The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-04-21
SQUADRON HEADED
TOWARD FORMOSA
BELIEF AT ST. PETERSBURG
THAT BATTLE MAY BE
FOUGHT NEAR ISLAND.
ACTS OF BRITISH SHIPS
CITED AS UNFRIENDLY
Russian Newspapers Take Exception
to Announcement of Whereabouts
of Fleet-Japs Preparing for Turn
ing Movement.

St Petersburg, April 17.-No further
news beyond that contained in the for
elgn kilograms has been received re-
garding the squadron commanded by
vice Admiral Rojestvensky. but the
impression continues that he is steam
ing toward the island of Formosa with
the intention Of giving battle if Ad-
mlral Togo accepts the challenge.
Some of the papers, notably the Novoe
,Vremya, still manifest irritation at
the activity of British warships in re-
porting the movements of the Russian
squadron. The Novoe Vremya says
that the vessels of all nations are OBJ
serving neutrality with the exception
of course of Great Britain"
Cruisers Act Criticised.
The paper takes particular exception
to the fact that the British cruiser
Iphigenia transmitted by wireless
telegraphy the information that she
had passed Admiral Rojestvensky's
squadron 40 miles from Saigon,
whichIwas very important news to the
Japanese, inasmuch as Rojestvensky
had succeeded in slipping by the jap
anese scouts. For commercial ship
to report such fact upon arrival at
a port is quite natural, says the
Novoe Vremya, but it is not so i'm
portant as the news is then more or
less old and in the meantime the
squadron might have changed it's
course, but for a man-of-war to send
such information to a coast station
by wireless telegraphy is unfriendly.
However, this is not the first time the
British have conveyed a valuable
warning to their friends. During the
Chino-Japanese. war, when Great Brit
ain was on the side of China, a Brit
ish cruiser at Weihaiwei warned the
upon the approach of the Japanese
fleet, although at night when it is not
the custom to salute in that fashion"
Probable Scene of Battle.
London, April 17.-News of the ma
val engagement between the fleets
of Rojestvensky and Togo is now ex-
pected any moment by those who have
been closely following the movements
of the Russian fleet, so far as the news
advices would permit. The battle
ground will be that selected by Togo
in Formosan waters. 1t is now GER
tain that no engagement has been
fought in the China sea, and that
Rojestvensky has been allowed to sail
north without hindrance. His prog
ress, say naval experts, will be
checked when Formosan waters are
reached. Then ne must fight his way
to Vladivostok by one of two routes,
either through Formosa strait and
past the Pescadores islands, where
many Japanese warships are reported,
or else, passing Smith cape, go to the
east of Formosa into the Pacific.
May Have Eluded Enemy.
A telegram from Singapore, Straits
Settlements, was received here Satur-
day announcing that the Peninsular
and Oriental Steamship company's
steamer Marmora sighted five Russian
battleships April in latitude de-
grees south and longitude 80 degrees
east, steering for the Straits of Sunda.
The dispatch has no present signif-
canoe. The fact that the Marmora,
which was bound to London from Sgd
ney, New South Wales, sighted the
Russian squadron was reported early
in the month from Colombo, Ceylon.
The news apparently has now reached
Singapore through outgoing steamers
The chief interest in the dispatch lies
in it's giving the exact location of the
squadron, indicating that it steered
almost due east from Madagascar, it is
presumed here with the object of Gre
ating the impression that Rojest-
vensky intended to traverse the
japanese from the Malacca straits,
through which he ultimately passed in
safety.
Prepare for Turning Movement.
Gunshu Pass, Manchuria, April H.
The expected Japanese turning move
ment is not developing, but prepare
lions it is understood are progressing
Reenforcements, food and ammunition
are being brought up from New
chwang. The Japanese outposts ex-
tend 80 miles ON either side of the
railroad.
Little Change in Situation.
Toxic, April 1.-THE following OFF,
cial announcement was made Saturday
from the headquarters of the Japanese
armies in Manchuria: Our force
advancing east along the Hailung road
defeated body of the enemy April IA
near Heishihmu. ten miles east of
Panshi, and vigorously chased them
towards Tachotsu, &c miles east of
Panshi. Another force advancing
north from Singking attacked the en-
envy, holding position five. miles
south of Pachatsu. There has been no
change elsewhere in the military stu
ation.''