Omaha daily bee., 1905-05-29
GLOOM IN ST. PETERSBURG
Feeling of Confidence of Saturday Gives
Way to Pessimism.
CAR WITHOUT OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Newspaper Dispatches Create widest
observation-disclosures Expected
from Rojestvensky by
Tonight.

Tonight.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 29.-2:10 a. m
In this momentous hour the emperor, the .
admiralty and the Russian public walt !
ins breathlessly for the Japanese to fur |
nish authentic news Of the feat Of Ad-
niral Rojestvensky and his feet in which
the hopes of the Russians are centered. |
The official disposition is to construe
Tokio's silence favorably, but at the same
time the strategic reason for such silence |
is recognized. The public altering the pre-
mature jubIation Of Saturday night is in
clned to reverse its attitude and to be-
come pessimistic.
The report sent to Washington by the
American consul at Nagasaki of the sink
ing Of five Russian warships included a
battleship and repair ship was accepted as
the most definite and the most authentic
piece Of news received up to midnight and
undoubtedly produced a bad impression.
The fear was expressed that the battle
ship sunk might have been Rojestvensky's
flagship, the Kniaz Souvaroff, on which the
japanese would undoubtedly concentrate
their fire. The sinking of the repair ship
Kamschatka, which was filled with the
most modern machinery. might, IL thought
prove later to be a more severe loss than
that of warship, but at the admiralty,
where crowds congregated Sunday after
noon and evening the opinion was ex-
pressed that If Roiestvensky had cleared
} the gateway to the sea of Japan with no
other loss than reported by the American
| consul. the passage had not been dearly
purchased especially if the later reports
should prove that the Japanese losses
were anything like equal proportions.
Intense Anxiety of the Gar.
! Probably no one in Russia displayed such
! intense anxiety the emperor. Early
| Sunday morning he summoned Grand Duke
Alexis, high admiral; Admiral Avellan,
head Of the Russian admiralty depart
ment, and Admiral Wirenus, chief of the
! general staff of the navy to Tsarskoe-Selo.
| and was closeted with them to a late
hour, impatiently awaiting information and
poring over charts.
The only news received by his majesty
received from Russian sources, were dis
! patches from Russian agents and consuls
| at Chinese ports, which could give moth
! ing but current rumors. The only time the
| emperor left the members of his cabinet
was to attend service in the chapel Of the
Alexandra palace, when the chaplain
prayed for Rojestvensky's success.
The emperor was greatly distressed when
the Washington dispatch containing the
information sent py the consul at Naga-
saki arrived
The newspaper dispatches naturally Gre
ated the widest speculation. Some Of the
officers Of the Admiralty were inclined 10
take the view that the ships of Woosung
| were empty colliers sent TO the rear TO
I avoid hampering the warships unneces-
sarily, or that II was a division of little
hghting value dispatched TO confuse Togo
and TO throw him off the scent. II was
thought on Saturday that Rojestvensky
might after all have divided his feet and
| that the japanese were awaiting tbs ar
rival of the second Russian division before
making a general announcement.
Opinion of Naval Experts
The naval authorities continue 10 believe
that Rojestvensky could not risk a division
Of his fighting ships. Those of an optimistic
turn hope that Rojestvensky did actually
throw Togo OF the trail and escaped him
: as the French feet eluded Nelson on the
! way 10 Egypt, and that they encountered
only torpedo boat in the straits Of Corea
This opinion, though, is not generally
shared and the great majority think thai
Togo's scouts were able TO keep in touct
: with the fighting division and that the
japanese lay in wait for Rojestvensky IL
4
ported 10 have taken place. Nevertheless
nobody believes that Togo offered oper
: battle. the consensus Of opinion being tha
% the japanese, favored by a stage of tn,
moon which was three-quarters full, waited
E and delivered d series Of torpedo attacks
. Saturday night with such aid as thei
J. heavy ships could offer without running
D too much risk. Mines may have played al
. important role and perhaps been re
= sponsible for a large share Of the losse
. reported. At any rate the result is no
k fully satisfactory 10 the naval authori
] ties
I Talk of second Fight.
e II is possible that a running fight a
long range took place Sunday, from whic
h better results are anticipated as the navs
e authorities generally do not believe tina
e torpedoing could be renewed Sunday nigh
n and Rossia OF the Vladivostok squadro
o have probably sailed south 70 AFFORD Rojest
vensky any assistance in their power. ]
Rojestvensky gets clear Of the straits Sun
day night he should be close enough I
y Vladivostok Monday night TO communicate
d Al o'clock this morning Admiral Wire
2, enius and Avelan were shown the lates
> dispatches 10 the Associated Press. Ad
q niral Avelan said:
e Practically all information in the posses
sion Of the emperor or Of the admiralty
| contained IN the Associated Press dis
Y now dependent on them for news, but "
l. hope 70 be able 10 relieve the general sui
!. pense by dispatches containing authenti
n Information from Vladivostok by tft- ever