Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-18
{ encounter With the JAMS
Would Be Of No Benefit.
Rumored That He Has Broken Down and Asks to
Be Relieved Togo Plans to Meet Rus
slams Off Island Of Formosa.
NAVAL BATTLE EXPECTED.

st. Petersburg. May 1S-240 A. NJ
With suspicious stopplge Of dispatch
Is from Manchuria ana q strong posi-
bility that Vice Admiral kojestvensky
has cut his last communications with
home and set forth on the final stage
Of his journey to his goal. either Togo
or Viadivostok, keen interest is mani
tested in naval and military circles here
in The two-fold field of war.
Though the admiralty, which has
been completely silent since the advent
of Eoiestvensky in ,ha Chinese sea
publishes no dispatches the conviction
is growing that the united suuadrons
as Indicated by The Associated Press
May Is, departed from the AMMAN
coast Immediately after their juncture
and naval officials are anXiausly expect
ing news of the first skirnhishes between
scouts of the hostile fleet.
The Associated Press correspondent,
on his visit to naval officials, yesterday,
to investigate the rumOr that Vice Ad-
r;iral ROjtstvensky's health had brok-
on down. was repeatedly and eagerly
questioned for the '1te5t Information
through press dispatches which, it was
declared. is 4 better source than the
admiralty.
Capt. Clado confirmed the statement
of The Associated Press that the yes
sells of both squadronS ere equipped
with apparatus for Cleaning their bot
toms at sea. He sail il was entirely
possible for Vice Admiral Nebogatoff TO
put the last finishing touches to the YES
sells Of his division during the mysteri
ous interval when they We're lost to
sight before passing the Straits oc
Malacca.
Neither the admiralty nor Individual
officers have any Information regarding
the rumOred request of Vice Admiral
Rojcstvensky 10 be relieved and all who
were questioned regarding the report
expressed doubts Of its accuracy. 1t was
pointed out that it would be entirely
for the feet to delay in
the Chinese sea until the arrival of Vice
Birilnff. ami it was declared
that Hojestvensky will keep his flag fly
ing as long as he is not utterly in
for command, which then
would naturally devOlve TN Vice Admir-
al Voelkersam. who is known as an Off
Ger Win n 1eutOnlC rHOrOuSnntSS ana
attention to the fine details of his pro-
fession. He is also n notable strategist
and thcOretician.
The Associated Press was Informed.
late last night. that Vice Admiral
Biriloff will be sent to Nladivostok,
which possibly accounts for the origin
IF the rumor of ROjeStvensky's request
to be relieved of his command.
On the military side the indications
are that events are rapidly shaping for
the preliminary stage of another great
battle. The Russian army has been re-
fitted and is ready for action and it Is
that Gen. Linevitch is not the
man 20 waste days in inaction.
A further mobilization Of cavalry. in
one or two districts, was ordered, to.
day. but no large draft Is required as
for the cavalry army
are at hand in the recently embodied
Cossacks whose departure for Man
rhuria was postponed IN anticipation OF
May day troubles. the most of whom
ran now resume the trip eastward. A
small but important detachment will
CONTINUED on Page Three.)