Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-16
WATCHING THE NAV|ES
No Light Thrown on Far
East Situation.
MANY WILD RUMORS
ROJESTVENSKY KEEPING HIS AC-
TIONS A SECRET.
Has Plenty of Men for His Ships-An-
other Division Almost
Ready.

ST PETERSBURG, May 15-The naval
game In the far east is watched with in
tense interest, but the admiralty is able to
throw but little light on the situation. 1t
gives no confirmation of the Tokyo report
that Admiral Rojestvensky returned to
Hon-kohe bay. The Russian admiral is
keeping his actions and plans secret not
communicating even with the home auth9ri-
ties The many wild reports emantting
from Tokyo are attributed to the agitated
state of mind of the Japanese owe. the re-
port of the coming battle. The story that
sailors from the crews of the ntcrned Rus
sian ships at Shanghai are being sent to
complete the complement of Rojestvenslly
fleet is nonsense as is the previous story
that large number of mercenares We're
shipped at Madagascar The admiralty con-
s!ders there is no harm now in divulginS
the fact that Eojestvenskys $ ships are over
manned instead of undermanned, as when
they left Iibau there was still hope that
Chilean and Argentine warships could be
purchased ana portions OF the crews design
ed for them were carried on board the Rus
sian fleet. Many naval men incline to the
opinion that RojestvenSky Will pass out
of the China sea into the Pacific through
the Bdllintang channel, north of the island
of l-uzon, Philippine Islands, and give For
mesa wide berth instead of sailing through
the 2JO-mile stretch of the Straits of For
mosa, in which the Russians might be sub
ject to torpedo attack.
Another division of reinforcements for
Rojestvensky is almost ready at Cronstadc,
and will be sent out under the command or
Rear Admiral Parenago 1t will consist of
two fine new battleships, the Slava and
the Emperor Alexander II; two cruisers, a
torpedo cruiser gunboat. Z" transport and
several minor units The division is now
engaged in speed trials and maneuverlng OF
Cronstadt. The appearance of this reserve
division in the far east in the course OF the
summer should the hostile fleets suffer
equally in the coming battle is counted
upon TO give Russia the necessary decisive
prepondeTance upon the sea. The posses
sion of this division naval men believe may
ultimately prove Russia's salvation.
Received in Astonishment.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS, May ia dispatch to the Matin
from Tokyo says that the news that the
Russian fleet had returned to Honkoho bay
was received IN an absolute stupor OF as
tonishment by the japanese.
The Tokyo correspondent of the Journal
says that in an interview he had with
Okuma, former premier of Japan. Okuma
said the presence of the Russian squadron
IN the bays of Indo-China had created
very dislueting situation; that only the
happy memories of the former cofQlal re4d-
tions of France and Japan had made the
Japanese able to remain comparatively
calm.
Japan was most anxious not to make the
situation more acute, but ii was urgently
necessary that France should take up
clearly defined position. otherwise the tide
Of popular feeling would become Irresistible.
After dwelling upon the excitement prevail
ing among the Japanese people against
France, Okuma took up the consideration
of the possible chances ot peace. lie said
he thought that Jdpan's claims ought TO
increase in magnitude in proportion to the
duration of the war.
He said: Japan VIII reject any pro-
posal at all like truce. Japan must be-
come the arbiter of peace in the far east
She would not be satisfied with the control
OF Korea and the possession of the Lica-
tung peninsula, with Port Arthur and
Dalny and Sakhalien Island. 1t would be
necessary, should Vladivostolt continue 20
belong TO Russia, that il should be purely
commercial port. Japan will carry on the
struggle until all her aims have been Sc
cured and she will never yield. When
Russian domination shall have been ree-
gated TO the proper limits, Japan will be-
come the sincere friend of Russia"
Dutch Steamer Confscated.
NAGASAKI May 16.-The Dutch steamer
Whelmina, captured by a japanese tor
pedo boat destroyer while on her way TO
Vladivostok with Cardiff coal. has been de-
clared COntiscated by the prize court at
Sdscbo.
Naval Auxiliary Ashore
TOKYO, May 16-11 a.m.-The steamer
Nlkko, a naval auxiliary. Is ashore at Flu
san. She has not sustained damage and ii
is expected that she will be hoated off at
full tide.