The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 1904. THE WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 194, 15 August 1904, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 1904. THE WAR.

For the cause that lacks assistance. For t/te wrong that need* rcxistaae*; For the future in the distance, Atui Vie ij'jod that ice can do.

The facts of the great naval conflict that took place last week outside Port Arthur are beginning to arrange themselves in intelligible order. The Russian fleet, finding themselves threatened with destruction by the fire of the Japanese siege guns, determined to make a dash for the open sea. At the same time apparently—either by remarkable good fortune or pursuing an admirably concerted plan of action —the Vladivostok squadron appeared in Korea Straits and strove to draw off Admiral Togo's attention from the escaping lleet. Tα some extent these bold tactics appear to have met with success. According to Togo's own report, the diversion created proved a very serious matter for the Vladivostok cruisers, as the Rurik is repoiied sunk and the Rossia and the Gromoboi injured. On the other hand, at least two cruisers from the Port Arthur squadron, the Askold and the Novik, appear to have broken through and reached neutral water at Kiaochau. The battleship Tsarevitch is also at Tsing tao, but the Pailada, which to have fled southward with her, is said to be still missing. The rilaxtce of th. fleet —five battleships '. n cruiserappear to have been succ«.— fully "hea ,, ed off," and fell back agrin towards Port Arthur. Of them the .md the lletvisan are said to be sc;iously in jrred, but full particulars t "•.Hγ'; yet bt: obtained. Since Togr's report was is3ued the Novik has escaped from Tsmg tr:o, while the Askold and the Gromoboi have appeared off Woosung, near Shang hai. But taking everything into account there does not seem much doubt that the Russian fleet has sustained a shock from wnich it can hardly vricover unless ami until the Baltic squadron finds its way t>o Eastern waters. It is only too probable that compli •cations may ensue on account of the Russian vessels now sheltering at Chinese perls, iiut it should be highly en couragince to those who hope for the pre 3ervai:ou of peace in Europe to note that Germany has declared her intention of sustaining her attitude of strict neutrality. According to the law of neutrals, the Russian warships may net stay for more tban 24 hours at Tsing tao, and they may not receive more coal than is necessary to carry them to their next open port. The alternative is to dismantle the ships and thus strike them off the active list for the time being. It is likely that the presence of the Japanese fleet in the vicinity will make it impossible for the refugees to come out in fighting trim, and in any case we may regard the ships that have taken refuge on the China coast aa for all practical purp oses written off the Russian naval list. It is conceivable that the cruisers fled southward from Port Arthur in the hope of being able to make a long detour to the south and east, and eventually effect a junction with the Vladivostok squadron. But

Togo and Kamimura seem this time to have accounted for Admiral SkrydlofPs cruisers, and it is not easy to imagine ■low the Russians can hope now to make any headway at sea against the conquering Japanese.