THE BALTIC FLEET AND THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue 128, 31 May 1904, Page 5

THE BALTIC FLEET AND THE NORTH-EAST PASSAGE.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Paris Journal, telegraphing on the 10th April, reported that Commander ivulczieki had handed to the Twir a report concerning th© proposed voyage of tho Baltic squadron to th© Far East by way of the Sea of Kara. That officer, who was entrusted with a special mission ami who followed the route traversed by Nordcnekjold, considers that the northern seas will be open towards tlie end of Juno. He declares that he will be able to pilot the squadron and reach his destination by tlie end of August. It is believed tbat the Bnltic squadron will be placed under th© orders of Admiral Rozhdestvensky or Chuckin. WHAT THE WAR IS COSTING RUSSIA. A despatch to the Paris Temps from St. Petersburg says the cost of tho war up to sth April in all branches of the service is officially estimated at £9,250,000. Tho cost by June will reach £20,000,000. Tho allotment for June is £3,000,000 for the army and £1,000,000 for the navy. Tho Trans-Siberian railway, the despatch adds, will show a deficiency of £4,500,000 for the year. If the war lasts eighteen months it is estimated that the total cost will be £80,000,000. The Government, it is further asserted, could meet all its requirements by having reoourse to its gold reserve, but this is considered undesirable, politically nnd financially. An increase of the duties also is not desired, as it would add to the burden of the people. Therefore, if the need arises, th© Government will have recourse to 6hort-term loans. A REMARKABLE STORY. The Paris Petit Journal's St. Petrsburg correspondent sent last month a remarkable story of the audacity of Russian merchant sailors. The * Betty, a trading steamer, was stopped by a Japanese cruiser. Two officers and six men came aboard and ordered the captain to follow in track of the warship. Before reaching tho nearest port a thick fog enveloped tho two vessels. Th© Betty's captain took advantage of this, and ordered the orow, consisting of twentythree men, to throw the Japanese bluejacket* overboard, seize the offlcor on the bridoe and bind him, and lock tho other ono below in a cabin. This done, tho Betty changed her course and made direct for Vladjvostock, where she arrived withovt furtner incident, and banded over the two Japanese officers to tho military authoiitjes.