The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-29
.sTOCO HOLDS THE STRAITS. .


TOGO HOLDS THE STRAITS"
Again have the little yellow men.
the Yankees of the Orient, proved
their supremacy. Togo holds the
straits"
The news from Toxic today that the
beyond the expectations of even the
most ardent admirers OF the Japa-
nese. While it was generally sup-
posed, since the success of the Japa-
nese arms on land, that Togo would
probably be victorious in the end,
students Of naval affairs did not be-
lieve that his victory would come so
quick or be so decisive as it has been.
In fact. it was generally realized that
there was a grave possibility that the
russians might win. They had the
greatest number Of battleships, and
their feet was generally supposed to
be at least a trif1e superior to that of
Japan. and for this reason it was sup
posed that the battle would be a hard
one. with the probability that it would
be long drawn out and that Rojest-
venslzy would inhict nearly as severe
punishment as he received.
But not so. The japanese have
proved themselves far superior to
what has been dreaded as one of the
greatest of European powers. St.
Petersburg has heard the news from
Togo.
A truly remarkable and stupendous
incident lies in the fact that Togo's vic
tory. like Dewey's. was accompanied
by no material loss to the victor. the
japanese squadron being unchanged.
It seems to have been Rojestvensky's
scheme. to deceive the japanese until he
was ready to dash through the Korean
Straits. Time and again he was report
ed to have disappeared. only to be found
again lowering about the coast in Indo-
China Now his fleet appears to have
been divided, but Immediately after
wards it is reported together again. The
Russian admiral was discovered going
south of Formosa and headed for the
open Pacific. but Immediately he APP
peared at Saddle islands-and then
came the dash with its disastrous re-
suits
Through it all Togo seems to have
known Of the enemy's movements At
any rate he was "Johnny-on-the-spo
at the critical moment. At this time nc
seems to have deceived the deceptive
Russians. Some time ago he was re-
ported away down in China sea and the
world confidently expected the great
battle to take place there. Whether
Rojestvensky supposed Togo to be there
is not known
Through it all. the japanese admiral
has been a mystery.
The world knew nothing of him.
When Rojestvensky appeared off Sad
die islands it was feared by the friends
of the japanese that Togo might have
been outwitted and that he was hunting
for the Russians off the coast in Indo-
China.
Now it is stated that Togo made use
of wireless biography in keeping tab
on the movements of the enemy, and
when the story is all told it may de-
velop that this is where Togo outwit-
ted the Russians most completely.
The japanese had the advantage. too.
in being close at home. and Togo evil
IDENTIFY picked his own battle-ground. but
it will probably be proven in the end
that the little yellow men were the
quickest to adapt themselves to modern
conditions and to utilize the latest in
ventions.
The battle must necessarily have
been accompanied with tremendous loss
of life. The first two Russian battle
ships sunk, the Orel and Borodino, were
each manned by 74O men, and the
cruisers with about 500 each. The Rus
SLAMS lost u of their warships. besides
two transports and two torpedo boats.
Besides these. there would necessarily
be a great loss on the remaining Rus
SLAMS ships.