening of negotiations. it is impossi-
hle to predict what stand the anti-gov-
ernmcnt forces may take.