New-York tribune., 1905-04-11
THE FLEETS.

The hostile fleets in Eastern seas upon WHICH,
the interest of the world is largely centred are
acting in a manner most bewildering to the anna
teur long range strategist. The japanese meet
seems. according to various reports TO De emu
lating Sir Boyle ROche's bird. or rather 10 De
SURPRISING it. by being in several places at the
same time. 1t is at the Nicobar Islands, 1t is at
the Sunda Strait it is in the China Sea. it is on
Saigon it is at Formosa. it is at the Pescadores,
II is blockading Vladivostok. We have long re-
parded Admiral Togo as a versatile ana eXpe-
ditious eampaigner but really we should hesl-
tate to credit him with ubiquity. Neither shoulo
we suspect him of so distributing and scatter
ing his feet as TO be unable to make an eHec-
tive concentration of its best fighting elements
at a few hours notice. We are inclined to thlnk'
therefore. that, though it may for the moment
be Lying low" the japanese fleet will reveal IT.
self in force whenever the right moment comes
The Russian fleet is equally puzZling, though
in a somewhat different way. Beyond question
the bulk Of it has passed Singapore turned
northward toward Saigon, and is probably now
anchored near the Anambas Islands, as reported
bv British steamer. The best four battleships,
however, are said to be missing, and the suppO-
sition is that they have gone by some OtheF
route At the same time comes report OF
Russian squadron near Muntok, bound TOT ba-
tavia. Now, AIuntok is on the northwest corner
ships must have passed through either the Ma
lacca or the Sunda Strait If they had passed
through the former they would have been re-
ported at Singapore, as the others were; and
then they naturally would have turned north
ward with the others, instead Of diverging In
the opposite direction. On the other hand, if
they passed in through the Sunda Strait and
went as far north as Muntok, they would hardly
turn back and go 10 Batavia 1t may be as well,
,r,uks vr-iN1 Il dnCTPn
of caution and not TO base any positive predic-
tions upon them. We shall know more about
the actual movements Of the fleets in a few
days than we know now.
Much is being said about the probability that
the Russians will seek or seize naval base in
Eastern waters for period of recuperation and
refitting before they engage the enemy. That is
TO be doubted In the first place, it is not at all
certain that the japanese would let them do So
In the second place. they could not seize naval
station because there are none to seize in that
part Of the world save those belonging to China,
Holland. France, Great Britain and America.
We certainly do not think Russia cOntemplates
waging war against one of those powers by
seizng one Of its ports. Finally it does not
seem likely she will have the use of any neutral
port for more than a day. 1t is true her ships
enjoyed the hospitality of French ports long
as they pleased on their way out. But NADIA
gascar and Cochin China are two different cOun-
tries. Japan viewed with entire equann1ity the
stay Of the Russian ships at the former island,
so far away from the actual scene Of war, but
France could scarcely expect her to be similarly
complacent if they were permitted to use Saigon
or Hanoi as base Of operations, so close to the
heart of things. Neither do we think either
belligerent feet would be harbored at Manila or
at Hong Kong for more than twenty-four hours
The chances are, then, that Rojestvensky will
have 10 fight the japanese without any further
material preparation, at such time and in such
place as the japanese may choose We see no
reason yet TO modify the impression that the
place is likely to be somewhere in the open sea
rather than in narrow straits. and where there
will be no convenient port of refuge for beaten
ships. Admiral Togo probably means to make
this a fight TO finish" and he Will select his
fighting ground with that end in view.