The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-28
The Wessenger.
THE EXPECTED NAVAL BATTLE.

All parties, both belligerents ant
neutrals, seem to be making extensl't
preparations for what are considered
decisive events expected To occur III thS
eastern waters in b next few days
All are manouvering for advantageous
positions. The expectation is b a
naval battle will be fought soon which
will have much to do with deciding thu
result OF the pending war.
Since the Russian fleet left MAZDA
gascar and started on its long voyage
across the Indian ocean, through tht
Straits Of Malacca and up the eastern
coast of Indo-China it has been entire
" guess work as to what were h in
tentions of the Japanese. They have
kept their plans sc secret that the out
side men and even the enemy have hao
no intimation of their Intentions. II
IL vet unknown whether they will give
battle to the Russians on the open sea
or allow the Iatter's warships to pro-
coed on to V~IadivostOk.
Up TO last Saturday the latter wer-
in the French port Of KamTanh, where
they had been allowed to stay much
over the time allotted to helligerent
warships in time of wal by a neutral
power.
There can be little doubt that the
French feet left that port last Satur-
day. There is but III point for which
they can steer-ViadivOstok, the only
harbOr on the Pacific coast now in the
hands of the Russians. To reach this
the fleet will have to sail three thOu'
sand miles by the shortest practicable
way. This will take it along the west
ern side of the Philippines and the
islands forming the empire of japan
As many American vessels as can be
mustered for the service are now sta
toned along our Philippine shores to
the war observe the laws of neutrality
When the Russian feet passes to the
north OF the Philippines it will strike
japanese waters, Of it may SWerve fan
to the eastward and pass nOrthward
through the seas to the east of Japan.
In either case it may be said that it
will traverse the waters Of the enemy.
Such is the situation at the present.
What the world is anxious to know is
what course the Japanese feet will pur.
sue. VIII it attack ROjestvensky's
fleet or will it content itself with keep
ing in touch with it, protecting the
shores of Japan and picking off any
Russian ship that may he so %unfortu-
rate as to become separated from the
II ain body of the fleet.
Whatever the course of the japanese
may be indications are that important
naval events are about to occur. All
the world is on the qui vive just now
anxious for the first news of what 1t
is thought is to be a desperate naval
hattie III the near future. IL may DC
possible that at this writing the two
hostile fleets have joined in deadly
combat. There were intimatiOns Of
such in Sunday nights dispatches from
Saigon on the coast of French China.
So far as one knows such a battle may
be raging at this time. We feel sure
OF II thing though, and that is that
whenever the Japanese warships meet
the Russians it will be under cOndi.
ions most favorable to the former
They have awaited their time and
when the fight comes off it will be at
q place and time and under circum-
stances of their own choosing. The
Japanese are not going to run the risk
of loosing by foOlhardiness the won.
derful advantages they have gained so
far in his war. We have confidence
il their proves and bravery. We
firmly believe that when the two fleets
Go meet victory will be on the side OF
tie men who are fighting for their self
preservation.