The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-04-26
.B|IGlNA.Y1AI
B|.A.l.5'ITLEIHA.S8NOTl
YET OCCURRED.
BELLIeERENT, FLEETS ARE APP!
PREACHING EACH OTHER !;
s. BUT BATTLE NOT EXPECT.
ED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
SHOULD ADMIRAL TOGO sUs.
TAIN DEFEAT5Tt'E JAPANESE III
WOULD NOT BE SERIOUS
" HANDICAPPED.


WASHINGTON, D. G., April 90.
While all indications seem to point
10 the fact that the two belllgerent
fleets in the China Sea are approach.
ms each other, news OF general bat.
tie is not expected here for several
days. Intense interest in the sit,a,
lion Is manifested by both army ana
naval officers in Washington, AMI d.
,ergent views are expressed as TO the
probable outcome.
An interesting point was brought
out by an officer OF the Quartermast-
er's Department Of the Army, who
has recently been through Japan and
Korea. 1t Is that even II Admiral
Togo, in command OF the Japanese
feet, should be defeated In the com.
Ing encounter, It would not materially
interfere with the communications be-
tween the Japanese armies in the
held and the home government This
officer points out that the distance
across the straits Of Korea between
5himOneski and Fushan was scarcely
more than hundred miles. This
stretch Of water is dotted with many
mail islands. and the whole has
been carefully mined. The port Of
E'usan has been strongly fortified by
The Japanese since the battle of the
Yalu, and the railroad has been com.
pleted from that port to Seoul, the
capital Of Korea, and is almost com,
3leted as far north as he Yalu. From
hat point there Is single track road
teaching to the army headquarters at
Mukdcn. Thus. there is practically
uninterrupted communication by rail
between the army and its home base
Recent official announcements BY
he Japanese government taken in
conjunction with others issued earlier
II The war. show that Formosa Straits
including the Pescadores Islands, be
tween Form0sa and the Chinese
mainland. the Korea straits hetwee,
japanese and the southern end OF
Korea, and the Tsugaru strait, whlc,
les opposite Vladivostuck between
| he main island OF the japanese EN-
Qire and the northern island Of Yes
| so, have all been declared to be with
N the zone Of national defense
This means that these straits, which
might he used as passage ways b,
the Russian squadrons, have all beer
sown with mines. as E
II the Russian Admiral Roljestven
sky. takes the inside course In his e!
forts TO reach Vladivostock, he vii
therefore find his path beset by man,
obstacles. On the other hand, If h,
takes the longer or less dangerou
course through the open ocean t,
the east of Japan, he will have to b.
well supplied with golfers and prC
vision ships TO succeed In his attempt
There is no port where he can pll
In, and he will have to do his coalin
at sea. always difficult OF accomplish
ment
1t is the general opinion Of officer
III duty in the Navy Department tia
Admiral Togo is playing ''waitin
game" AS one officer expressed
today, Togo stands between hi
country and defeat, and realizing tn
fact that his enemy has superic
force. he will probably not attempt fc
the present to engage Admiral Ro,
! jestvensky in general combat. a,
miral Togo, 1t is believed. will mai
the fullest possible use of his splel
did il0tilla Of torpedo boats. In Til
type of vessel he is superior to Ii
antagonist. and the chances are tn;
he will attempt to pick off The slow;
and less efficient Russian ships or
by one through night attacks upc
the Russians.
The Navy Department, II it
getting any information relative
the position OF the Japanese and Ru
sian fleets, Is maintaining a most di
Greet Sil0nrn ..