Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-16
WAR DURING A WEEK
RUSSIAN vLAOIvOSTOk FLEET
MAKES A BLUFF.
Unexpectedly Descends Upon the Jap
anese Coast After Nine Months of
Idleness Raid Doubtless Made to
Divert Togo's Attention.

The Vladivostok feet, after nine
months of idleness, has Unexpectedly
descended upon the Japanese coast
Four torpedo boat destroyers of that
fleet appeared off the southwest coast
OF Hokkaido, or Yezo, as it is desig
mated upon most of the maps used in
this country. After bombarding sew
eral small Japanese trading vessels,
setting one Of them on fire, the de-
stroyers disappeared in the fog.
In the Vladivostok squadron Russia
has two of the most powerful modern
armored cruisers afloat Originally
there were three, the Rossia, the
Rurik, and the Gromoboi. The Rurik
was sunk in the straits of Korea in
the engagement with Kamamura's
fleet on Aug. 16 last. The Gromoboi
and Rossia managed to escape and
returned to Vladivostok. badly dam
aged. Since then they have been idle.
The raid by the torpedo boats on
the japanese coast 600 miles from
Vladivostok makes it practically GER
tain that the big cruisers are not far
away, and that they are attempting
a diversion in order to draw part OF
Togoss feet to the northwest.
The expedition, however, of the four
Russian torpedo boats from Tladivos-
tok will have about as much weight
in this war as feeble pinprinck. If
ii is one more of st. Petersburg's
deep-laid schemes for perturbing To
go's mind and causing him to alter
his plans, it is the most ridiculous YET
recorded Admiral Togo doubtless
would like to know whether all three
or only two of the Vladiyostok cruisers
are in good condition for sea, and
what kind of a showing they caa
make. and any raid that would give
him that information would doubtless
be welcomed
1t is a tactical move naturally ea
pected by naval men. 1t proves, to
begin with, that the Japanese have
left Vladivostok unguarded This is
an indication that Togo has drawn all
his fighting ships southward-howf far
southwark the outside world does not
know. The Vladivstok cruisers, there
fore, if properly handled, are likely
to work a great deal of damage along
the Japanese coast.
The naval problem thus becomes
doubly interesting. Rojestvensky's
feet remained at Honkoke bay, a
short distance north of Kamranh bay.
on the French Indo-China coast, until
May 8, when it is reported to have put
to sea, to join the division which has
been proceeding to the far east under
the flag of Rear Admiral Nebogaton.
In the China Sea Nebogatoff, with
his squadrOns af antiques and Grip
pies, has at least appeared. In a few
days more he should be eble to join
Rojestvensky, who, according to last
accounts, was still lowering off the
French coast. not many miles from
Kamranh bay. Rojestvensky's de-
parture from that region has again
been announced in the French dis
patches from Indo- China, but no one
can credit the fact till the feet is ac-
tually reported in some other place.
With his divisions united Rojest-
vensky will have under his flag eleven
battleships, to say nothing Of his cruis-
ers and destroyers-a formidable fight
ing force, and one, if properly handled,
capable of meeting Togo on more than
equal terms.
Although the world has not the
slightest knowledge as to where AG
miral Togo has his headquarters, his
course is thoroughly comprehensive.
J. is not to his interest to seek battle
a thousand miles from the japanese
naval bases. so long as there is pros
pect that Rojestvensky will approach
closer. Whether he chooses to await
the Russians near Formosa, or, in
stead, in the Korea Straits, where he
can keep weather eye on the north.
eTn passages into the Sea of Japan,
he knows that Rojestvensky's fleet
will be no serious menace to Japan
till it has advanced at least a thou
sand miles further on its course.
Togo has effectually concealed bis
fleet No French, German, British, or
American steamer has sighted it-or,
at least, reported it, and if it had been
sighted the fact almost certainly
would have been reported.
No more absurd rumor could become
current than the one reiterated sew
eral times last week that Rojestven-
sky was headed, not for Vladivostok,
but for Petropavlovski at the southern
end of the peninsula at Kamchatka.
Petropavloski is at least 1,500 miles
t. The northeast of VladivostOk. 1t is
a mere village, with no accommoda-
tons for a single battleship. let alone
a great feet, and, in fact, no more USE
full to ROjestvensky than Patagonia
would be. The only reasonable as
sumptions as to Rojestvensky's imme-
date objective are now. as before,
that he is making for Vladiyostok. He
hardly can be planning to spend the
summer in the China Sea.
Little has been heard during the
week Of the movements OF the Man
churian armies. The latest report is
that it seems as If the japanese are
about to resume the offensive by strik-
ing at General Linevitch's left. Roads
impossible because Of mud have been
accepted as a satisfactory explanation
Of recent inactivity. 1t mas been as
sumed that whenever military opera
tons Oh grand scale we're feasible
Field Marshal Oyama would renew
them
If the fleets meet in the open sea
under conditions favorable to combat
Togo will be outnumbered in battle
ships. heavy gins. and men. On paper
If might be easy TO figure out a victory
for Rojestvensky. But there is a no
ticeable confidence everywhere that
Togo viii win because he is Togo.