The Washington times., 1905-05-05
NEBOGATOFF'S FLEET
EXC|TES DERISION
Composed Of a Lot Of Old
Hulks.
MAKES SIX MILES A DAY
One Modern Battleship Could Destroy
Entire Number, Says Singa-
pore Critic.
MAKES SIX MILES A DAY

LONDON. May "a private telegram
received here today from Singapore says
that Admiral Nebogatoff's Russian
squadron. when sighted this morning,
was going fast in an easterly direction.
Admiral NeDogatoff is expected to pro-
ceeG to Saigon for provisions and Goa!
before sailing for Admiral Rogestyen-
sky's rendezvous.
MALACCA. Straits Settlements, May
5,-A Russian division OF five warshfps
and five golfers at 4:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon was passing Malacca. bound
south
This undoubtedly is the war feet re-
ported of Jura ar 80 yesterday morn
rg. They have made thirty-five miles
in six hours.
The ships are unacco3npanied by tor
pedo beats, and their present course
v ould take them, heading south, past
Singapore and into the China sea.
Six Miles a Day.
SINGAPORE. Straits Settlements.
May By the chance discovery of the
steamer Seiangor, in here at 4:30 vester-
day afternoon, rot only the exact loca-
ton of Admiral Nebogatoff's Russian
squadron is known, but the exact
strength of his ships,
The Russian commander is in no Ian
ten days. tYen - he should make a di-
rect course, but it is not improbable
hat several OF the old ships he has with
him are in need of repairs.
The war vessels were sighted yeSter-
day only fifty miles east OF where they
were seen on April q by the Catherine
Apcar, so they have averaged about six
Eilles every twenty-four hours.
A heavy fog during the night took
the Selangor about ten miles south of
inc
when the sun had cleared away the
fniSts, she was south of Pangkur island
and well in the middle OF the Malacca
Straits.
OFF to the northeast, which was her
proper course, the SFlangor made out a
meet or steamers, and, picking them up
lIQrLy-hVe minutes later, was able to
distinguish the third Russian squadron
The WarShips were then off Jura au-
parentiy having come ont OF Perak bay
Il BRUSH possession on the Malay penin-
sula.
The Identification of the warships was
complete by the Selangor, and makes Ii
reasonably certain that admiral RogesJ-
Yensky cannot be waiting for these anti
quated ships to sail with him into the
sea of Japan.
Lot Of Old Hulks.
In the fleet was the third-class battle
ship Nicholas I. built seventeen years
ago, with less than the fighting power
VI any one OF Japan ; nTSt-cIaSS ar
mored cruisers. Accompanying her was
the Vladimir MOnomach, twenty-five
years old-technically known as an ar
moTed cruiser but practically OF no
more power than one of the modern
gunbOats of today.
The other three warships were the
small coast defense ironclads Admiral
Oushakoff, Admiral Seniabin. and Ad-
niral Apraxine, OF type now obsolete.
and with an average speed of eight
miles an hour under full pressure. With
these Warships were i small gunboaL
and five colliers.
They were moving southeast, as If
for the coast Of Sumatra. but practically
a. a standstill-their speed being esti-
mated al about two knots an hour.
When this feet was sighted by the Cath
crime Apcar eight days $50 there were
two other cOfliers Ia the squadron, and
IL Is likely that they have put into one
Of the islands in the Malacca Straits for
Il supply OF coal already stored there
by the admiral.
Now that the precise ships in the
squadron are known to naval officials
here; derision is excited One modern
battleship would destroy the entire fleet,
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