Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-05-25
A new COMMANDER.
TO Have Supreme Command at vlad-
ivostOk and Of Fleets.
WILL BIZ VICE ADMIRAL DIRILEFE.
New Squadron IL SaiI-MOre sDeeu-
IatiOn Regarding RoJeatvensky's
Observation-Disclosures for
JnDR nese.

st. Petersburg, May 2O.-Vice Adj
miral Birilen, who has been named
for the supreme naval command In the
Pacific will leave for yladivostok on
May rs to assume charge there and
make preparations for repairing and
refitting the vessels Of Vice Admiral
Rojestyensky's feet when they arrive.
BY imperial command, Vice Admiral
Birileff will have all the rights and
powers Of q commander Of the army
and the commander of the Vladivostok
garrison will be subject to his orders,
thereby avoiding the possibility Of any
conflict of authority in case Of a siege,
as at Port Arthur.
II have no intention Of relieving
Vice Admiral Rojestvensky Of the i'm
mediate command Of the fleet II he is
well and able to preform his duties on
his arrival at Vladivostok," said the
admiral, who is small of stature and
scant Of hair, but keen and alert In
bearing. Il have high respect for his
qualifications as fleet commander,
and there will be plenty for us both
to do"
Admiral Blrlleff, who, in spite of
his GA years, Is overlooking with en-
ergy, has the reputation Of being a
strict disciplinarian. He expressed
himself hopefully over the prospects
for the Russians in the coming naval
encounter. He said he believed the
Russian Pacific feet was destined to
restore the supremacy of the sea which |
was lost at the very outbreak of the
war. The departure of tina new REIN
forcing squadron, consisting Of the |
battleships Slava and Alexander II,
two cruisers and number Of tor
pedo boat destroyers and gunboats,
the admiral said, is fixed for the mid
die Of June. Vice Admiral VereIago |
has succeeded Birileff In command of |
the Baltic station, but It has not been
determined whether he will take out
the new squadron.
Vice Admiral Birileff's own depar-
ture will lack the spectacular features
Of those Of Vice Admirals Makaroff and
and Gen. Khropatkin, the
admiral declaring his intention of leav-
Ing the city quietly and without GER
emony.
Reports Of Vice Admiral Rojestven-
sky's breakdown and Of his surrender
Of his command continue In circula-
ion, one rumor saying that Vice Ad-
niral Nebogatoff. though Rojestven-
Iky's Junior in rank, has been ordered
o assume the command, but Admiral
3irileif said he had no information to
hat effect
Fleet COnJectureA.
Paris, May 2O.-The apparently COM
'lete disappearance of the Russian far
astern feet leads to the belief either
hat battle is imminent or that Ad-
niral Rojestvensky has succeeded In
naval base. On the
Their hand, 1t is pointed out here that
he position Of the fleet May 16 in
altitude 1890 and longitude 111.30 in
icated that It might have been decided
, follow course north of Luzon into Q
he Pacific instead Of going through !
ne straits of Formosa, where Admiral
ogo is~believed to be awaiting Ad-
liral Rojestvensky. II is maintained
lie Japanese difficulties have been in 0
'eased by their inability to determine .
neither the Russians are proceeding
nitedly or have divided their fleet into q
70 squadrons Some experts main I
in that the feet has been divided Il
IF the purpose Of permitting one d. ?
sion to reach Vladivostok, while the 0
her occupies the attention Of Ad- n
iral Togo. I
Naval circles. here are disposed to =
'TicTae eHn' Tsneense tsencs - sess- b
g to harass Rojestvensky's trans q
'rts during the lengthy period Of
king on supplies The results Of
ojestvensy's movements are being
waited with intense interest In oficlal Il