The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1904.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 8489, 24 May 1904, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1904.

A message was received yesterday stating that preparations for the Baltic lieet proceeding to the Far East are being made with great vigor. The vessels, it was said, would be divided into two. divisions which would take different routes for a secret rendezvous. We consider it more than possible that the Baltic fleet is being used as a bogey to distract Japan's attention, but it may be that the Japanese have not yet crippled the Russian naval power, for should the fleet make a safe passage to China waters there will be at the disposal of Admiral .Skrydloff an additional eight battleships, two armored cruisers, and three protected cruisers, which will fill the gaps made by the Japanese torpedoes and gunnery im the historic night attack on Port Arthur. That Russia is in earnest in her intention to despatch the fleet there would seem to be at present no reason to doubt, though one has become impressed with the conviction that Russian reports should always be read backwards, or treated to a cryptographic test. A correspondent of cne of the London dailies in the course of a letter recently said:—"An American firm has been entrusted with an urgent order for apparatus for coaling warships at sea, to be despatched to the Baltic squadron. Consequently it is inferred that the squadron is destined for operations in the Far East during the early summer. This apparatus consists of a marine cableway for use between colliers and warships on very much the same principle as the rocket apparatus. It is intended that the Russian transport K.anischatka, carrying 7000 tons of coal, and a sister transport shall first be equipped. Trials were recently made successfully at Sandy Hook with a similar mechanism, which is described by the experts as perfectly satisfactory. It is, indeed, affirmed that the Kamschatka will be able to handle oneton loads of coal at a speed of 3000 ft a minute,, with a distance of 1000 ft between the ships. This long distance is made necessary in a rough sea for safety. Loads of one ton can be delivered 1000 ft away at the rate of 40 tons an hour. When the sea is smooth lhe towline is shortened, and larger loads can be handled." This removes the greatest difficulty anticipated in regard to the matter. Many authorities admit that the passage of the fleet by the Kara Sea and the northern coasts of Arctic Europe and Asia to Saghalien, through Behring Straits is practicable, and this was the course taken by Nordenskjold in his wooden barque of 357 tons register with engines of 60 horsepower. It is anticipated that_ the battleships and armoured cruisers will "be able to hctld their own with the ice floes. The principal trouble will probably begin when l the fleet arrives off the Saghalien l coast, where, we may assume, the Japanese will have arranged to gfte them a warm welcome. The experiment is a remarkable one and would require a remarkable mind to propose it and a greater mind to carry it to a successful issue, but the history of modern times is full of great achievements, and the passage of the Russian, fleet to China seas is not by a.ny means impossible. There are many alternatives in regard to the matter. The vessels may be divided, as suggested, and go by different routes—they may all proceed by the north-west passage, or by the Suez Canal; and, as a matter of expediency they may determine to remain in the Baltic Sea. ■