The Washington times., 1905-05-29

several Formosa channels is now clear
to all Although the naVigahle straits
sixty miles wide for fleet purposes, the
japanese system of scout boats made it
impossible for any fleet to get through,
either in the night or in the day, or
even TO approach the entrance to the
sea without timely discoaery.
Knew the Day Before.
Sc IT was that Togo and his vice
admirals, Kaminura. Uriu and Kata-
Okla. knew on FRIDAY exactly what they
should do On Saturday morning and the
emily handicap they then had was in
the fact that the hostile feet heavily
outnumbered them in battleships.
Against this Tokyo knew II had not only
u victorious navy, disciplined for just
such a battle, but also ships OF greater
mobility in the hands of veteran Sta
'eThe imperial navy officials today es-
timated the battleship strength Of the
enemy as nearly one-haif greater than
that of Japan, but regarded it as
counterbaianced by circumstances which
cannot be related al this time owing TO
the censorship which is enforced. Cor
respondents are not permitted either to
speculate as to whether the sea fight
continues northerly III the Sea of Japan.
or as TO what point ii has extended.
north or south Nothing may be sent
showing any loss to either navy. nor
may the action of a single ship in the
Japanese squadron be sent out or Tokyo.
So, while the curtain is up here. and
surprises mixed 10 some extent with
joy, the curtain must remain down for
the rest OF the world.
News of Sea Drama.
The first flash of war news came TO
Tokyo at sunrise on Saturday. Then 1t
was announces in bulletin tae,t during
the night the Baltic squadron had been
signaIed west of Nagasaki. Then came
flash from Sasebo reporting that the
fleets were probably engaged The news
papers began printing extras announe
ing that the japanese navy was in
action with the enemy. Next came
wire from Nagasaki that Rogestyensky
had with him all his battleships
cruisers and small ironclads evidently
his entire fighting feet. No mention
was made of the torpedo boat destroy
ers. At noon on Saturday the announce
ment was posted that the Russians We're
southwest of the easteriy Korean
straits.
For four hours the city was kept in
suspense. Not bulletin OF any sort
was received by the navy department.
There was great enthusiasm in the
streets, because the Japanese people be-
Heve Togo to be tnyincible, and not for
q moment did the idea of defeat or ir-
reparable damage 10 the main feet
come into their minds.
Dramatic Surprises.
AT o'clock came another bulletin,
which the censor would not permit TO be
cabled. All the news following there
after. filled with dramatic surprises and
unfolding a great drama at the gateway
TO the Sea Of Japan. while made known
in all the cities of the Empire, was re-
fused at the cable Offices by order of
the Tokyo government.
1T Is not improbable that the events
of this Sunday will raise the curtain
sufficiently TO permit the transmission
| OF certain happenings since yesterday
morning. but while the officials, as usual.
are intensely polite, there Is no Ger
tainty as to when the censorship will be
raised. All dispatches when written out
In French are submitted and thereafter
pass the scrutiny OF two Japanese CEN
sors. one educated in Paris and the other
at Annapolis, in the United States. a
| long strain of waiting for the great
naval battle has had its effect only on
the foreign attaches and the newspaper
correspondents. The Japanese have at
no time seemed to be anxious OF ex-
cited as to what might happen"