Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15
Believed to Be Steaming To
ward Island of Formosa.
SHIPSREADYFORACTION
ST. PETERSBURG PAPERS CRITI-
CHE GREAT BRITAIN.
Because British Warships Persist in
Reporting Movements of Cars
Squadron-Severe Reprimand.

ST PETERSBURG, April Is, 2:37 pm
No further news beyond that contained In
the foreign kilograms has been received re-
garding the squadron commanded by Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky, but the impression
continues that he is steaming toward the
island of Formosa with the intention of
giving battle if Admiral Togo accepts the
challenge.
Some of the papers. notably the Novoe
Vremya, still manifest irritation at the ac-
tivity of the British warships in reporting
the movements of the Russian squadron.
The Novoe Vremya says that the vessels
of all nations are observing neutrality
with the exception, of course, of Great
Britain" The papers take particular excep-
ton to the fact that the British cruiser
Iphigenia transmitted by wireless teleg
raphy the information that she had passed
Admiral Rojestvensky's squadron 140 miles
from Saigon, which was very important
news to the Japanese inasmuch Rojest
vensky had succeeded in slipping by the
Japanese scouts.
For commercial ship to report such a
fact upon arrival at port is quite natural"
says the NovCe Vremya, but 1t Is not so
important, as the news is then more or less
old. and in the meantime the squadron
might have changed its course but for a
man-of-war to send such informa ton to a
coast station by wireless telegraphy Is un-
friendly
However, this is not the first time the
British have conveyed a valuable warning
TO their friends. During the Chino-Japa-
nese war. when Great Britain was on the
side of China, British cruiser al Weihai-
wei warned the Chinese admiral by firing
salute upon the approach of the Japanese
fleet, although at night, when it is not .he
custom to salute in that fashion,
Chief Interest in Dispatch.
LONDON, April IA telegram from
Singapore, Straits Settlement, was received
here today announcing that the Peninsular
and Oriental Steamship Company's steamer
Marmora sighted five Russian battleships
April 3, in lat. degrees south and long. 90
degrees east, steering for the Straits of
Sunda. The dispatch has no present x;gni-
fcance.
The fact that the Narmora which was
bound for London from Sydney, n. S. W.,
sighted the Russian squadron was reported
early in the month from Colombo, Ceylon.
The news apparently has now reached Sing
apOre through outgoing steamers.
The chief interest in the dispatch lies in
Its giving the exact location of the squad
ron, indicating that II steamed almost due
east from Madagascar; it is presumed here
with the object of creating the impression
that Rojestvensky intended to traverse the
Straits of Sunda and draw away the Japa-
nese from the Malacca straits, through
which he ultimately passed in safety.
Golfers at Hong Kong.
HONG KONG. April 15.-Many golfers
are arriving here from Durham, Natal and
Cardiff, Wales. apparently awaiting orders.
War risks at Hong Kong for Japan have
been raised, and trade is affected.
a telegram received here from Saigon
suggests that the Russian squadron possi-
bly, will not go north before the end of
April.
Bourse Prices Weakened.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 15.-Doubt as
to the result of the approaching naval ac-
tion in the far east, on which so much de-
pends, weakened prices on the bourse to-
day. all quotations falling Imperial fours
however, only yielded quarter of a point
Saw No japanese Scouts.
PARIS, April ia dispatch to the Temps
from Saigon says Admiral RoJestvensky did
not sight any japanese scouts during his en-
trance into the China sea by way of the
Straits of Malacca. The dispatch adds that
II is expected the Russian squadron will re-
provision off the coast of AMMAN.
Admiral Jonquieres. with the French
cruiser Descartes, the armored gunboats
Styx and Acheron, thestprpedo boat DESTROY
er Takou and division of torpedo boats
remains off Cape St. James near Saigon
prepared for all eventualities.