The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-04-20
'TOGO'S FLEET
Fit FOR CLASH.
CONCENTRATED AND ORGANIZED
IN THREE DIVISIONS FOR
ACTION.
BIG FIGHT MAY BE DEFERRED
JAPs DON'T LOOK FOR DECISIVE
BATTLE UNTIL FLEETS NEAR
FoRMosA.
JAP ARMIES MOVE NoRTHWARD
WILL ATTEMPT TO CUT RUSS
COMMUNICATIONS WITH VIA.
pivosTok.

Rome, April 13.-The admiralty has
received a dispatch from the con
mander of the Italian squadron in the
Far East, which indicates that Togo's
naval force is concentrated and or
gained for action. The dispatch says
that the Japanese commander has ar
ranged his feet in three divisions;
namely, the flying squadron of his
fastest cruisers for scouting purposes
and for the opening attack, the more
powerful vessels under the immed1
| ate command of Togo himself, to fol-
low the flying squadron, and a reserve
| squadron.
Fight May Be Deferred.
Toxic, April 13.-It, is believed that
if Admiral Ro~jestvensky steams north
| in the direction of Vladivostok, Adj
miral Togo will allow him to proceed
| some distance, with no further mo-
lestation than an occasional torpedo
attack, and will give battle off the
Pescadores islands.
The Pescadores would be an ideal
| fighting ground for the Japanese mas
l AAuN4 oo S4ASy AobS q Ia OooC WV
On the other hand it is thought
probable that tine Russians may at
tempt to seize a temporary base some
where in the Southern Pacific. Indo
China or the gulf islands. A leading
Japanese papers likens the Russians
to insects flying into a fire.
Mystery About Rojestvesky.
London, April 13.-The mystery Of
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky's where
abouts is still unsolved and specula-
ton on the possibilities of the situa-
ton is of the keenest. The favorite
hypothesis of the newspapers this
morning is that his six battleships
slipped past Singapore some night
with the lights out
The Daily Telegraph's Singapore
correspondent, cabling under date Of
April II, says:
Cali reports to the contrary notwith-
standing, only one battleship, the
sissoi Veliky, passed here Saturday.
No ships of the 1sarevitch type weEe
with the squadron
Want Chinese Port.
The correspondent at Kobe of the
Daily Telegraph says:
"a telegram from Pekin states that
Russian Minister Lessar asked China
to lend Russia a port in Pokieen (Pe-
kiang), but China absolutely refused"
Headed for viadivostok.
Gunshu Pass, April 10. - Chinese
state will. great positivensss that
Gen. Kawamura's army, supported by
Gen. Nogi's army, is moving in a
northeasterly direction to cut Russian
communications with Vladivostok.
According to the same sources, 30
900 Japanese landed at Dalny March
2S, and it is reported that six addi-
tional divisions are forming in Japan
to operate against V~ladivostok and
Sakhalin.
The Manchurian Chinese have
adopted an attitude. of positive HOSTILE
ty to the Russians.
Chinese Side With Japs.
A body of 500 native horsemen
fired on Russian troops at the village
of Chendi, and Manchurian militia is
said to be taking the field on the side
Of the Japanese on the Hun river.
The leader, Fulingo, has been appoint
ed a commander of the militia at
Kaiyuan, but a force of Chinese regu-
lars is stationed along the border of
Mongolia with the object of preserv-
ing neutrality.
The Japanese now occupy the line
Of S~tyzyatj;:, Changtufu and Katpan-
gomu, and the impression prevails
here that the direct advance from the
South has halted for the present at
that line.
There were a number of skirmishes
last week between Russian n Jap
anese scouting parties, but no action
of serious consequence.