The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-16
Naval Men at st. Petersburg
Think ROjestvensky
VIII Try to Avoid a Meeting
With the Japanese.
OUT TO THE PACIFIC.
He Is Expected to Sail Past
Island of LuzOn.
N0re Re-enfOrcements Are in
Preparation at CrOnstadt.

ST. Petersburg, May 16-The naval
game in the far east is watched with
intense interest but the admiralty is
able to throw but little light on the
situation 1t gives no confirmation of
The Toxic report that Admiral Rojest-
Yensky returned to Hon Kobe bay The
russian admiral is keeping his move
ments and plans secret, not communi-
eating even with the home authorities.
The many wild reports emanating from
Toxic are attributed to the agitated
state Of mind Of the japanese over the
result Of the coming battle. The story
that sailors from the crews of the in
termed Russian ships at Shanghai are
being sent to complete the complement
of Rojestvensky's fleet is nonsense as is
the previous story that a large number
of mercenaries were shipped at NADIA
gascar. The admiralty considers there
is no harm now in divulging the fact
that Rojestvensky's ships are over
manned instead of undermanned, as
When he left Libau there was still hope
InaL Cnllean and Argentine WarShipS
could be purchased and portions of the
crews designed for them were carried
on board the Russian fleet
Many naval men incline to the opin-
ion that ROjestvensky will pass out of
the Baltanland channel north of the Is
land of LuzOn, Philippine islands, and
give FOrmOsa wide berth instead of
sailing through the 200 mile stretch of
the straits of FOrmosa in which the
Russians might be subject to torpedo
attack
Another division of refnforcements
for Rojestvensky is almost ready at
Cronstadt and will be sent out under
the command of Rear Admiral Paren-
ago. It will consist of two fine new
battleships, the Slava and Emperor Al
exander II, two cruisers, a, torpedo
cruiser. a gunbOat, a transport and sew
eral minor units.
The division is now engaged in speed
trials and maneuvering off Cronstadt.
The appearance of this reserve division
IN the far east in the course of the
summer should the hostile fleets suffer
equally in the coming battle is counted
on to give Russia the necessary decisive
preponderance on the sea. The possess
sion of this division naval men believe,
may eventually prove Russia's saliva
ton.
japanese Cruiser Strikes a Reef.
London, May 16.-The dispatch
from Saigon to the Associated Press
stating that the Russian fleet had
sailed northward from the vicinity of
Honhohe bay early in the morning
of May IA, is the latest news avail
able in London regarding the move
ment of ROjestvens1y.
A dispatch from Hong Kong to the
Daily Mail says Hamilton King,
American minister at Bankok, who is
a passenger on the Pitsanuloke, states
that on May II the steamer passed IA
Russian warships "a miles north of
Kamranh bay.
According to the Daily Telegraph s
correspondent at Toxic, during a
great storm several days ago the Jap
anese converted cruiser Nekko was
damaged by striking a reef off F'usan.
The same correspondent says that
during the last month the Russian
warships consumed 12O, 900 tons of
coal, and adds that where it was OBJ
tained is a mystery. The correspond
ent further says it has been ascer-
tained the Russian feet esta blished a
wireless station in French territory
and communicated with St Peters
burg by way of Saigon.
A Norwegian steamer. the Daily
Telegraph says, reports having heard
cannon from 8 to II on the morning
of May ii in 33.45 north longitude
and 1920 east latitude, and that a
japanese torpedo boat was seen rum
ming in that direction.