Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-29
ST. PETERSBURG DISCOURAGED.
Continued from Page One.)

yben tho Washington dispatch con-
tanning the information sent by the
consul at Nagasaki arrived.
The newspaper dispatches naturally
created the widest speculation. Some OF
the officers of the admiralty, who, Sat
urday. were inclined 70 take the view
that the ships off Woosurg were empty
GOLFERS sent 20 the rear to avoid hamp-
ering the warships unnecessarily or
that il was a division of little fighting
value dispatched to confuse Togo ana
70 throw him off the scent. thought,
Sunday, that 1t was possible Rojestven-
sky might after all have divided his
feet ard thar the japanese were await
ing the arrival of the second Russian
division before making general am
nOuncement.
The majority Of the naval authorities,
however. continue to believe that I:o-
jcstvcnsky could not risk It division of
his fighting ships. Those of an optimis-
tic turn hope that ROJestvcnshy did
actually throw Togo off the trail and
escaped him, as the French fleet eluded
Nelson on the way to Egypt, and that
they encountered only torpedo boats in
the straits If Corea. This opinion
though, is not generally shared and tn .
great majority think that Togo's scouts
were able to keep in touch with the
fighting division ana tnat the Japanese
fleet lay in wait for I:ojestvensky in
the narrow waters where battle is pc
ported to have taken place.
Nevertheless, practically nobody be-
lieves that TagO offered open battle.
the consensus Of opinion being that the
JAPANESE favored by a stage of the
moon. which was at three-quarters
full. waited and delivered a series of
torpedo attacks, Saturday night, with
such aid as their heavy ships could Of
fer without running too much risk.
Mines may have played an important
role and perhaps responsible for a large
share Of the losses reported.
At any rate, the result is not fully
satisfactory to the naval authorities
1t is possible that a running fight ut
long range took place, Sunday, from
which better results are anticipated as
the naval authorities generally do not
believe that torpedoeing could be re-
newed. Sunday night in the open sea.
The cruisers Gromober and Rossia. of
the Vladivostok squadron, probably
isiNt SstiltI SoulIi III dliofu 1SOJtSlNSIl-
sky any assistance in their power. If
ROjestvensky got clear of the straits,
Sunday night, he should be close
enough TO Eladivostok, Monday, to
communicate.
No light has been thrown on the
identity of the four cruisers reported
from Toxic as passing the Kuriles
straits and the only explanation is that
possibly another division of converted
cruisers has been detached for the pur-
pose of confusing the japanese.
AT l o'clock, this morning, Admirals
Avellan and Wirenius on returning
from TsarskOe-Selo. We're shown the
latest dispatches to The Associated
Press. Admiral Avellan said:
"Fractically all the information in
the possession of the Emperor or of the
admiralty is contained in The Asso-
ciated Press dispatches. Like the gen.
eral public, we are now depending on
Toxic for news. but we hope to be able
to relieve the general suspense by dis
patches containing authentic informa-
ton from Vladivostok by this even
ing