The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-30
SEA is LOST.
Russia Cannot Regain Foothold
During Present War.
The Disaster to ROjestvensky
Worse Than Trafalgar.
GEAR NICHOLAS WEPT
When He Heard the News of the
Japanese Victory.
A Strong Movement for Peace Is
Expected to Follow.

st. Petersburg, May s0.-After
waiting vainly all yesterday and last
night for direct news from the scat
tered remnants of Vice Admiral Ro-
jestensky's destroyed and beaten fleet.
the Russian admiralty no longer at
tempted to hold out against the over
wheIming evidence pouring in from
all directions that the fleet on which
all their hopes were 7centered had slf-
fered a greater disaster than did the
combined French and Spanish fleets
at Trafalgar.
More bitter even than defeat is the
Japanese claim of the virtual annihila-
ton of the Russian fleet, with prac-
tically no loss on their side, and many
officers cling dOggedly to the belief
that Vice Admiral Togo might have
suffered heavily.
With every ship Of Rear Admiral
Nebogatoff's reinforcing division either
sent to the bottom or forced to strike
its flag and only six OF Rojestvensky's
original sixteen fighting ships absent
from the list of the vessels sunk or
captured, and with the Japanese pur-
suit still continuing, no naval author
ity has the temerity to dream that
Russia. can again attempt to wrest the
mastery of the sea from Japan in the
present war.
furnish Japan with ready-made rein
forcements which will be more than a
match for the fourth Pacific squadron
now about to sail from Cronstadt.
The Gar Wept.
The emperor was completely pros
trated by the news and, according to
reports, he Wept
The effect of the disaster will be a
terrible blow to the government. The
futility of trying to stagger on on land
is everywhere recognized and the cry
for peace at any price" is sure to be
raised. This time it is believed the
government cannot resist such a cry
Indeed, the radical Liberals are openly
rejoicing in this hour of their cOun-
try's humiliation. They declare that
the disaster means peace and con-
stitution and that the deaths of thous-
ands of their fellow countrymen and
the loss of more than 100 million dol
lars worth of warships is not too big
a price to pay.
The friends of peace in the govern
ment are already reproachtng the war
party with forcing the issue between
Togo and Rojestvensky. When the fleet
appeared in the Straits of Aalacca they
tried vainly to persuade the emperor
that the time was opportune for the
opening of peace negotiations, but the
war party convinced the car and
Rojestvensky, for the honor of the navy,
insisted that the feet should be given a
chance to retrieve the disasters suffered
on land.
War Party May Persist.
Diplomatists entertain no doubt that
the belligerent faction will continue to
urge that the war be fought to the bit
ter end, but the friends of Russia
abroad, and especially France, are now
bringing overwhelming arguments to
bear in favor of peace.
The Associated Press has excellent
reason to believe that the Russian gov
eminent in this crisis will turn to M.
Delcasse, the French foreign minister,
in whose ability and in whose loyalty Is
Russia's friend the emperor and his
ministers have implicit confidence. Some
time ago it appeared likely that Presi-
dent Roosevelt would play a big role in
the peace negotiations, but now his
share is apt to be determined by NJ.
Delcasse's decision. The latter may, of
course, consider it wise to place the
negotiations in President Roosevelt's
hands.
The war party, however, will insist
now as they did after the battle of
Mukden that peace is impossible on the
heels of defeat The members of this
faction are already proclaiming that
the naval disaster in nowise alters the
situation on land. Lieutenant General