Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-04-27
A WEEK Of THE WAR.
WORLD HAS AWAITED a GREAT
SEA BATTLE.
Russian Armada Has Been Threading
Its Way Northward-LittIc Known as
to Whereabouts of Admiral ToSo's
Fleet-Minor Land Operations.

The week ended as il began, with
the attention Of the world fixed on the
China sea, through which the Russian
armada had been threading its way
northWard, doubtless in hourly eXpec-
taton Of sighting the grim ships Of
Togo's feet
The Russian feet, after passing
through the Strait Of Malacca, steamed
past Singapore in well-ordered battle
formation, and boldly entered the
China sea, certainly making no effort
to escape observation. 1t was an
nounced that Rear Admiral Dewa,
with a fleet Of twenty-five Japanese
cruisers, was in waiting at Horstburgh
light, twenty miles east Of Singapore,
but not Japanese ship was sighted
In the China sea.
When Admiral Rojestvensky sailed
past Singapore his full fleet was re-
ported with him. The next day posi-
tive assertions were made that his
four strongest battleships We're not
with the fleet. 1t needed much inge-
nuity Of the strategists on land to ex-
plain why he had divided his fleet at
the critical moment. If the simple ex-
PLANTATION had been accepted that the
reports merely meant that the Russian
consul at Singapore was trying to drag
herring across the trail much of the
hard thinking would have been saved.
We have now the positive assurance
from LlOyds and from the Associated
Press representatives that the full Rus
sian fleet, battleships and all. is acting
as a unit
After passing Singapore, Rojestven-
Sky spent day or two at anchor near
the Anambas Islands, and then sent
a hospital ship to Saigon, where it re-
malned thirtysiX hours before depart
ing to reJoin the fleet. From the An
&mbas Islands the admiral sailed to
the north, but whether he is ATTEMPT
ing to make his way through some pas
sage among the Philippine Islands and
SO gain the open sea, whence he can
sail straight for the TSugaru straits
and NladivOstok. as one rumor has it,
or whether he is continuing north
along the Asiatic coast, we do not
know.
Admiral Togo Is supposed to be in
the neighborhood Of Formosa. The
Japanese have closed two ports-ke-
lung, on the north end Of Formosa,
and Making, on one Of the Pescadores
Islands, between Formosa and the
mainland. If Rojestvensky takes the
latter Of the two routes mentioned
above. the big sea fight Of the war
should soon come: If he takes the for
mer route, it is question whether
Togo will intercept him till he ap-
proaches Japanese shores However
vague our knowledge of Rojestven-
sky's movements may be, it is prob
able that Togo, through his swift
cruiser scouts, has continuous infor.
nation.
1t seems reasonable to assume that
decisive naval engagement will not
take place until Togo can attack with
his battleships and heavy armored
cruisers supporting his great fleet of
destroyers. He cannot operate his de
stroyer tiotilla at any great distance
from coaling base. Therefore, if this
assumption be correct, the battle will
take place as soon as Rojestvensky
comes within striking distance of For
mosa. If he can get past Formosa
without a battle, the combat must take
place at some point near lne coast Of
Japan.