The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-05-20
B|R|LEFF GIVEN
FULL COMMAND
Placed in Supreme Control
of the Naval Forces of
the Car in the Pacific
Is OVER ROJESTVENSKY
Will Soon Leave for Front
and Begin Preparations at
Vladivostok for Battle


ST. PETERSBURG, May 20-vice Ad.
miral Birileff, who has been named fol-
the supreme naval command in the Pa
cine, Will leave for Vladivostok on May
70 to assume charge there and make prep
arations for repairing and refitting the
vessels of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky s
Heet when they arrive.
BY imperial command, Vice Admiral BIZ
rilefr will have all the rights and powers
or 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 siege, as at Port
Arthur
i have no intention of relieving Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky of the immediate
command of the feet if he is we'll and
able to perform his duties on his arrival
at Vladiyostok,' 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 feet
commander and there will be plenty for
us both to do
Admiral Birileff, who, in spite of his
sixty-four years, is overlooking with en-
ergy, has the reputation of being strict
disciplinarian. He expressed himself
hopefully over the prospects for the Rus
slams in the coming naval. encounter. He
said he believed the Russian Pacific fleet
was destined to restore the supremacy OF
the sea which was lost at the very out
break of the war. The departure of the
new reinforcing squadron, consisting OF
the battleships Slava and Alexander IL,
two cruisers and number OF torpedo
boat destroyers and gunboats. the admiral
said, is fixed for the middle of June
Vice Admiral Verelago 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 Birileffs own departure
will lack the spectacular feature of those
of Vice Admirals Makaroff and Skrydion
and General Kuropatkin, the admiral de-
claring his intention of leaving the city
quietly and without ceremony
Reports of Vice AdmiraA .ioJestvensky S
breakdown and of his surrender OF MS
command continue in circulation one ru-
NOR saving that Vice Admiral Nebogatoff,
though Rojestvensky junior in rank,
has BEEN ordered to assume the COM
mand. but Admiral Birileil said he mao
no information to that effect.
PARIS. May 19--The apparently COM
pIete disappearance of the Russian Far
Eastern fleet leads to the belief either
that a battle is il minent oTrthat Admlral
Rojestvensky has succeeded in establish
ing naval base. On the other hand, 1t
is pointed out here that the, position of
the fleet on May 16 in latitude 10 80 and
longitude IL 80 Indicated that 1t might
have been decided to-rfolioM course
north of Luzon' into the Pacific instead
of going through the Straits of Formosa,
where Admiral Togo is believed to be
awaiting Admiral Rojestvensky.
II is maintained that the Japanese dim
crlties have been increased by their m
ability TO determine whether the Rus-
s,.ns ara nroceeding uuitedly or have di-
yided their feet into two squadrons.
some experts maintain that the feet has
been divided for the purpose of permitting
one division to reach VladlvostoK WINE
the other occupies the attention of Ad-
miral Togo
Naval circles here are disposed to criti-
cize the Japanese tactics in failing to
harass Rojestvensky' transports during
the lengthy period of taking on suppnes.
The results of Rojestvensky's movements
are being awaited with intense interest
in official quarters.