Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-04-13
THE RUSSIANS ARE REJOICING.

st. Petersburg, April 9.---There was
great rejoicing last night at the ad-
miralty, yacht and other naval clubs
over Vice Admiral Rojestvensky hav-
ing successfully navigated the gate
way of the China sea without encouni
tering the Japanese. The danger Of
the feet being beset by the wasps Of
the deep in the narrow waters which
divide the breastwork of islands of
the Malay archipelago and the posi-
BILE damage to the big ships, so prec-
ious in the coming encounter with
Vice Admiral Togo's fleet was so great
that some of the naval experts actu-
ally favored a route around Australia.
The credit for the strategem by
which the feat was accomplished, the
Associated Press learns, belongs SOLE
ly to Vice Admiral Rojestvensky, who
accurately judged that as the Malac-
ca strait was the most practicable as
we'll as the most direct route, the
Japanese would calculate that he
would not dare to force a passage
there. Besides this, Rojestensky
planned a strategem to deceive the
Japanese with the secret of which
only two men in ST. Petersburg were
entrusted, by directing the Russian
admiralty to order the golfers which
we're to follow him to rendezvous in
Sunda straits, five hundred miles
southwark of Singapore, feeling sure
that the Japanese intelligence depart.
ment would be equal, as it probably
was, to the task of ascertaining the
destination of Rojestvensky, and
thereby not only threw the Japanese
off the scent but officially deceived
his own admiralty, where the news of
the feet having passed Singapore
probably created as much surprise as
it did in the marine department at
Toxic.
Several GOLFERS were actually de.
spatched to the rendezvous and may
already have fallen into the hands
of the Japanese. but Rojestvensky de-
liberately sacrificed them as pawns
in bigger game.
That the ruse worked Is apparent
from the fact that Rojestvensky did
not meet single Japanese ship in
the straits of Malacca, while dis.
patches from Batavia tell of Sunla,
Bali, Lonbok, Flores and other straits
to the southwark being crowded
with Japanese torpedo boats guarding
the passages.
Although there is some talk of a
possibility of Vice Admiral Rojest-
vensky now putting in at Saigon, Co.
chin China, it is not believed that
further advantage Of French neutral
ity will be taken unless he is forced
to do so because of the condition OF
some of his ships.
The admiralty points out the great
importance and advantage to be gain
ed by pushing on with all possible
speed and meeting Vice Admiral
Togo's heavy ships before he can eff
feet a complete concentration Of his
boats. The belief Of the admiralty
is that Togo is waiting near the Is.
land Of Formosa, 1900 miles north
ward OF Singapore.
At the rate the Russian squadron
steamed from Madagascar, which
averaged eight knots an hour, the
greatest naval battle since Nelson's
victory at Trafalgar should occur in
about ten days. The admiralty real
ICES that Rojestvensky faces great
odds owing to the immense superb
ority of the Japanese in cruisers and
torpedo boats, and reliance in his
success is based upon seven battle
ships with which he can oppose
Togo's four.
Japan Wants $500, ooo, 900 Indemr ity.
st. Petersburg. April 10.-Baron
Suyematsu's article In the London
Outlook of Saturday regarding In.
demnity comedies with Russia's infor-
maton. the amount demanded being
$500. o00. 900.