The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-29

there was intermittent fog and sunshine
a high wind and a rough sea.
A telegram from Shanghai received in
Toxic states that Japanese warships az
rived in the offing Of Woosung at 0 o'clock
on Saturday and attacked Russian de-
A Toxic despatch says 1t has been dis
covered that the Baltic feet coaled OF the
coast OF Luzon on May ~. They bruised
about to the north Of Luzon on May 2s
and transferred large quantities Of bunker
coal from the colliers. Then Admiral
Rojestvensky decided to divide his feet
into several parts. He passed through
the Bashee Straits and steamed northeast
On May rs the Russians were southwest OF
the Loochoo Islands. The main squadron
went to Tsushima Straits.
HoNoKoNo, May 2s.-The British squad
ron here has been ordered north.
JAPAN's ANNOUNCEMENT.
WASHINGTON, May 2s.-Offacial informa-
ton received in Washington to-day from
American agents In Japan indicates that
Admiral Togo's Japanese feet has achieved
a victory over the Russian Baltic feet, the
last hope and resort Of the st. Petersburg
Government. The news Is vague and lack
ing in details, and in Its most definite form
was contained in this telegram dated yester-
day from Lloyd c. Grisoom. the United
States Minister at Toxic
Japanese Government announces that
their feet engaged the Baltic squadron
this afternoon in Straits OF Tsushima, which
were held. Cannonading was heard from
the shores"
Beyond this brief and somewhat unoer-
tain message, in which there Is only the
suggestion that the Japanese have been
victorious. tho Washington Government
has nothing to give it a clear idea Of the
outcome Of what was probably the greatest
naval engagement Of modern times.
1t did receive report from Charles
B. Harris, the American Consul ct Maya
saki. Japan, saying that it was rumored
there that the Japanese had sunk the battle
ship Borodino, four other fighting ships
and repair vessel. but Consul Harris sent
the information only as a rumor, and 1t
has not been officially confirmed to this
Government.
There Is enough In Mr.. Griscom's despatch
to indicate that the Japanese Government
has not received any official account from
Admiral Togo. The last sentence, -Can-
nonading heard from the shores, suggests
that the information came from some
source on land and not from the feet itself
The peculiar wording Of the despatch
makes the exact outcome Of the fight some-
thing Of a mystery. In view OF the absence
Of any mention OF the condition Of any
vessels Of tho Russian and japanese fleets.
there is nothing to show that Admiral Togo
has accomplished moro than to hold his
own. 1t Is plain, however. that he was
not defeated, but 1t Is not as clear that no
prevented the Russian feet from escaping
to Vladivostok.
The Japanese Minister received news
which he said was OF an indefinite charac-
ter, but indicated that the enga cement
had resulted favorably to the japanese.
At the Russian Embassy absolutely
nothing has been received and nothing
is expected, for the reason, 1t was e1-
planned, that the Japanese have control
of all Of the cable lines to which news OF
the fight might be carried at this time.
Officials Of the embassy are pleased over
the lack of details OF the engagement, as
they assert it means that the Japanese
have nothing Of favorable character to
transmit.
The vague character OF the news which
has reached Washington leaves official
circles in great doubt as to the outcome
Of yesterdays fight. The opinion generally
expressed Is that II the Japanese have
won any great victory the facts and de-
tails would have been made known to the
world very quickly. II any Of the Russian
ships have been able to break through
toward vladivostok 1t Is expected news viii
be forth coming from that point soon,
PEACE MAY FOLLOW THIS BATTLE.
In Government and diplomatic circlet
the greatest interest Is shown in the result
Of the engagement, which is considered
by nearly everybody to be either the be
ginning Of the end, II the Japanese have
won victory. or the turning point of the
war, II Rojestvensky has vanquished his
opponent.
Government officials are confident that
IL the Japanese have been successful, peace
Is near. 1t is thought that the Russian
Government cannot hold out any longer
II its one remaining hope, the Baltic feet
has been overcome or dispersed. How
Russia can go on with the Japanese still
masters Of the sea as we'll as OF the land
IL not clear to officials at Washington.
Russian officials here, however, will not
admit that the resources OF the Russian
Government are by any means exhausted
or that the end OF the war hinges upon
the present naval enga cement,
On the other hand, II Rojest vensky ha,
fought successful engagement, how