Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-29
LOOK NOW FOR PEACE
Effect of Rojestvonsky's Great
Defeat.
R USSIA'S LAST HOPE
ARMIES BEATEN AND BALTIC
FLEET CRUSHED.
Views of the Naval Experts op, the
Battle of the Tsushima
Straits.

Tokyo's definite announcement or Jap
anese victory greatly excited interest in
Washington this morning. Such impor-
tance has attached to the battle. which
has been characterized as an epoch-making
engagement. not only from a strategicaI
naval standpoint but likewise from the
viewpoint of the diplomats, that every de-
tail of news is eagerly grasped. While hav-
Ing thus far little to guide them. officials
or the Navy Department believe that
Togo's fire must have been mercilessly ac-
curate throughout the engagement.
The first news Of the engagement, coming
yesterday from Minister Griscom at Tokyo.
was of an indefinite character. and It
was not until Tokyo made the official an
nouncement that the decisive result was
known in Washington.
No engagement during the war has been
watched with greater interest than has tds
long-postponed meeting of Roiastvcnsky
and Togo. How Russia can continue the
war for any great length of time with
her last hope, the Baltic fleet. crushed and
ruined and with the Russian land forces
beaten on every side, from Port Arthur 20
Harbn, is beyond the understanding Of
nearly every one in Washington. \ prOmi-
ment diplomat said: ITO my mind peace
is not far distant. 1t Is difficult TO see how
Russia can prolong the war now. Her last
hope has been the Baltic feet, and on ac-
count of Rojestvensky's being on the way
to meet Togo. Russia could never have
made peace. With a fleet the size OF that
of RoJestvensky untried, Russia could not
have brought the war to a close by
treaty of peace and retain any great de-
gree of international honor. Now, beaten
finally. apparently, on sea and on land, IL
is difficult TO see how Russia can keep on
Naval officers express the greatest ad-
miration for Rojestvensky in making the
dudacious attempt TO go through the Straits
of Tsushima. 1t was gallant stroke. they
say and the Russian admiral worked
against fearful odds. Meeting Togo at
home on a battle ground Of his selec-
tion. was greatly to Rojestvensky's disad-
vantage.
News from Vladlvostok is expected in
Washington, for 1t is doubted by few that
some of the Russian vessels were able to
get through.
"Stupendous Victory" Says Dewey.
Admiral Dewey was at his Office In tho
Mills building early this morning and spent
most of :he morning studying the maps and
charts of the theater of war and following
the news of the battle as it came TO him
from the office OF naval intelligence and
through the press dispatches. As he was
leaving his office the admiral remarked:
Although details still lacking, enough
information has been received to show that
the japanese have gained a stupendous vic
tory. How that was accomplished. whether
by mines or gun fire, ii is too early yet 10
say. If some of the Russian ships escape
will still have the record Cor the Manila
and Santiago victories both complete, in
that all of the ships of the enemy were
either destroyed or taken"
Japanese Governments Announcement
A dispatch has been received at the
State Department saying that the Japanese
government had made the announcement
that its fleet had engaged the Russians IN
the Straits of Korea Saturday and had
held them.
The reported sinking of the battleship
Borodino is mentioned in a dispatch re-
ceived at the State Department from the
consul at Nagasaki.
The following is the text OF the NagaSaki
dispatch to the State Department:
''NAGASAkI. May 2s-Japanese sunk the
Russian battleship Borodino and four moro
warships and repair ship"
The other dispatch read follows:
TOKYO, May 27.-Japanese fleet engaged
the Baltic squadron this afternoon in the
Straits Of Tsu Sima, which was held. Cam
nonading heard from shore"
japanese Minister Takahira has received
a dispatch from Tokyo saying in effect that
the lighting in the naval battle thus far has
been with favorable prospects to the Jap
anese. The minister dispatch is from Dr!-
vate sources.
The belief in naval circles in Washington
is that the japanese resorted 10 a free use
of their torpedo boats In their attacks on
the vessels of Vice Admiral Rojestvensky
fleet. The japanese have a large number
of torpedo boats in their fleet, and they
demonstrated their effectiveness in the
operations around Port Arthur. Naval Off
cials here express the opinion that 1t was
unlikely that such serious losses as those
reported could have been inflicted by or
binary fire.
At the Japanese Legation.
Minister Takahira of Japan received his
first information of the practical annihila-
tion of the Russian feet in the straits Of
Korea from the Associated Press a few
minutes after he arose this morning, When
the bulletin from Tokyo containing the
japanese governments official announce
ment that Admiral Rolestvensky had lost
twelve warships was read to Minister Taxa
hira over the telephone he carefully re-
peated the words of the dispatch and then
expressed satisfaction at the apparent re-
suit of the great conflict. The minister and
other members of the japanese legation re-
mained in their offices nearly all night.
eagerly awaiting news OF the battle. Up to
this hour no official advices have been re-
ceived at the legation Aside from the
press dispatches, the only informal ton re-
ceived at the legation was contained in a
private message to the minister indicating
that the result of the fight was favorable TO
the japanese.
Minister Takahira was expecting momen-
tarily definite news of the battle.
Minister Takahira called a the State De
partment early. He said that he had no
news of a definite character, and went 10
see Acting Secretary of State Loomis 10
procure the dispatches that have come 70
the State Department. Although he DID
not show 1t, the minister was in reality
highly elated.
II do not care to say much about the en-
gagement between the two fleets just now.
as our news Is not very definite. he said
1T seems that the Japanese have won a
victory"
When asked what effect the victory OF
the japanese fleet will have on the pros
pects of peace Minister Takahira was reti-
cent I'VE have heard nothing from ST
Petersburg vet" he said 'and. of course,
the attitude of the Russian government
will decide whether or not the war wll end
within a few weeks. if ii Will be pro-
longed for months"
Views of Naval Officers