Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-05-18
WAR DURING A WEEK
RUSSIAN vLADiVOSTOK FLEET
MAKES a BLUFF.
Unexpectedly Descends Upon the Jap
anese Coast After Nine Months of
IdIencss Raid Doubtless Made to
Divert Togo's Attention.

Ine laQlVOStok fleet, after nine
months Of idleness, has unexpectedly
descended upon the Japanese coast.
-Four torpedo boat destroyers of that
feet appeared off the southwest coast
mated upon most of the maps used in
this country. After bombarding sew
'eral small Japanese trading vessels,
setting one of them on fire, the de-
6troyerS disappeared in the fog.
In the VIadivostok squadron Russia
has two of the most powerful modern
armOred cruisers afOat Originally
there were three, the ROsSia, the
.Rurik, and the GrOmObOi. The Rurik
was sunk in the straits of Korea IN
lthe engagement with Kamamura's
fleet on Aug. 16 last The GrOmObOi
and RoSSia managed to escape and
returned to VladivostOk, badly dam
aged. Since then they have been idle.
The raid by the torpedo boats on
the japanese coast 600 miles from
NladivoStok makes it practically GER
tain that the big cruisers are not far
away, and that they are attempting
a diversion in order to draw a part Of
TogOs feet to the northwest.
The expedition, however, of the four
Russian torpedo boats from Nladivos-
tok will have about as much weight
in this war as a feeble pinprinck. If
If is one more of st. Petersburg's
-deep-laid schemes for perturbing To-
COS mind and causing him to alter
his plans, it is the most ridiculous yet
recorded Admiral Togo doubtless
would like to know whether all three
eor only two of the VladivoStOk cruisers
are in good condition for sea, and
what kind of a showing they can
make. and any raid that would give
him that information would doubtless
be welcomed.
1t is a tactical move naturally ex
pected by naval men. 1t proves, to
begin with, that the japanese have
left Vladivostok unguarded. This is
AN Indication that Togo has drawn all
his fighting ships southward-ho far
southwark the outside world does not
know. The Eladivstok cruisers, there
fore. if properly handled, are likely
80 work a great deal Of damage along
the japanese coast.
The naval problem thus becomes
<doubly interesting. Rojestvensky's
fleet remained at Honkoke bay,
short distance north of Kamranh bay,
on the French Indo-China coast, until
May 5, when it is reported to have put
to sea, to join the division which has
been proceeding to the far east under
the flag of Rear. Admiral Nebogatoff.
In the China Sea Nebogatoff, with
his squadrons af antiques and Grip
pies, has at least appeared. In a few
days more he should be able to join
Rojestvensky, who, according to last
accounts, was still lowering off the
French coast, not many miles from
Kamranh bay. Rojestvensky's de-
parture from that region has again
been announced in the French dis
patches from Indo-China. but no one
can credit the fact till the fleet is ac-
tually reported in some other place.
With his divisions united Rojest-
vensky Will have under his flag eleven
battleships, to say nothing Of his cruis-
.ers and destroyers-a formidable fight
ing force. and one, if properly handled,
capable of meeting Togo on more than
equal terms.
Although the world has not the
slightest knowledge as to where Adj
miral Togo has his headquarters, his
course is thoroughly comprehensive.
It is not to his interest to seek battle
a thousand miles from the Japanese
naval bases. so long as there is a pros
pect that Rojestvensky will approach
closer. Whether he chooses to await
the Russians near Formosa, or, in
stead, in the Korea Straits, where he
can Keep weather eye on the north
eG"n paSSa geS into the Sea of Japan,
he knows that Rojestvensky's fleet
will be no serious menace to Japan
till it has advanced at least thou
sand miles further on its course.
Togo has cffectually concealed his
fleet No French, German. British, or
American steamer has sighted it-or,
at least. reported it, and if it had been
sighted the fact almost certainly
would have been reported.
No more absurd rumor could become
current than the one reiterated sew
eral times last week that EOieStven-
sky was headed. not for NladivOstOk,
but for Petropavlovski at the southern
end OF the peninsula at Kamchatka.
Pctr0pavloski is at least LEO miles
% the northeast Of NladivOstok 1t is
a mere village. with no accommOda-
tons for single battleship, let alone
a great feet. and. in fact, no more Use
full to ROjestyenSky than Patagonia
would be. The only reasonable u.s.
sumptiOns as to RojeStvenSky'S imme-
diate objective are now, as before,
that he is making for NladivostOk. He
hardly can be planning to spend the
summer in the China Sea.