BALTIC FLEET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8156, 2 November 1904, Page 3

BALTIC FLEET.

POWERFUL SHIPS HELD BACK BY THE TIMID ADMIRALTY. ANXIOUS TO SAIL. I learn on the authority of a highlyplaced Russian official at the naval fortress of Kronstadt. whence I have just returned (wrote the Copenhagen correspondent of the London " Daily Express " under date September 2), that the Baltio fleet, consisting of twelve battleships, seven cruisers, eight destroyers and ten torpedo boats, is now completely equipped and ready for the voyage to the Far East. « The plans have been worked out to the minutest detail, and it is calculated that if the fleet started; to-morrow it could!, provided no mishaps occurred, reach 'the China Seas by the end of the first week in (December. This computation. allcwß for fln average speed of only eight knots an hour, the distance from Kronstadt to Vladivo- • stock being 12,303 marine miles. Admiral Rozjestvenski, who is am abler and more popular leader even than the late Admiral Makharoff, commands the fleet, while under him are Rear- Admiral Foelkersam, in the battleship Osliabya, arid RearAdmiral Enkvist, who commands tho cruiser squadron in the Almaz. In addition to the warships there is a 1 fleet of thirty armed transports, consisting mostly of vessels of the Volunteer fleet, which will carry sufficiently large sup,'pliea of coal, fresh water and provisions to make the squadron independent of assistance at neutral ports en route. COAL QUESTION. The transport Don, for instance, which is the converted ex-German steamer Furst Bismarck, carries, as well as 800 bullocks, enough coal herself to supply the whole squadron for six weeks, in addition to what they will have on board when they start. The difficulty of coaling operations at sea is fully recognised, but has been provided against by the fixture of a special apparatus on the vessels used, as colliers. Advantage will always be taken -of the fine weather to keep the ,-warships' bunkers completely.filled. So far as actual fighting strength is concerned, the Baltic fleet contains four splendid battleships — the Borodino. Orel, Imperator Alexander III.' and Kniaz Suvaroff — any one of Avhich would make a good j fight with the best Japanese battleship. They are all newly armed with four 12-inch breech-loading guns, mounted in pairs, as well as smaller weapons, while, to protect them against torpedoes they have four inches of steel below the armoured belt. During the post few weeks Admiral Rozjesfcvenski Ihias been constantly exercising his fleet in manoeuvres and gunnery, and the shooting has made wonderful progress in accuracy. The irritation among both officers and men is increasing every day at the delay of the Russian authorities at St Petersburg in ordering the fleet to start. During my visit to Kronstadt I aiso obtained an interview with one of the chief officers of the battleship Kniaz Suvaroff, who was able to throw interesting light on the Russian naval plans. SUEZ BARRED. "By international agreement," he said, "no belligerent vessels are- allowed to pass through the Suez Canal, ,so we are compelled to go via the- Cape or tbfe Horn. " Owing to the long and* hard active service which the Japanese fleet has undergone, their ships must be in a bad condition, and with the powerful fighting fleet that still remains at Port Arthur' they cannot afford to send any vessels into dock for repair. Moreover, no guns will shoot accurately after the constant use to which those in the Japanese fleet have been put. That is a factor greatly in our favour. "If Port Arthur has not fallen we shall have no difficulty in effecting a combination with the fleei in the harbour. If the Japanese fleet attacked- us we should catch it between two fires, and if they drew off we should combine and force an action, from which, I think,' we should emerge victorious. "The Japanese communications would then be cut, and no alternative would remain but for the whole of their army to surrender. "In the event of the- fall of Port Arthur before our arrival, we should be compell-xl to seek refuget in a neutral port, and be i dismantled. " That, however, would be no greater disgrace than abandoning oux comraid'es at Port Arthur to certain destruction."