The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-27
BOjestvensky Divides His Fleet
and Sails NOrthward.
Appears With His Fighting
Ships in Korean Straits.
Toxic Hears That Fighting Has
Already Begun.
VLADIYOSTOK SHIPS.
Reported to Have Sailed to Join
the Main Fleet.
Chinese Drove Russians Out of
Territorial Waters.

Territorial Waters.
Adyices from various sources today
point to the probability of ar early bat
tie between the russian and japanese
fleets. The Toxic dispatches reporting
the presence of Russian warships off
Tsu islands in the straits of Korea in
oicate. that the Russian admiral has
divided his fleet, as authentic dispatch
es to the Associated Press, confirmed by
advices received in Washington, show
that some Russian vessels are still near
Shanghai It is probable that Rojest-
vensky has detached his auxiliaries,
supply vessels, unarmored ships and
others unfit for battle, and proceeded
northward with his nsain fighting force.
Whether it is his intention to force
Togo to accept battle or whether his
object is to reach vladivostok. the dis
patches do not make clear. Togo's
whereabouts are not known.
Washington, May 27..-Private ad-
vices received here of an entirely auth
entic nature report more than q Rus
sian vessels, including three battleshtps
and three cruisers, off Saddle Islands,
which are so or 10 miles southeast of
Shanghai Additional information re-
ports that it is Iumored a naval en-
gagen7ent has taken place.
Toxic, May 27.-4:8o p. m.-vtce
Admiral Rojestvensky's fleet has been
sighted off Tsu Islands, in the straits
of Korea.
vensky's fleet off the Tsu islands
would seem to Indicate that the Rus
sian commander has determined to
take the boldest course and, instead
of skirting Japan and entering the sea
OF japan by the Tsugaru or La Pc
rouse straits, to push direct through
the straits of Korea and try to reach
VladtvOstOk which is about $40 miles
from the Tsu islands. That he Will be
a bic to do so without at least being
harassed by the Japanese seems i'm
probable and the report circulated at
Toxic today that the two fleets have
engaged in the straits Of Korea may
turn out correct There is the possi-
bility of course that Rojestvens1y may
have so far deceived Admiral Togo
that the latter is still at the base he
established north of the island of For
mosa5 in which case a general engage
ment may not take place before the
Russians reach Vladivostok. 1t is also
possible that the Russian vessels
FORM portion Of the Russian fleet.
A Battle Reported.
TOXIC, May 27.-It is reported here
the japanese and Russian fleets under
Vice Admiral Togo and Vice Admiral
RoJestvensky have engaged in the
Korean straits.
VladivOstOk Squadron Sails.
Tsingtau, May PA private teIe-
gram received here says that the Rus
sian NladivOstOk feet has left VIadi-
yostok, going in sOutherly direction
Started for the Straits.
Saigon, Cochin China, May 27.=Re-
turning Golfers report that Vice Ad-I
miral Rojestvensky's fleet arrived off
the Saddle islands May "a and pro
ceeded in the direction of the straits
of Korea.
Saw Them on Wednesday.
Hong Kong, May 27.-The British
steamer St Kilda, which arrived here
today from Kuchinotsu, Japan. re-
ports having sighted early in the
morning of Wednesday, May "a As
Russian vessels, including battIeships,
cruisers, torpedo boat destroyers col
hers, a hospital ship and tugs 14O
miles south-southeast of the Saddle
islands The Russians were station
ary when first sighted and most of the
Coii!efs were halt empty. Subsequent
~ the Russian vessels steamed away,
heading in nOrthwesterIy direction.
Rojestvensky's Strategy.
St. Petersburg, May 27.-1:1O D. m
The tension in naval circles is very
great News OF the meeting of the
Russian and japanese fleets is expect
ed here hourly The dispatch from
Toxic to the Associated Press saving it
was rumored that the fleets have al
reauy engaged in the straits of Korea
aroused intense interest at the ad-
miralty, but nothing cOnfirmatory had
been received there UD to the time
this dispatch was filed. The majority
of the officers were inclined to doubt
the accuracy of the Toxic report, be-
lieving that ROjestvensky with his
fighting ships is holding northWard for
the eastern part of Japan.
Others on the contrary, consider it
quite likely that Rojestvensky after
passing out into the Pacific doubled
viii take the straightest course for
Viadivostok. ROjestvensky, they point
out. is believer in strategy and
mystifiCation and his cruise in the Pa
cific may have been not only to avoid
the danger of mines and torpedo boat
attacks in the shallow waters of the
straits of FOrmOsa, but to deceive the
. japanese into the belief that his OBJ
1ectiVe was either the Tsugaru or La
PerOuse straits, while in reality he
changed his course and headed for the
straits of Korea. AS a matter Of fact
ROjestvensky seems to have uystihed
his own admiralty as much as the
japanese. On one hand the presence
of the Russian cruisers and collier off
Shanghai is taken as being condrma-
tory of the theory that Rojestvensky'
dghtiug division headed back after cir
cling the island OF FOrmosa and the
other the presence of golfers and con-
verted cruisers of Shanghai is regard
ed as 2 blind to confuse the Japanese.
g-lte cl-3asss cent - Japanese merchant